A man, initially reluctant, is compelled by the Muses to deliver a message to a city known as the Golden Town. Despite his desire to pursue simpler pleasures, he ultimately accepts the task, receiving a laurel wreath as a symbol of his divine mission. Upon arrival, the townspeople, engrossed in their own interpretations of a previous message, reject him, believing he is an imposter. They stone him, and his message is later inscribed in gold for reverence. The Muses, undeterred, send another messenger with an ivory wand adorned with stories. This second messenger faces the same fate, as the townspeople dismiss him based on the previous messenger's appearance. Again, his message is immortalized in gold after his death. The cycle continues with a third messenger, who, despite wearing a golden garland, is also stoned. The Muses remain relentless in their pursuit of communication with the Golden Town, sending yet another messenger. This time, the messenger expresses his disillusionment with the town, claiming it has lost its former glory and beauty, now filled with darkness and materialism. Despite his protests and the town's decline, the Muses insist he deliver their message. He grapples with the futility of his task, fearing disbelief and rejection. The Muses persist, calling him to action, but he remains hesitant, feeling that the essence of the Golden Town has been irrevocably lost. The narrative explores themes of artistic duty, the struggle between inspiration and reality, and the often unrecognized value of true artistry in a world that has become indifferent to beauty and truth.
By Lord Dunsany · First published 1910 · Genre: Fantasy, Poetry, Allegory