ese out of a cottage window,
flew up with it into a high tree in order to eat it; which the
Fox observing, came and sat underneath, and began to compliment
the Crow upon the subject of her beauty. "I protest," says he, "I
never observed it before, but your feathers are of a more
delicate white than any that ever I saw in my life! Ah! what a
fine shape and graceful turn of body is there! And I make no
question but you have a tolerable voice. If it is but as fine as
your complexion, I do not know a bird that can pretend to stand
in competition with you." The Crow foolishly believed all that
the Fox said was true; but, thinking the Fox a little dubious as
to her vocal powers, and having a mind to set him right in that
matter, opened her mouth, and, in the same instant, let the
cheese drop out of her mouth. This being what the Fox wanted, he
caught it up in a moment, and trotted away, laughing to himself
at the easy credulity of the Crow.

MORAL.

When anyone is flattered as possessing qualities he ought to feel
conscious he does not possess, let him beware lest the flatterers
wish either to deprive him of some solid good, or to make him
appear ridiculous in the eyes of others.

[Illustration: THE FOX AND THE CROW]

FABLE XXXIII.

THE PEACOCK'S COMPLAINT.

The Peacock presented a memorial to Juno, importing how hardly he
thought he was used, in not having so good a voice as the
Nightingale; how that bird was agreeable to every ear that heard
it, while he was laughed at for his ugly, screaming noise, if he
did but open his mouth.

The goddess, concerned at the uneasiness of her favourite bird,
answered him very kindly to this purpose:--"If the Nightingale is
blest with a fine voice, you have the advantage in point of
beauty and size." "Ah!" says he, "but what avails my silent,
unmeaning beauty, when I am so far excelled in voice?"

The goddess dismissed him, bidding him consider that the
properties of every creature were appointed by the decree of
Fate; to him beauty, to the Eagle strength, to the Nightingale a
voice of melody, to the Parrot the faculty of speech, and to the
Dove innocence; that each of these was contented with his own
peculiar quality; and, unless he wished to be miserable, he must
also learn to be equally satisfied.

MORAL.

The man who to his lot's resigned
True happiness is sure to find;
While envy ne'er can mend the ill,
But makes us feel it keener still.