Social Commentaries

The Peacock Complaining to Juno

by Jean de La Fontaine 1621–1695

Translated by Walter Thornbury (1886) · From Fables (1668–1694)

Social Commentaries

The Peacock to great Juno came:
"Goddess," he said, "they justly blame
The song you've given to your bird:
All nature thinks it most absurd,
The while the Nightingale, a paltry thing,
Is the chief glory of the spring:
Her note so sweet, and deep, and strong."
"I do thee, jealous bird, no wrong,"
Juno, in anger, cried:
"Restrain thy foolish pride.
Is it for you to envy other's song?--
You who around your neck art wearing
Of rainbow silks a hundred different dyes?--
You, who can still display to mortal's eyes
A plume that far outfaces
A lapidary's jewel-cases?
Is there a bird beneath the skies
More fit to please and strike?
No animal has every gift alike:
We've given you each one his special dower;
This one has beauty, and that other power.
Falcons are swift; the Eagle's proud and bold;
By Ravens sorrow is foretold;
The Crow announces miseries to come;
All are content if singing or if dumb.
Cease, then, to murmur, lest, as punishment,
The plumage from thy foolish back be rent."

MLA

La Fontaine, Jean de. “The Peacock Complaining to Juno.” Translated by Walter Thornbury. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/la-fontaine/34/.

Chicago

La Fontaine, Jean de. “The Peacock Complaining to Juno.” Translated by Walter Thornbury. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/la-fontaine/34/.

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