World-Wide Fables
ONCE on a time (so runs the Fable) a Country-Mouse, right hospitable, Received a Town-Mouse at his board, Just as Farmer might a Lord, a frugal Mouse, upon the whole, Yet loved his friend, and had a Soul, Knew what was handsome, and would do it, Or just occasion, and be mute. He brought him bacon, nothing lean, Pudding that might have pleased a dean; Cheese, such as men in Suffolk make, Yet wished it Stilton for his sake, Yet, to his guest though no Way sparing, He eat himself the rind and paring. Our courtier scarce could touch bit, But showed his breeding and his wit; He did his best to seem to eat, And cried, "I vow you’re mighty neat. But la! my friend, this savage scene! Leave it, and come and live with men: Consider, mice, like men, must die, Both small and great, both you and I: Then spend your life in joy and sport," This doctrine, friend, I learn'd at court.’ The veriest hermit in the nation May yield, Heaven knows to strong temptation. Away they come, through thick and thin, To tall house near Lincoln's Inn. Now let it in word, be said, The moon was up, and men abed, The napkins white, the carpet red, The guests withdrawn, had left the treat And down the mice sat tete-a-tete. Our courtier walks from dish to dish, Tastes for his friend of fowl and fish, "That jelly’s rich, this malmsey healing, Pray dip your whiskers and your tail in.’ Was ever such happy swain, He stuffs, and swills, and stuffs again. I’m quite ashamed—’tis mighty rude To eat so much—but all’s so good -, I have a thousand thanks to give, My Lord above knows how to live.’ No sooner said, but from the hall, Rush chaplain, butler, dogs and all: A rat, A rat! clap to the door’- The cat comes bounding on the floor. An’t please your honor, ’quoth the peasant, 'This same desert is not so pleasant: Give me again my hollow tree, crust of bread, and liberty!’
Carlson Fable Collection
McLoughlin Brothers
1880
Illustrator Unknown
borrows from Alexander Pope (43) which makes it very similar to (16) and (34) which also borrow from this version
English
Verse
44
no listed page numbers
The British Poets
Our friend Dan Prior had, you know,
A tale exactly a propos;
Name a town life--and, in a trice,
He had a story of two mice.
Once on a time (so runs the fable)
A country mouse-right hospitable-
Received a town mouse at his board,
Just as a farmer might a lord.
A frugal mouse upon the whole,
Yet loved his friend, and had a soul;
Know what was handsome, and would do 't.
On just occasion _coute qui coute_.
He brought him bacon nothing lean,
Pudding that might have pleased a Dean;
Cheese, such as men of Suffolk make,
But wished it Stilton for his sake.
Yet to his guest by no means sparing,
He munched himself the rind and paring.
Our courtier scarce could touch a bit,
But showed his breeding and his wit,
And did his best to seem to eat--
And said: "I vow you're mighty neat;
But, my dear friend, this savage scene!-
I pray you come and live with men.
Consider mice, like men, must die;
Then crop the rosy hours that fly."
The veriest hermit in the nation
May yield, all know, to strong temptation:
Away they went, through thick and thin,
To a tall house near Lincoln's Inn.
The moonbeam fell upon the wall,
And tipped with silver roof and all,-
Palladian walls, Venetian doors,
Grotesco roofs and stucco floors;
And, let it in one word be said,
The moon was up-the men abed-
The guests withdrawn had left, though late,
When down the mice sat tete a tete
Our courtier walks from dish to dish,
And tastes of flesh, and fowl, and fish;
Tells all their names, lays down the law,
"Que ca est bon! Ah, goutez ca!
That jelly's rich, this malmsey's healing,
Pray dip your whiskers and your tail in!"
Was ever such a happy swain--
He stuffs, and sips, and stuffs again!
"I'm quite ashamed--'tis mighty rude
To eat so much--all is so good."
But as he spoke, bounce from the hall
Rushed chaplain, butler, dogs, and all.
Oh! for the heart of Homer's mice
Or gods, to save them in a trice;
It was by miracle they think,
For Roman stucco has no chink.
"But, please your honour," said the peasant,
"This same dessert is not so pleasant:
Give me again my hollow tree,
A crust of bread, and liberty!"
Alexander Pope
Google Books
Chiswick Press
1822
(16), (34) and (44) all borrow from this version,
english
Verse
43
page 153
One Hundred Fables in verse; by various authors
ONCE on time (so runs the Fable) a Country-Mouse, right hospitable, Received a Town-Mouse at his board, Just as Farmer might a Lord, a frugal Mouse, upon the whole, Yet loved his friend, and had a Soul, Knew what was handsome, and would do it, Or just occasion, and be mute. He brought him bacon, nothing lean, Pudding that might have pleased a dean; Cheese, such as men in Suffolk make, Yet wished it Stilton for his sake, Yet, to his guest though no Way sparing, He eat himself the rind and paring. Our courtier scarce could touch bit, But shewed his breeding and his wit; He did his best to seem to eat, And cried, "Indeed you’re mighty neat. But change, my friend, this savage scene! Leave it, and come and live with men: Consider, mice, like men, must die, Both small and great, both you and I: Then spend your life in joy and sport," (This doctrine, friend, learn'd at court.)’ The veriest hermit in the nation May yield, we know, to strong temptation. Away they come, through thick and thin, To tall house near Lincoln's Inn: ('Twas on the night of a debate, When all their Lordships had sat late.) Behold the place, where, if poet Shined in description he might shew it; Tell how the moon-beam trembling falls, And tips with silver all the walls; Palladian walls, Venetian doors, Grotesco roofs, and stucco floors: But let it, in word, be said, The moon was up, and men a-bed, The napkins white, the carpet red, The guests withdrawn, the vacant seat Had left the mice to share the treat. Our courtier walks from dish to dish, Tastes for his friend of fowl and fish, Descants on every thing he saw, Tells all their names, lays down the law, That jelly’s rich, this malmsey healing, Pray dip your whiskers and your tail in.’ Was ever such happy swain, He stuffs, and swills, and stuffs again. I’m quite asham'd—’tis mighty rude To eat so much—but all’s so good -, I have a thousand thanks to give, My Lord above knows how to live.’ No sooner said, but from the hall, Rush servants, butler, dogs and all: A rat, A rat! clap to the door’- The cat comes bouncing on the floor. An’t please your honour, ’quoth the peasant, 'This same desert is not so pleasant: Give me again my hollow tree, crust of bread, and liberty!’
Poem by Jonathan Swift and Alexander Pope
Google Books
Unknown
1825
Edited and Selected by James Plumptre
Adds some material to Alexander Pope's version (43)
Similar material is borrowed by Rose (19) and Aunt Louisa Series (44)
English
Verse
34
pages 6-8
Fables of John Gay (somewhat altered).
Our friend Dan Prior had, you know, A tale exactly a propos ; Name a town life — and, in a trice, He had a story of two mice. Once upon a time (so runs the fable) A country mouse — right hospitable — Received a town mouse at his board, Just as a farmer might a lord. A frugal mouse upon the whole, Yet loved his friend, and had a soul; Knew what was handsome, and would do 't On just occasion coute qui coute. He brought him bacon nothing lean, Pudding that might have pleased a Dean ; Cheese, such as men of Suffolk make, But wished it Stilton for his sake. Yet to his guest by no means sparing, He munched himself the rind and paring. Our courtier scarce could touch a bit, But showed his breeding and his wit, And did his best to seem to eat — And said : " I vow you're mighty neat ; But, my dear friend, this savage scene! — I pray you come and live with men. Consider mice, like men, must die ; Then crop the rosy hours that fly." The veriest hermit in the nation May yield, all know, to strong temptation : Away they went, through thick and thin, To a tall house near Lincoln's Inn. The moonbeam fell upon the wall, And tipped with silver roof and all, — Palladian walls, Venetian doors, Grotesco roofs and stucco floors ; And, let it in one word be said, The moon was up — the men abed — The guests withdrawn had left, though late, When down the mice sat tete a tete. Our courtier walks from dish to dish, And tastes of flesh, and fowl, and fish ; Tells all their names, lays down the law, " Que ca est bon ! Ah, goutez ca ! That jelly's rich, this malmsey's healing, Pray dip your whiskers and your tail in ! " Was ever such a happy swain — He stuffs, and sips, and stuffs again ! " I'm quite ashamed— 'tis mighty rude To eat so much— all is so good." But as he spoke, bounce from the hall Bushed chaplain, butler, dogs, and all. Oh! for the heart of Homer's mice Or gods, to save them in a trice ; It was by miracle they think, For Roman stucco has no chink. " But, please your honour," said the peasant, " This same dessert is not so pleasant : Give me again my hollow tree, A crust of bread, and liberty ! "
John Benson Rose
Hathi Trust
William Clowes and sons
1871
borrows from Alexander Pope (43) which makes it very similar to (34) and (44) which also borrow from this version
English
Verse
19
pages 125-126