Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 11.22

Think of the country mouse and of the town mouse, and of the alarm and trepidation of the town mouse.

—Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book 11.22 (tr Long)

Whenever an author refers to another author, I always feel the need to look up at that reference, and to make some sense of the original meaning.

I do this, however, not to be like a fancy scholar, who can cite chapter and verse for anything and everything; I do it in an attempt to become a decent person, one who can learn understanding and love for anything and everything. There is indeed a real difference.

How many people have I known, clever and astute in all the ways of higher learning, who turned out to be the most dismissive and hateful folks? They certainly knew their books, while knowing so little of right and wrong. Please, don’t let me be that sort of fellow. I have no need to be the town mouse, and should be quite content to be the country mouse.

I actually jump up and down for joy a little bit when I see Marcus Aurelius refer to Aesop. I was raised with these stories, and as I have gotten much older, the lessons within them have become all the more important to me. Here’s the version of the tale I grew up with:

Now you must know that a Town Mouse once upon a time went on a visit to his cousin in the country. He was rough and ready, this cousin, but he loved his town friend and made him heartily welcome. Beans and bacon, cheese and bread, were all he had to offer, but he offered them freely.

The Town Mouse rather turned up his long nose at this country fare, and said: "I cannot understand, Cousin, how you can put up with such poor food as this, but of course you cannot expect anything better in the country; come you with me and I will show you how to live. When you have been in town a week you will wonder how you could ever have stood a country life."

No sooner said than done. The two mice set off for the town and arrived at the Town Mouse's residence late at night. "You will want some refreshment after our long journey," said the polite Town Mouse, and took his friend into the grand dining room. There they found the remains of a fine feast, and soon the two mice were eating up jellies and cakes and all that was nice.

Suddenly they heard growling and barking. "What is that?" said the Country Mouse. "It is only the dogs of the house," answered the other. "Only!" said the Country Mouse. "I do not like that music at my dinner."

Just at that moment the door flew open, in came two huge mastiffs, and the two mice had to scamper down and run off. "Good-bye, Cousin," said the Country Mouse. "What! Going so soon?" said the other. "Yes" he replied:

"Better beans and bacon in peace than cakes and ale in fear."  

Written in 6/2009