The Peacock And Juno
The Peacock made complaint to Juno that, while the nightingale pleased
every ear with his song, he himself no sooner opened his mouth than
he became a laughingstock to all who heard him. The Goddess, to console
him, said, "But you far excel in beauty and in size. The splendor
of the emerald shines in your neck and you unfold a tail gorgeous
with painted plumage." "But for what purpose have I," said the bird,
"this dumb beauty so long as I am surpassed in song?' "The lot of
each," replied Juno, "has been assigned by the will of the Fates--to
thee, beauty; to the eagle, strength; to the nightingale, song; to
the raven, favorable, and to the crow, unfavorable auguries. These
are all contented with the endowments allotted to them."
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