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 screamings disgust every
one who hears them. The Goddess, concerned at the uneasiness of her
favourite 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 excelled 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 Nightingale a voice of melody; the
faculty of speech to the Parrot; and to the Dove innocence. Each of
these is contented with his own peculiar quality; and unless you have a
mind to be miserable, you must learn to be so too.