FABLES. 



237 



JUNO AND THE PEACOCK. 



THE Peacock complained to Juno, how hardly he 

 was used in not having so good a voice as the 

 Nightingale. That little bird, says he, charms 

 every ear with his melody, while my hoarse scream- 

 ings disgust every one who hears them. The 

 goddess, concerned at the uneasiness of her favour- 

 ite bird, answered him very kindly to this purpose: 

 If the Nightingale be blest with a fine voice, you 

 have the advantage in point of beauty and majesty 

 of person. Ah! said the Peacock, but what avails 

 my silent unmeaning beauty, when I am so far ex- 

 celled in voice? The goddess dismissed him with 

 this advice: Consider that the properties of every 

 creature were appointed by the decree of fate; to 

 you beauty; strength to the Eagle; to the Nightin- 

 gale a voice of melody; the faculty of speech to the 



