The Peacock and the Swan
by Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira
(*)
The peacock and the swan, both having inherent
superiority, symbolize nobility in different ways and degrees.
The peacock, richly and intricately adorned, invites
admiration and analysis. The swan, on the other hand, ornamented only with
white, is noble in its extreme simplicity. Yet, white is the synthesis of all colors, so all the beauty inherent in the peacock is also
present, however simply, in the swan.
The peacock was created to live on land; the swan, to
live on water. Although no posture could be simpler than floating, the water
exquisitely reflects the swan's gracefulness.
The peacock possesses luxuriant plumage, and how marvelous it is! But the swan's silhouette is much more
elegant. The swan's slender neck, more than anything else, imparts this
elegance as it curves gently backward and upward to its culmination. From the
height of this graceful arc, the swan calmly searches for the tiny aquatic
creatures that provide its nourishment.
That one thing moves another is attractive, and the
more modest the mover, the more noble the motion itself. The swan, with
discreet movement of its feet, glides smoothly over the water -- leaving us
rather envious.
In sum, the peacock enjoys all the nobility and beauty
inherent to complexity and talent, while the swan possesses a majesty born from
its very simplicity.
Which of the two is the more noble?
The purity and simplicity of the swan, intrinsically
high qualities, are indeed admirable, so it would be easy to say that it is the
more beautiful because of its simplicity.
Imagine, however, a golden crown encrusted with
precious stones and another crown of the same style, yet merely gilded. Which
would be more attractive? Evidently, the one embellished with precious stones. Do the "precious stones" on the peacock's plumage
not represent for it what precious stones represent on the crown?
(*)
Excerpted and adapted from a conference given by Prof. Plinio Corrêa de
Oliveira, on