Once Juno's Bird (as Authors say) <br />Was seiz'd on by some Birds of Prey: <br />They pluck'd his Feathers, one by one, <br />Till all his useful Plumes were gone; <br />Stript him of ev'ry thing beside; <br />But left his Train, to please his Pride. <br /> <br />Some other Birds admir'd to see, <br />He tamely bore such Injury; <br />And often on his Patience jok'd-- <br />He cry'd--They must not be provok'd: <br />I'm in their Pow'r, nor shall debate, <br />But yield to my unhappy Fate. <br /> <br />Yet in this Plight would he resort, <br />To where the Eagle kept his Court: <br />For, tho' oppress'd, he still was proud <br />To make his Bows among the Croud. <br /> <br />The Eagle, gracious, saw him there; <br />Which envious Courtiers could not bear, <br />Well knowing, should he tread that Soil, <br />He would in time put in for Spoil. <br /> <br />As Tameness Injuries provokes, <br />In Birds, as well as mortal Folks; <br />The Peacock they assault again, <br />And strip him of his glitt'ring Train. <br /> <br />Enrag'd at this, he stamp'd and tore, <br />And quoted Precedents a Score, <br />That Peacocks ever were allow'd <br />To shew their Beauty to the Croud. <br /> <br />At this the haughty Courtiers sneer, <br />And cry, What Bus'ness have you here? <br />He had a Right, they plainly saw; <br />But let him know, That Pow'r is Law. <br /> <br />At length a Pheasant standing by, <br />Beheld him with a pitying Eye: <br />And said, You now begin too late <br />To stem the Torrent of your Fate: <br />Yet are you not of all bereft; <br />For still a fair Retreat is left: <br />Why will you here neglected roam, <br />When you might be rever'd at home?<br /><br />Mary Barber<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-peacock-4/
