A City Mouse being once entertained at the table of a Country one, dined on humble acorns in a hole. Afterwards he prevailed upon the Countryman by his entreaties to enter the city and a cellar that abounded with the choicest things. Here, while they were enjoying remnants of various kinds, the door is thrown open, and in comes the Butler; the Mice, terrified at the noise, fly in different directions, and the City one easily hides himself in his well-known holes; while the unfortunate Rustic, all trepidation in that strange house, and dreading death, runs to-and-fro along the walls. When the Butler had taken what he wanted, and had shut the door, the City Mouse bade the Country one again to take courage. The latter, still in a state of perturbation, replied: “I hardly can take any food for fear. Do you think he will come?” --“Why are you in such a fright?” said the City one; “come, let us enjoy dainties which you may seek in vain in the country.” The Countryman {replied}: “You, who don’t know what it is to fear, will enjoy all these things; but, free from care and at liberty, may acorns be my food!” ’Tis better to live secure in poverty, than to be consumed by the cares attendant upon riches. FABLE X. THE ASS FAWNING UPON HIS MASTER. An Ass, seeing the Dog fawn upon his master, and how he was crammed at his table each day, and had bits thrown to him in abundance by the Servants, thus remarked: “If the Master and the Servants are so very fond of a most filthy Dog, what must it be with me, if I should pay him similar attentions, who am much better than this Dog, and useful and praiseworthy in many respects; who am supported by the pure streams of undefiled water, and never in the habit of feeding upon nasty food? Surely I am more worthy than a whelp to enjoy a happy life, and to obtain the highest honor.” While the Ass is thus soliloquising, he sees his Master enter the stable; so running up to him in haste and braying aloud, he leaps upon him, claps both feet on his shoulders, begins to lick his face; and tearing his clothes with his dirty hoofs, he fatigues his Master with his heavy weight, as he stupidly fawns upon him. At their Master’s outcry the Servants run to the spot, and seizing everywhere such sticks and stones as come in their way, they punish the braying {beast}, and knocking him off his Master’s body, soon send him back, half-dead to the manger, with sore limbs and battered rump. {This} Fable teaches that a fool is not to thrust himself upon those who do not want him, or affect to perform the part of one superior {to him}. FABLE XI. THE CRANE, THE CROW, AND THE COUNTRYMAN.