The Country Mouse and the City Mouse
by Richard Scrafton Sharpe
In a snug little cot lived a fat little mouse,
Who enjoyed, unmolested, the range of the house;
With plain food content, she would breakfast on cheese,
She dined upon bacon, and supped on grey peas.
A friend from the town to the cottage did stray,
And he said he was come a short visit to pay;
So the mouse spread her table as gay as you please,
And brought the nice bacon and charming grey peas.
The visitor frowned, and he thought to be witty:
Cried he, " You must know, I am come from the city,
Where we all should be shocked at provisions like these,
For we never eat bacon and horrid grey peas.
" To town come with me, I will give you a treat:
Some excellent food, most delightful to eat.
With me shall you feast just as long as you please;
Come, leave this fat bacon and shocking grey peas.
"
This kind invitation she could not refuse,
And the city mouse wished not a moment to lose;
Reluctant she quitted the fields and the trees,
The delicious fat bacon and charming grey peas.
They slily crept under a gay parlour door,
Where a feast had been given the evening before;
And it must be confessed they on dainties did seize,
Far better than bacon, or even grey peas.
Here were custard and trifle, and cheesecakes good store,
Nice sweetmeats and jellies, and twenty things more;
All that art had invented the palate to please,
Except some fat bacon and smoking grey peas.
They were nicely regaling, when into the room
Came the dog and the cat, and the maid with a broom:
They jumped in a custard both up to their knees;
The country mouse sighed for her bacon and peas.
Cried she to her friend, " Get me safely away,
I can venture no longer in London to stay;
For if oft you receive interruptions like these,
Give me my nice bacon and charming grey peas.
" Your living is splendid and gay, to be sure,
But the dread of disturbance you ever endure;
I taste true delight in contentment and ease,
And I feast on fat bacon and charming grey peas."
Summary of the Poem The Country Mouse and the City Mouse
The poem tells the story of two mice, one living in the countryside and the other in the city. The first mouse lives in a "snug little cot" and enjoys a simple life with plain food, such as cheese, bacon, and grey peas. The second mouse, who visits from the city, looks down upon the country mouse's food and offers to take her to the city to try some "excellent food, most delightful to eat."
The country mouse accepts the invitation and travels to the city with her friend. They sneak into a fancy room where a feast had been held the night before, and the two mice gorge themselves on custards, trifles, cheesecakes, and other delicacies. However, their feast is interrupted by the arrival of the dog, cat, and maid with a broom, and the country mouse becomes frightened and longs to return to her simple life in the countryside.
The poem is a fable about the dangers of greed and the importance of being content with what you have. The country mouse, who is content with her plain but satisfying meals, is contrasted with the city mouse, who is constantly seeking more and never satisfied. The moral of the story is that true happiness comes not from material possessions or luxury but from being content with what you have.
Detail Interpretation of the Poem
The poem, "The Country Mouse and the City Mouse," is a fable that tells the story of two mice who have very different lifestyles. The country mouse lives in a "snug little cot" in the countryside and enjoys a simple life with plain food, such as cheese, bacon, and grey peas. The city mouse, on the other hand, lives in the city and enjoys a life of luxury, surrounded by rich foods and lavish surroundings.
The poem is a commentary on the dangers of greed and the importance of being content with what you have. The country mouse, who is content with her simple life and plain food, represents the virtues of contentment and humility, while the city mouse, who is constantly seeking more and never satisfied, represents the vices of greed and extravagance.
The first stanza of the poem introduces the reader to the country mouse, who lives in a "snug little cot" and enjoys a simple life with plain food. The stanza creates a sense of warmth and comfort, as the mouse is described as "fat" and "unmolested." This sets the stage for the contrast with the city mouse, who lives in a more luxurious and extravagant environment.
In the second stanza, the poem introduces the city mouse, who is a friend of the country mouse. The city mouse has come to visit the country mouse and is shocked by her plain food. The poem creates a sense of tension between the two mice, as the city mouse looks down upon the country mouse's food and offers to take her to the city to try some "excellent food, most delightful to eat."
The third stanza describes the country mouse's decision to accept the invitation and travel to the city with her friend. The stanza creates a sense of excitement and anticipation, as the country mouse is eager to try new foods and experience a different way of life.
The fourth stanza describes the two mice sneaking into a fancy room where a feast had been held the night before. The stanza creates a sense of decadence and indulgence, as the mice gorge themselves on custards, trifle, cheesecakes, and other delicacies. However, their feast is interrupted by the arrival of the dog, cat, and maid with a broom, and the country mouse becomes frightened and longs to return to her simple life in the countryside.
The final stanza of the poem is the moral of the story. The country mouse reflects on her experience in the city and realizes that true happiness comes not from material possessions or luxury but from being content with what you have. The poem ends on a note of wisdom and reflection, as the country mouse values her simple life and plain food above the extravagance of the city.
The poem can be interpreted in a variety of ways, depending on the reader's perspective. One interpretation is that the poem is a critique of the excesses of city life and a celebration of the virtues of rural life. The poem suggests that the simplicity and humility of the country mouse's lifestyle is more rewarding than the decadence and extravagance of the city mouse's lifestyle.
Another interpretation of the poem is that it is a commentary on the dangers of greed and the importance of being content with what you have. The city mouse, who is constantly seeking more and never satisfied, represents the vices of greed and extravagance, while the country mouse, who is content with her simple life and plain food, represents the virtues of contentment and humility.
The poem can also be seen as a cautionary tale about the dangers of leaving one's comfort zone and venturing into unfamiliar territory. The country mouse, who is content with her simple life in the countryside, is lured away by the promise of new experiences and the allure of the city. However, she quickly realizes that the city is not all it
The city mouse extends an invitation to the country mouse to come to the city to enjoy some delicious food that she would surely love. Although reluctant at first, the country mouse eventually accepts the invitation and leaves her simple life and her favorite bacon and grey peas behind to experience the luxuries of city living.
Upon arriving in the city, the country mouse and city mouse sneak into a grand feast that was held the previous night. They indulge in all kinds of delicacies, far better than the bacon and grey peas that the country mouse was used to.
However, their feast is short-lived as they are suddenly interrupted by the arrival of the dog, cat, and the maid with a broom. The country mouse quickly realizes that the city is not as peaceful as her home in the countryside, where she could enjoy her bacon and grey peas without any interruptions.
The experience of the city mouse and the country mouse highlights the contrast between the pleasures of city and country living. The city mouse lives in luxury, surrounded by delicious food, but also must endure the constant threat of danger from the various predators that inhabit the city. On the other hand, the country mouse leads a simple life but is free from the distractions and dangers of city life.
The poem, therefore, teaches us to appreciate the simple things in life and to find contentment in what we have. The country mouse's simple life may seem unremarkable compared to the city mouse's luxury, but it brings her genuine happiness, unlike the city mouse who must always be on guard against potential dangers.
Furthermore, the poem highlights the importance of cultural diversity and respecting differences in opinions and tastes. The city mouse and the country mouse have different lifestyles and preferences, and the poem shows that there is no right or wrong way to live. What matters most is finding joy and contentment in our own lives and respecting others' choices.
In conclusion, "The Country Mouse and the City Mouse" is a timeless tale that teaches us to find contentment and happiness in our own lives, appreciate the simple things in life, and respect others' differences. The poem's universal message is as relevant today as it was when it was first written, and it continues to be enjoyed by readers of all ages.
Here are the major points to remember from the poem "The Country Mouse and the City Mouse":
The poem contrasts the lifestyles of a country mouse and a city mouse.
The country mouse lives a simple life and enjoys plain food like bacon and grey peas.
The city mouse lives in luxury and enjoys delicacies like custard, trifle, and cheesecakes.
The city mouse invites the country mouse to the city to experience the luxuries of city living.
The country mouse accepts the invitation but soon realizes that the city is not as peaceful as her home in the countryside.
The poem teaches us to appreciate the simple things in life and find contentment in what we have.
The poem highlights the importance of cultural diversity and respecting differences in opinions and tastes.
The universal message of the poem is to find joy and contentment in our own lives and respect others' choices.
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