The Crane and the Peacock

7.12. De grue et pavone
Caxton: Of the crane and of the pecok
For what vertue that ony man hath / none oughte to preyse hym self / As hit appiereth by this fable / Of a pecok / whiche somtyme made a dyner to a crane / And whanne they had eten and droken ynough / they had grete wordes to gyder / wherfore the pecok sayd to the crane / Thow hast not so fayre a forme ne so fayre a fygure as I haue / ne also fayr fethers / ne soo resplendysshynge as I haue / To whome the crane ansuerd / and sayd / It is trouthe / Neuertheles thow hast not one good / ne one so fayre a vertue as I haue / For how be hit that I haue not so fayre fethers as thow hast / yet can I flee better than thy self dost / For with thy fayre fethers thou must euer abyde on the erthe / And I may flee where someuer hit pleaseth me /
And thus euerychone ought to haue suffysaunce and to be content of that / that he hath / without auauncynge or praysynge of hym self / and not to dyspreyse none other
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The Peacock and the Crane

049. THE PEACOCK AND THE CRANE. The peacock and the crane by chance met together in the same place: the peacock, erecting his tail, displayed his gaudy plumes, and looked with contempt upon the crane, as some mean ordinary person.
The crane, resolving to mortify his insolence, took occasion to say, that peacocks were very fine birds indeed, if fine feathers could make them so; but that hé thought it a much nobler thing to be able to rise above the clouds, than to strut about upon the ground, and be gazed at by children. [more info]

The Peacock and the Crane

044. THE PEACOCK AND THE CRANE. The peacock and the crane by chance met together in the same place: the peacock, erecting his tail, displayed his gaudy plumes, and looked with contempt upon the crane, as some mean ordinary person.
The crane, resolving to mortify his insolence, took occasion to say, that peacocks were very fine birds indeed, if fine feathers could make them so; but that hé thought it a much nobler thing to be able to rise above the clouds, than to strut about upon the ground, and be gazed at by children. [more info]

A Peacock and a Crane

2.10. A PEACOCK AND A CRANE. As a Peacock and a Crane were in company together, the Peacock spread his tail, and challenged the other to shew him such a fan of feathers. "You brag of your plumes," says the Crane, "that are fair indeed to the eye, but fit for nothing but to attract the eyes of children and fools. Do as I do, if you can;" and then, with a suitable contempt, he springs up into the air, leaving the gaping Peacock staring after him till his eyes ached.
MORAL. There cannot be a greater sign of a weak mind than a person's valuing himself on a gaudy outside; whether it be on the beauties of person, or the still vainer pride of fine clothes. [more info]

The Crane and Peacock

044. THE CRANE AND PEACOCK. You will find the fable in English on this page; scroll down to see if there are multiple English versions. [more info]

The Peacock and the Crane

076. THE PEACOCK AND THE CRANE. A Peacock, puffed up with vanity, met a Crane one day, and to impress him spread his gorgeous tail in the Sun.
"Look," he said. "What have you to compare with this? I am dressed in all the glory of the rainbow, while your feathers are gray as dust!"
The Crane spread his broad wings and flew up toward the sun.
"Follow me if you can," he said. But the Peacock stood where he was among the birds of the barnyard, while the Crane soared in freedom far up into the blue sky.
The useful is of much more importance and value, than the ornamental. [more info]