"I knew," cried SIR ARGUS, "_my_ Gala would shine: Oh! charming distinction, Oh! pleasure divine. Yes! _I_ too shall see myself figure away In the records of fashion, the buz of the day; And the world shall admire, in ages to come, The brilliant display of the PEACOCK at Home." Two months had now pass'd, and SIR ARGUS, one morning, Was ruffling his plumes, and his person adorning, When lo! from the regions of air, quick descending, A PIGEON appear'd, and his neck gently bending, Presented a Billet; then silently bow'd, And, spreading his wings, was soon lost in a cloud. SIR ARGUS, astonish'd, in haste now uncloses The paper, perfum'd with fresh Otto of Roses. "In fortune's dear name," he exclaims, "what is this [p 8] '_The Peacock at Home!_' Oh! superlative bliss! My feelings, prophetic, the honor foretold; Yes! _The Peacock at Home_ shall be printed in gold: How just the description! what grace, and what spirit! Aye--this is indeed a production of merit." Be it known, that the great _Biped Lords of Creation_, Of _every_ class, and in _every_ station, All secretly cherish, what all yet disclaim, _That_ feeling, which we _curiosity_ name. Now our PEACOCK imperial, tho' too proud to own, That the fav'rite of Juno had ever been prone To a weakness, he always had _wish'd_ to believe Was exclusively felt by the _Daughters of Eve_, Yet died with impatience to know who had written The elegant verses, with which he was smitten. His thoughts were all now on discovery bent, And, in haste, for the PARROT he instantly sent: Who shortly arriv'd, overjoy'd beyond measure, [p 9] And, strutting, demanded SIR ARGUS'S pleasure? [Illustration: _"The Peacock with vanity fully inflated." p. 9._] The PEACOCK, with vanity fully inflated, Erected his plumes, and the triumph related; Then quiv'ring his wings, and expanding his breast, The listening PARROT in these words address'd:-- "My friend, I acknowledge the Poem divine, And that genius and wit breathe thro' every line; But it is not enough that to Fame we devote it, You, the Herald of Ton, must inform me who _wrote_ it."