[Illustration: THE PEACOCK AND THE MAGPIE.]
The birds met together upon a time to choose a king; and the Peacock
standing candidate, displayed his gaudy plumes, and catched the eyes of
the silly multitude with the richness of his feathers. The majority
declared for him, and clapped their wings with great applause: but just
as they were going to proclaim him, the Magpie stepped forth in the
midst of the assembly, and addressed himself thus to the new king--'May
it please your majesty elect, to permit one of your unworthy subjects to
represent to you his suspicions and apprehensions, in the face of this
whole congregation: we have chosen you for our king, we have put our
lives and fortunes into your hands, and our whole hope and dependence is
upon you; if therefore, the Eagle, or the Vulture, or the Kite, should
at any time make a descent upon us, as it is highly probable they will,
may your majesty be so gracious as to dispel our fears, and clear our
doubts, about that matter, by letting us know how you intend to defend
us against them?'--This pithy unanswerable question drew the whole
audience into so just a reflection, that they soon resolved to proceed
to a new choice. But, from that time, the Peacock has been looked upon
as a vain insignificant pretender, and the Magpie esteemed as eminent a
speaker as any among the whole community of birds.