64 FAVOURITE FABLES.

in after the close of the evening. They did so, and about
midnight made their entry into a certain great house, where
there had been an extraordinary entertainment the day
before, and several tit-bits, which some of the servants had
purloined, were hid under a seat of a window. The country
guest was immediately placed in the midst of a rich Persian
carpet; and now it was the courtier’s turn to entertain, who,
indeed, acquitted himself in that capacity with the utmost
readiness and address, changing the courses as elegantly,
and tasting everything first as judiciously, as any clerk of the
kitchen. The other sat and enjoyed himself like a delighted
epicure, tickled to the last degree with this new turn of his
affairs; when, on a sudden, a noise of somebody opening the
door made them start from their seats and scuttle in con-
fusion about the dining-room. Our country friend, in par-
ticular, was ready to die with fear at the barking of a huge
Mastiff or two, which opened their throats just about the
same time, and made the whole house echo.

At last, recovering himself, ‘‘ Well,’’ says he, ‘‘if this be
your town life, much good may you do with it; give me my
poor, quiet hole again, with my homely but comfortable
grey pease.”

MORAL.

Poverty and safety are preferable to luxury and danger.