The Peacock Complaining to Juno
Artist: Gustave Moreau (French, 1826–1898)
Date: 1881
Medium: Watercolour
Collection: Gustave Moreau Museum, Paris, France
The Peacock Complaining to Juno
The bird of Juno thus complained: “Goddess,” he said, “ I am constrained To murmur at my own discordant note.
The song you gave my strident throat Displeases nature round; Whereas the nightingale, that silly thing, With lively notes of sweetest sound Makes all the groves and valleys ring,
And bears away the honours of the spring.”
Juno in anger quick replied:
“ Peace, jealous bird ! does it to thee belong To envy the poor nightingale his song? Thy neck with colours of the rainbow dyed, Strutting in all thy varied silken pride! Thy tail, where riches sparkle bright and vary, Like the brave treasures of a lapidary!
There is no bird beneath the skies So pleasing to admiring eyes.
No animals all gifts can claim, Their qualities change with their name; Some big and strong you may behold, Swift is the hawk, the eagle bold, The raven bodes the near-approaching doom, The crow forewarns of evils yet to come; And all contented spread around their note. Cease then complaining, or from tail to throat I’ll strip thee, murmurer, of thy gaudy coat !”
