The Town Rat & The Country Rat

THE TOWN RAT AND THE COUNTRY RAT. 

 

   A Rat from town, a country Rat  

  Invited in the civilest way;  

 For dinner there was just to be  

  Ortolans and an entremet.

Upon a Turkey carpet soft 

  The noble feast at last was spread;  

  I leave you pretty well to guess  

  The merry, pleasant life they led.

Gay the repast, for plenty reigned,

   Nothing was wanting to the fare;  

  But hardly had it well begun 

  Ere chance disturbed the friendly pair.

A sudden racket at the door  

 Alarmed them, and they made retreat; 

  The City Rat was not the last,  

 His comrade followed fast and fleet.  

 The noise soon over, they returned,

   As rats on such occasions do; 

    "Come," said the liberal citizen, 

  "And let us finish our ragout."