Once upon a time there lived a beautiful princess who liked to have beautiful things around her. She had many pretty possessions and among them was a peacock with a lovely plumage. It was also her favourite.
Now, you would have thought that this bird wih his beautiful plumage and the life of luxury at the palace would have been very happy. But no, he was not. He was always dissatisfied and wanting what he did not have.
One day he went to the beautiful princess and grumbled.
‘I am treated very badly. I haven’t a lovely voice like the nightingale’s. I really should have a beautiful voice like that to match my lovely plumage. Please princess, give me a lovely voice like the nightingale’s.
The princess did not do so but spoke to the greedy peacock very sternly.
“Each and every bird has been given what suits them best. The nightingale does not have a beautiful plumage but has a lovely voice and can sing beautifully. You have a shrill, unpleasant voice which grates on the ear. But you have a beautiful plumage and a stately walk which everybody admires. Therefore, don’t long for what others have and you don’t have. Learn to be content with what you have.
When it heard the princess’s words the peacock felt very ashamed of himself and went away without grumbling anymore.