The Peacock 'At Home:' A Sequel to the Butterfly's Ball

Excerpt

TheButterfly’s Ball and the Grasshopper’s FeastsExcited the spleen of the Birds and the Beasts:For their mirth and good cheer—of the Bee was the theme,And the Gnat blew his horn, as he danc’d in the beam.’Twas humm’d by the Beetle, ’twas buzz’d by the Fly,And sung by the myriads that sport through the sky.The Quadrupeds listen’d with sullen displeasure,But the tenants of air were enraged beyond measure.ThePeacockdisplay’d his bright plumes to the Sun,And, addressing his Mates, thus indignant begun:[p 4]
“Shall we, like domestic, inelegant Fowls,As unpolished as Geese, and as stupid as Owls,Sit tamely at home, hum drum with our Spouses,While Crickets and Butterflies open their houses?Shall such mean little insects pretend to the fashion?Cousin Turkey-cock, well may you be in a passion!If I suffer such insolent airs to prevail,May Juno pluck out all the eyes in my tail?So a Fête I will give, and my taste I’ll display,And send out my cards for St. Valentine’s Day.”—This determin’d, six fleet Carrier-pigeons went out,To invite all the birds to Sir Argus’s Rout.The nest-lovingTurtle-dovesent an excuse;Dame Partletlay in, as did good Mrs.Goose.TheTurkey, poor soul! was confined to :For all her young brood had just fail’d with the pip.ThePartridgewas ask’d; but a Neighbour hard byHad engag’d a snug party to meet in a Pye;And theWheat-eardeclin’d recollecting her Cousins,Last year, to a feast were invited by dozens,[p ]
But, alas! they return’d not; and she had no tasteTo appear in a costume of vine-leaves or paste.TheWoodcockpreferr’d his lone haunt on the moor;And the Traveller,Swallow, was still on his tour.While theCuckoo, who should have been one of the guestsWas rambling on visits to otherNests.

“Such ruffling of feathers, such pruning of coats, &c.” .

But the rest all accepted the kind invitation,And much bustle it caused in the plumed creation:Such ruffling of feathers, such pruning of coats;Such chirping, such whistling, such clearing of throats;Such polishing bills and such oiling of pinionsHad never been known in the biped dominions.Theoffer’d to make up new clothesFor all the young Birdlings, who wish’d to be Beaux:He made for theRobina doublet of red,And a new velvet cap for theGoldfinch’shead;He added a plume to thegolden crest,And spangled with silver theGuinea-Fowl’sbreast;While thebent over the streamlet to view,How pretty she look’d in her boddice of blue![p 6]
Thus adorn’d, they set off for the Peacock’s abode,With the Guide, who show’d them the road:From all points of the compass, flock’d Birds of all feather;And thecan tell who and who were together.There was Lordand General,And DonPeroqueto, escap’d from Domingo;From his high rock built eyrie theEaglecame forth,And the Duchess offlew from the North....