The peacock went to Juno, complaining that she had not attributed to him the voice of the nightingale; this, indeed, aroused the admiration of all the birds, while he was mocked as soon as he emitted his voice. Then the goddess, to console him, said: "But you win him in beauty, you win him in greatness; the splendour of the emerald shines on your neck, and you unfold with your colorful feathers a tail studded with gems." "Of what use to me," said the peacock, "a mute beauty, if I am vanquished in song?" "Fate, at her will, has assigned you the parts: to you the beauty, the strength to the eagle, to the nightingale the
singing sweetness, prophecy to the raven, favorable omens to the crow (if from the left) and all are pleased with their gifts. Do not demand what you have not been given, lest disappointed hope turns into complaint."
[ Pavo ad Iunonem venit, indigne ferens
Cantus luscinii quod sibi non tribuerit;
Illum esse cunctis avibus admirabilem,
Se derideri simul ac vocem miserit.
Tunc consolandi gratia dixit dea:
«Sed forma vincis, vincis magnitudine;
Nitor smaragdi collo praefulget tuo
Pictisque plumis gemmeam caudam explicas».
«Quo mi» inquit «mutam speciem, si vincor sono?»
«Fatorum arbitrio partes sunt vobis datae:
Tibi forma, vires aquilae, luscinio melos,
Augurium corvo, laeva cornici omina,
Omnesque propriis sunt contentae dotibus.
Noli affectare quod tibi non est datum,
Delusa ne spes ad querelam recidat».]
singing sweetness, prophecy to the raven, favorable omens to the crow (if from the left) and all are pleased with their gifts. Do not demand what you have not been given, lest disappointed hope turns into complaint."
[ Pavo ad Iunonem venit, indigne ferens
Cantus luscinii quod sibi non tribuerit;
Illum esse cunctis avibus admirabilem,
Se derideri simul ac vocem miserit.
Tunc consolandi gratia dixit dea:
«Sed forma vincis, vincis magnitudine;
Nitor smaragdi collo praefulget tuo
Pictisque plumis gemmeam caudam explicas».
«Quo mi» inquit «mutam speciem, si vincor sono?»
«Fatorum arbitrio partes sunt vobis datae:
Tibi forma, vires aquilae, luscinio melos,
Augurium corvo, laeva cornici omina,
Omnesque propriis sunt contentae dotibus.
Noli affectare quod tibi non est datum,
Delusa ne spes ad querelam recidat».]
