The City Mouse.    

The Country Mouse, AND The City Mouse.  
OR A merry moral Fable, enlarged out of Horace. Serm. lib. 2. Sat. 6.  

Rusticus urbanum murem, mus paupere fertur,  
Accepisse cavo, veterem vetus hospes amicum▪   

In former time a Country Mouse  
That in a Cave did live:  
Unto a wealthy City Mouse  
Did entertainment give.   
The second Edition.  
LONDON, Printed by Tho, Cote's, for Michael Spark junior, and are to be sold at the blue Bible in Green Arbour. 1637.   

A Caveat to Readers.  

LEt the Envious strive to show  
His scorn of this Fable below  
His fancy which must mounted be,  
Above the Readers Charity,  
As if he strove to relate  
Mysterious Oracles of Fate.  
This Fable is no fine device,  
But an old Fable of two Mice,  
Which desires no commendation  
But to be read for Recreation.  
For these Mice may talk in season,  
Having eaten many a Reason,  
Therefore if the Reader likeum,  
Must novum accipit amicum.  
Which is to say, the Mice intent,  
To count that Reader a new friend.    

THE COUNTRY MOUSE; AND The City Mouse.  

IN Italy, a Country rich in pleasure,  
Which nature had adorned with all her treasure,  
Both to delight the eye, and feed the sense;  
And seeming prodigal in her expense  
Had made the air sweet with the breath of flowenrs  
Which were begot by soft and gentle showers.  
Here on the bending of a Hill there stood,  
Some pleasant trees which made a shady wood,  
And here it chanced that a Country Mouse  
Did live alone, and kept a Country house.  
His house was not so spacious as those are  
Whose lofty Pinicles advanced with care  
May seem the living grave of some rich man:  
Who does usurp authority, and can  
In a fair roomy building, keep a house  
Of such clean diet that shall starve a mouse.  
But such was not the Cottage, nor the Cave,  
Wherein this Country Mouse, did live most brave  
And most complete, for though it were not large  
And spacious, yet this Mouse at his own charge,  
Did keep a good warm house, well stored with plenty  
The larders, nor the Butteries were not empty,  
As in these pinching days, no, he had store  
Of rich provision, and that is no sore.  
And first he had brave yellow Bacon, which  
For fatness was both glorious and rich,  
And some dry chippins that long time had been  
Kept in the mouldy Prison of a Been:  
Yet you must know this Country Mouse by nature  
Was but a covetous and hide bound creature,  
That stored up provision without end,  
Which he did choicely keep and would not spend  
Until that hunger did compel, than he  
Unto himself would somewhat liberal be.  
Yet he would feed alone, and oft did grudge  
To think his belly should devour so much,  
The thought of a dear year kept him in awe,  
So that with Acorns he would scour his maw,  
With Acorns or with some far courser fare,  
And as the Miser doth his God, would spare  
His chief provision, yet his narrow mind  
Did somewhat now enlarge, he grew more kind:  
To counterfeit a virtue he ne'er had  
Liberality, he showed himself right glad,  
That the City Mouse would come visit him  
In his poor Cottage, whereby it did seem  
He forgot not his poor friends, thus he went  
Forward with his dissembling compliment.  
The City Mouse as cunning, did return  
His Country Compliment with a kind of scorn,  
Casting a look on him which seemed to pity  
His ignorance that never knew the City,  
Imagining that Wit must be confined  
To Cloaks that are with Plush and Velvet lined:  
And that a Country man (as we do say,)  
Hath not a mother wit as well as they.  
The City Mouse it seemed conceived so,  
But now the Country Mouse begins to show  
Unto the other all his rooms, contrived  
In such a manner, as if he had strived  
To imitate the Labarinth of Greece;  
Where Theseus obtained the Golden Fleece.  
Being so intricate, for it did wind  
And turn about, so that no Art could find  
The way out of it, and such was the Cave  
Wherein this Mouse did live, and wisely save  
His Father's wealth, his parlour was thick spread  
With rushes, which were dry and withered.  
I should at first indeed have named the Hall,  
But that his house had no such room at all,  
He kept no Liveries, nor did he feed  
A crew of serving Creatures, nor did need  
A Hall wherein they might unto his credit  
Entertain strangers, no he did not need it,  
But scorning such old fashions, he had none,  
For entertainment but his dining room:  
On this hand stood his Buttery where he laid  
The Meat and Chippins which he had conveyed  
From rich men's houses, and there went a way,  
Which led unto a Seller, where there lay.  
Some Crabs, & wildings with whose sharp sour juce  
To quench his thirst he oftentimes did use,  
He had no greasy kitchen, for his meat  
Was always dressed, ready for to eat.  
Yet he had Larders where he laid his store,  
And a bedchamber, with diverse rooms more:  
For you must know, an old and ancient Mole,  
Was at the charge of building of this hole;  
And you do know a Mole, can forthwith cast,  
A house at his own proper charge and cost,  
Much workmanship, are in his models found,  
Although the building be still underground.  
And it did seem, this fair house did belong  
Unto a Mole, but he was dead and gone,  
And being defunct, both his goods and lands,  
As others do, came to a stranger's hands,  
But this is but a needless fond digression,  
The Country Mouse had gotten now possession,  
And warmly lived therein full many a day,  
And to the Lord of the soil did not pay  
Any rent at all, which made him to grow bolder,  
Because he knew that he was a freeholder.  
But let this pass, the Country mouse having shown  
The City Mouse his house and every room,  
As he had given content unto his sight,  
He thought to yield his stomach some delight.  
For the belly when a merry tale it hears,  
Takes no delight because it hath no ears,  
The hungry belly loves no tales I wish,  
Unless it be a Tail of buttered fish.  
It loves a pudding, wherein plumbs do stick,  
Better than Aristotle's Rhetoric.  
But I make haste now to describe the feast,  
Wherewith he did receive his dainty guest,  
So that Vitellius feasts though Sea, and Field,  
The earth, the air and all did freely yield  
Their several sacrifices to his Table,  
Yet to compare with this they were not able.  
Yet not for store, but this was more complete,  
Because it did exceed the dull conceit  
Of Cooks to make such, unless they turn thiefs,  
When they do make a dinner for the Shreeves.  
Sure not one bit of meat or bread was here,  
But had been stolen before it came there.  
He set before him ground Oates for to fill  
His belly, which were stolen from a Mill,  
With Pease, and other Pulse, and yellow Bacon,  
In pecces, which he cunningly had taken  
Out of a Cubboard, for his time he spied,  
When the Maid swallowed sleep by the fire side,  
When night grew old, and the candle burned dim,  
Then presently to filch he did begin,  
Also some husks of grapes which being pressed,  
Last vintage had bled forth wine of the best.  
Also some fragments of dry Pastry Crust,  
Wherein some luscious meats to heighten lust,  
Had smoked sometime, or else some Goose had been,  
Within this funeral Coffin closed in,  
Which at the private Sessions of a feast,  
Had been carved round about to every guest.  
And thus the Country Mouse with change of fare  
To please the City Mouse, did take great care,  
That with variety he might yield delight,  
To the City Mouse, whose costly appetite,  
Expected greater cheer, and was so dainty,  
He scarce would taste of any, in such plenty  
And store of dishes: but the Country Mouse,  
(who may be styled the Master of the house,)  
At th' others niceness inwardly did laugh,  
And being laid along in this years' chaff,  
He only fed upon dry Beans and Pease,  
And Barley, or such other pulse as these,  
Or on hard Petches that might exercise  
His teeth, at these he closely nubling lies,  
But for the other dishes he did spare  
To taste them, since indeed he thought they were  
Too costly; for his sparing was too great  
To allow his belly any such good meat,  
'Twas an affliction unto him to waste  
His store in such a manner, or to taste  
Of those same dishes; with which it did seem,  
His stomach never had acquainted been.  
And herein he did lively represent  
Some Miser, whose mind is so closely bend  
Upon his riches, that he does command  
The occasions of his life, to wait and stand  
At the will of his purse, he must not dine  
If his purse check him, he must drink no wine  
If his purse check him, than it is not good:  
For he pretends it will inflame his blood.  
And thus the Miser basely serves his purse,  
Money is not his blessing, but his curse,  
Who out of covetousness inures his Pallet  
With Diogenes, to feed on a poor Salad,  
With musty Vinegar, and no oil at all,  
This is the man whom we a miser call.  
He with this Country Mouse doth well agree,  
For both of them alike conditioned be.  
The Country Mouse did set before his guest  
His chiefest fare, to feast him with the best,  
But for himself he did allow the worst,  
And in this manner covetous men are cursed:  
But at the last the City Mouse to show,  
That from the City he his breeding drew,  
Where it is held a point of manners great,  
To talk and compliment, as they do eat,  
The City Mouse to observe due decorum,  
And show he was of the bene moratorum,  
Or the well manured, began to stroke  
His beard with his foot, and in Print thus spoke,  
Kind friend quoth he, know I am of the City,  
And therefore I your ignorance do pity,  
Had you any wisdom or intelligence,  
You would not live here with such patience,  
On the backside of a dark wood alone,  
Without company or conversation.  
Having no pleasant objects which may yield  
Delight unto you, but a hedge or field,  
Or store of trees wherein the wind doth make  
A hollow noise, when he their leaves doth shake.  
If thou hadst wit or ingenuity,  
Thou wouldst not prefer the society  
Of beasts and trees before men, therefore leave  
This melancholy Cell, which doth bereave  
Thee of delight, come therefore follow me  
Unto the City, where all pleasures be,  
And since that we who are terrestrial creatures,  
Have all of us but frail and mortal natures,  
And after life we must return again  
Unto the earth, and no part shall remain  
Of us, to tell the world that we have been,  
To live in pleasure, it to me doth seem  
The readiest way to happiness that's known,  
Our summum bonum, is a good fat bone.  
These Latin words I once by chance did eat,  
While I a book did gnaw, since that I speak  
These words by rote, and as some do, so I  
On all occasions bring forth and apply,  
Because I have no more; but to the matter  
My friend and Country Mouse I would not flatter  
Your understanding, for believe me death  
Will one day stop the pipes of our weak breath,  
If we were ne'er so great, yet you and I  
Must yield to time, for men and Mice must dye.  
Nay there is no exception, none can have,  
Nor great nor small a Privilege from the grave,  
Therefore be wise, make use now of thy time,  
Before thy days run on, and strength decline.  
Cherish thyself, and banish heavy sorrow,  
Think not on cares that shall ensue to morrow.  
Because our time will quickly have an end,  
Let us be sure our precious hours to spend,  
In such delights, that every greedy sense,  
May have his object, age doth bring offence,  
And takes away the enjoying of all pleasure,  
Then let us now enjoy our youthful leisure:  
Let us make time grow young, to see how we  
Do waste our time in mirth and jollity,  
And since our time will quickly waste away,  
Friend Country Mouse, 'tis wisdom to obey  
My counsel, and therefore come go with me,  
Unto the City where all pleasures be.  
Come go with me, and thou shalt quickly find  
That in the City, which will please thy mind.  
The Country Mouse harkening unto the story,  
Which the City Mouse, unto the City's glory,  
Did thus set forth, in all her Pageantry  
Consented unto him most willingly.  
It seems he had no great intelligence,  
And therefore he was drawn on by his sense,  
For of his speech he understood none of it,  
But that which touched his pleasure, or his profit:  
Like to some men who nothing understand,  
Until the matter be put into their hand,  
Even so this Mouse imagining that he,  
Should in the City live in jollity  
And height of Pleasure; does consent to go  
With the City Mouse; and so away they two  
Do trudge together, for both lightly skipped  
Out of the house, and so away they tripped,  
And thus together they joged on a while,  
Till having gone the length of one good mile  
They reached their journey, and at last they came  
To the City gates, where a blinckling flame  
Of Candle in a lantern, seemed to watch  
The sleepy bill men, that stood there to catch  
Some wand'ring drunkard, whose light giddy head  
Was reeling home to find the way to bed.  
But happy were those Travellers, or Mice,  
Who coming to the gates did in a trice  
Slip in between them, and in this fashion  
They passed the watch without examination.  
And now it was the mid-time of the night,  
And Luna in her chariot shined bright,  
While these two Mice did strike up many streets,  
The Country Mouse at every thing he meets  
Did wonder much, for when that he had seen  
A Conduit, he imagined it had been  
A bottle wherein Widow's tears were kept,  
Which at their husband's burial they had wept.  
He thought the signs that on the signeposts hung  
Were hanged for some offence that they had done,  
And when he saw a Tavern, he was bold  
To ask if any ale at all was sold  
In that Gentleman's Hall; The Country Mouse  
Thought every Tavern had been an Alehouse,  
And that the bush an Ivy bush bade been  
Where the old Owl or Buzzard lived within,  
Thus every thing appeared most strange and rare,  
For strangers with new objects taken are:  
So was this Mouse, who in the Country saw  
No rarities or sights were worth a straw,  
But in the City each thing did invite  
His eyes, to gaze with wonder and delight,  
And now suppose that they at last arrived  
At the house of a Citizen, who thrived  
So much in getting store of wealth, that he  
Exceeded all the rest of his degree,  
And he it seems had made a Miser's feast;  
Who seldom making any, had expressed  
More bounty than he used, for there came  
Many dishes from the table, to remain  
In the keeping of the Butler, to be made  
A standing sacrifice, and to upbraid  
The guests in cold blood for their gluttony,  
For their excess and wanton luxury.  
In a large platter here a Goose did lie,  
Of whom they had made an Anatomy,  
As it had been dissected at the Hall  
By cruel Surgeons, for to the bone all  
His flesh was pared off; and then moreover,  
There were some pasties that had half a cover,  
Some quaking Custards that had been attempted  
With many spoons, & so had been half empted.  
Besides some Tarts that had been cut with knives  
And dealt about unto the talking wives.  
To sweeten their conceits, whose froward hearts  
Do make their husbands often sup with Tarts.  
Also there was a worshipful piece of beef  
Which is held to be of all meats the chief.  
Besides the bones of fowls that had deserved  
So ill at their hands to be cut and carved,  
While the woodcock, whose name is ill abided,  
Amongst the wiser sort had been divided.  
There were wings of Partridges, Ducks, & Quales  
The legs of Turkeys, Pheasants, Snipes, and Rails  
As if they had ransacked the Sea and Field,  
And got all kind of foul, the Ark did yield:  
The Country Mouse liked all this good cheer well,  
And aired his stomach with the wholesome smell  
Of such good fare, for with much readiness,  
These Mice into the Buttery got access,  
At a small hole, was underneath the door,  
And when they saw of cheer such costly store,  
The Country Mouse therewith was well content  
And the City Mouse without all Compliment,  
Bid him welcome, and advised him to eat,  
For here quoth he you see is store of meat,  
Dispense with my blunt phrases for 'tis night,  
And to use many words would but affright  
The Servants in the house; if we should squeak  
In a loud key, out of their sleep they'd break.  
Content quoth the Country Mouse, let us fall  
About the meat, and make no noise at all.  
Withat the Country Mouse straightway did lay  
His teeth to a Duck that was in his way,  
And spoiled the fashion of his wings then next  
The body of a Turkey, he strait vexed  
With gnawing it, and then again to change  
His diet he began again to range,  
And fasten on a Quail, then on a Snipe,  
And all this while his mouth he did not wipe,  
Forgetting Ceremonies and all manners,  
For these two Mice had never learned their Grammars  
Of moral matters, or of Civility,  
And therefore they scorned all formality:  
When they had eaten hard seeing such store  
The Country Mouse since he could eat no more,  
Was very sorry for he did never taste,  
Such dishes as had at this feast been placed.  
Before this time, so that he thus did say,  
Happy are such as eat and sport, and play.  
We may talk of wonders, but I think 'tis right  
That sensual pleasures yield the most delight  
Though some termed Clarks are more intelligible  
Yet Mice, and Maidens still are sensible,  
And this moral Note I will gather hence  
The soul of pleasure lieth in the sense.  
Why do we talk, yet why are we afeard?  
A Mouse is a Philosopher by his beard.  
But now all thanks unto the City Mouse  
I tender, for bringing me unto this house.  
How poor is the Country, how disconsolate?  
For now my belly's full a while to prate  
I can intend, I tell you those who live  
In Country Ignorance, and do only give,  
Their time to vulgar drudgery; do spend  
Their happy houses unto a servile end,  
That understand but how to drive their team  
With whistling while their Horses are in a dream,  
Concerning provender, until they do make them  
An exposition when their whip doth wake them.  
I tell thee City Mouse, the Country can,  
Afford no pleasures unto Mouse or Man,  
For here I have what my desire can crave,  
There I am glad of chip in a cave.  
And yet I thought them good, but now I find,  
He that doth change his air, doth change his mind.  
If I talk beyond my compass, I desire,  
To be excused, this cheer doth me inspire  
For when the bellyes full, out of the Platter  
Men oftentimes do speak exquisite matter.  
Some say that we should with a stomach talk  
And let our tongues courageously then walk  
But to talk without a stomach sure is best  
When we have filled our stomach at a feast.  
Nay quoth the City Mouse since you admire  
This store and plenty I do now desire  
You would survey the Rooms, and you shall see  
What spacious and fair large rooms here be.  
Each place doth seem a paradise of pleasure,  
Wherein the Rich man spends his doting leisure,  
You are not cased up here within a cave,  
For your large mind, as large a room shall have,  
Under the guilded ceiling of some chamber  
Or palace, where you may live free from danger;  
The thefts of Mice rich men do scorn to see  
For in such places Mice may live most free,  
But a small fault committed by a Mouse  
Is soon discerned in a Country house.  
Here we may live, but as I said come see  
Those other rooms, which I will show to thee.  
Thus usherd by the City Mouse they come  
At last into a fair neat dining Room:  
With pictures hung about, there was a Friar,  
That to a Nun it seems had a desire  
He hugged her in his arms, and the warm zeal  
Which Friars do bear Nuns he did reveal.  
The Country Mouse, had a dull apprehension  
So that he took no pleasure in invention,  
Or to view that picture, but was more taken  
With the picture, of a gamon of Bacon,  
What sweet proportions are there quoth he?  
In this gamon, it is love's epitome.  
Thus rural minds do oftentimes advance  
Unworthy things through their dull ignorance▪  
The tables in this dining room were spread  
With Turkey carpets all embroidered.  
The stools the cushions, and every chair  
Of cloth of Silver and rich Tissue were  
Whereon young Gentlewomen, and Ladies might  
Sat, while their beauties shined forth more bright,  
Then their less glorious feat, but at this time  
The Country mouse into a chair did climb,  
But the other mouse upon the Table got,  
And presently it was his happy lot,  
To smell a dish of sweet conserveses and plumbs,  
Then straightway he a little farther runs  
And finds a dish of marchpaine, that was framed  
In the shape of a Castle, and had sustained,  
A most fierce siege, so that the structure quite  
Had been demolished for the guests delight.  
The Country Mouse thus seated in a chair  
The City Mouse expressed much love and care  
In waiting on him and before him set  
A dish wherein was left some Marmalet,  
And then he brought him some sweet Sugar plums  
The Country Mouse thought these were pleasant crumbs.  
For he before had use to whet his teeth,  
On rusty Bacon, or upon hung Beef:  
So that these sweetmeates seemed to melt,  
Within his mouth before that they were felt.  
The City Mouse did still attending stand  
Waiting upon him ready at's command,  
And tasting unto him every dish lest he  
Should suspect in him some foul treachery.  
Much diligence he showed thereby to express  
What happiness his present state did bless.  
So that the plenty seemed to upbraid  
The dinner which the Country Mouse had made.  
For the City Mouse, when he came to his Cave.  
No such varieties, for him could have  
In the Country, but his stomach there was lined  
With such fare as the Country Mouse did find  
Into some poor cupboard that stood open empty,  
But in the City he found store and plenty.  
The Country Mouse thus feasted with good cheat  
Did in a jocund humour soon appear,  
And his conceits were sweetened so that he  
In a fine witty humour began to be  
And would needs discourse unto the City Mouse,  
Telling him that he liked the rich man's house,  
For here quoth he, we shall do wondrous well,  
And no body our knavery can smell,  
For if we to a rich man's house belong:  
We shall be honest do we right or wrong.  
To walk a nights we need not be afeared  
For in the great rooms we shall not be heard;  
O quoth the City Mouse, I see you are wise,  
The City doth afford most rarities,  
And in the City rich men's houses be  
Places of pleasure, as you painely see,  
Besides all this you shall find more delight  
For I will tell you 'twas my chance one night  
To hear a wooing match, and as I said  
The Butler was wooing the Chambermaid.  
I heard it all and when their candle grew  
Unto a snufe, he did much boldness show,  
So that he would have done I tell you plain  
An act of darkness which I will not name,  
You must conceive my meaning, but when he  
Imagined all the house in bed to be,  
I having behind the chamber wainscot got,  
Began to scrape, which he mistrusted not.  
And hindered him of that which he did mean,  
And put him quite out of his wooing Scene.  
For I was then even gnawing of a bone,  
Behind the wainscot, as I oft had done,  
But when the Butler, and the Maid it heard  
They presently began to be afeard  
And through a little cranny I espied  
That both the Maids cheeks with a blush were died  
And so these Lovers, being both faint-hearted  
By a poor Mouse were frighted and soon parted  
For when I gnawed my bone again, than they  
For fear they should be taken ran away.  
O than thought I, I do observe by this  
That such are fearful as intend amiss,  
And though they never think upon the devil  
A Mouse can fright them when they purpose evil.  
The Country Mouse, when he had heard his story  
Began to tell another in his glory.  
Some Maidens in the Country on a time  
Had made one night a Posset of good Wine.  
And thereunto their sweet hearts did invite  
Intending to be merry all that night;  
The Maidens and their Sweethearts merry were,  
When I did put them all into a fear.  
For I began to scrape behind a wall,  
So that they straightway were affrighted all.  
They thought their mistress had been coming down  
And so away they slipped every one,  
And as you said, thereby it did appear  
That guilty minds of all things stand in fear.  
But O friend City Mouse what rare content?  
Shall we enjoy when we are resident,  
Here in the City; where each day and night  
Shall yield us choice varieties of delight.  
Here we shall feast our bodies with acquaint dishes  
And in a word we shall have here our wishes.  
But when the Country Mouse these words had spoke  
One of the Maids began to turn the lock,  
Of the dining room, because that she did mean  
As it did seem to sweep it very clean,  
But then the Mice were put unto their Trumpets  
One from the Tableleapes, and other jumps  
Off from the Chair, and so both round about  
They ran, but yet no hole they could find out,  
So that behind the hangings they did hide  
Themselves, and in a mortal fear did bide.  
Until the Maid when she had swept the room  
Went out and locked the door when she had done.  
But now the Mice being in a sweat for fear  
Came forth again when that the coast was clear,  
But the country mouse did then so quake & tremble  
That you might plainly see he did not dissemble.  
And now the Servants did begin to rise  
And in the streets they heard a hundred cries  
So that the Country Mouse was in a fright  
And wished he had not come from home that night  
Thanking the City Mouse for his good cheer,  
Which he esteemed he had bought too dear.  
He told the City Mouse he would repair  
Unto the Country where without all care  
He could live freely, telling him he thought  
Pleasure to dear, that with such fear is bought,  
Although my Country fare is not so dainty,  
Content is better unto me than plenty.  
There I can live most quietly under ground  
In a poor cave, and never there be found  
And when I list can go unto a mill,  
And with ground corn my belly sound fill  
To steal into a cubboard I'm not afraid  
For any Mouse may fright a Country Maid,  
Especially if I do sometimes proffer  
To creep beneath her coats, she fears the offer  
And presently aloud the Maid will screek  
And then into some hole I straightway creep  
And there I laugh to think the Maid jone can  
Thus fear a Mouse that does not fear a man.  
Therefore I thank you for my cheer but I  
In the Country resolve to live and dye.  
Let me in quietness there spend my leisure  
For as I said content is my chief pleasure.  
But now the Crow with hollow voice did creak,  
And daylight did begin a pace to break  
The City Mouse, a little on his way  
Did bring him, and then it did grow broad day,  
So that the Country Mouse bid him Farewell.  
For I (quoth he) within the woods will dwell.  
Where though my fare be course, I will live free  
" He is not poor that can contented be.   

The Moral.  
Philosophy was vayld of old  
Under Fables, such as Aesop told.  
And Horace, showing men their lives  
Through those clear Perspectives:  
So by this Fable this is meant  
That happiness rests in Content,  
And that contentedness may dwell  
In a poor Cave or Hermit's Cell.   
FINIS.