Juno

Juno is the goddess who answers the Peacock’s complaint in “The Peacock and Juno.” She offers consolation by naming his beauty and size, then places his gifts alongside those allotted to other creatures; her role is to redirect envy toward acceptance of one’s own portion.

Appearance in the Fable

The Peacock complains that the Nightingale delights every ear with song, while the Peacock becomes a laughingstock when he opens his mouth. Juno responds first by pointing to what distinguishes him: his size, the emerald-like splendor of his neck, and his tail’s colorful plumage. Her reassurance recognizes his beauty without claiming that it compensates for the quality he envies.

Answer and Principle

When the Peacock asks what good mute beauty is if another bird surpasses him in song, Juno explains that each creature’s lot has been assigned by the will of the Fates. She names beauty for the Peacock, strength for the Eagle, song for the Nightingale, and contrasting omens for the Raven and the Crow. Her answer reframes the comparison: these endowments are different, not interchangeable measures of worth, and the creatures are content with what they have been allotted.

Narrative Role and Significance

Juno speaks as a mediator between the Peacock’s dissatisfaction and the fable’s concluding principle. The exchange moves from a specific grievance—beauty cannot sing—to a general lesson about recognizing distinct gifts and limits. The fable gives her no further action beyond this counsel; its resolution rests on the contrast between the Peacock’s comparison with the Nightingale and Juno’s account of separate allotments.