Once there were two mice. They were friends.

从前有两只可爱的小老鼠，它们是很要好的朋友。

One mouse lived in the country; the other mouse lived in the city.

一只小老鼠住在村子里，另一只的家在城市。

After many years the Country mouse saw the City mouse; he said, "Do come and see me at my house in the country." So the City mouse went.

在分开了很多年后，它们相遇了，村里的老鼠很热情的邀请说,“你一定要来我们村子做客哦。”于是城里老鼠开心地去了。

The City mouse said, "This food is not good, and your house is not good. Why do you live in a hole in the field? You should come and live in the city. You would live in a nice house made of stone. You would have nice food to eat. You must come and see me at my house in the city."

在村子生活了一阵子后，城里老鼠抱怨道，“这里的东西好难吃，你家的房子也不漂亮。为什么你要住在田野的洞里呢？你应该搬来城市住。那样你就可以住在用石头造起来的漂亮的房子里。而且还有好吃的食物，你一定要来哦!”

 

The Country mouse went to the house of the City mouse.

村里老鼠就很好奇地到城市老鼠的家去。

It was a very good house. Nice food was set ready for them to eat.

房子真的很漂亮，看上去很好吃的食物也为他们准备好了。

But just as they began to eat they heard a great noise.

可是当它们正要开动的时候，听到一阵很响的声音。

The City mouse cried, " Run! Run! The cat is coming!" They ran away quickly and hid.

城里老鼠大喊，“跑！快跑！猫来了!”它们飞快地逃开躲起来。

 

After some time they came out.

过了一会儿，它们走出来。

When they came out, the Country mouse said, "I do not like living in the city. I like living in my hole in the field. For it is nicer to be poor and happy, than to be rich and afraid."

这时候，村里老鼠说，“我不喜欢住在城里，我还是喜欢住在田野里的洞中。那儿虽然贫穷但是快乐自在，不像这里，虽然富有却要过得提心吊胆。”