# Compromise explained — Fifty-One Tales > Chapter companion for Fifty-One Tales by Lord Dunsany. ## What happens A city built in glory over an earthquake's lair is initially ignored by the earthquake, who fears its inhabitants might be gods. When the citizens later send offerings to appease him, he realizes they are not divine and prepares to destroy them. ## Themes in this chapter ### The Futility of Human Ambition The city's grand ambitions are undermined by the natural force of the earthquake, which they cannot truly appease. ### The Power of Myth and Imagination The citizens' belief in their own immortality and the earthquake's initial hesitation due to potential divinity highlight the power of myth. ## Character check-ins ### Unknown The narrator describes the city's construction and the earthquake's response. ### Mother Earth Implied as the source of the earthquake, though not directly named. ## Key lines > They built their gorgeous home, their city of glory, above the lair of the earthquake. They constructed a magnificent city directly over the hidden dwelling of an earthquake. _Sets up the central conflict between human civilization and natural forces._ > None heeded the earthquake in all those joyous streets. No one in the lively city paid any attention to the earthquake below. _Highlights the citizens' obliviousness to the danger beneath them._ > And down in the deeps of the earth, on the black feet of the abyss, they that would conquer Man mumbled long in the darkness, mumbled and goaded the earthquake to try his strength with that city. Deep underground, beings who sought to conquer humanity urged the earthquake to test its power against the city. _Introduces malevolent forces manipulating the earthquake._ > And down in those grimy deeps the earthquake answered them, and would not do their pleasure and would not stir from thence, for who knew who they were who danced all day where he rumbled, and what if the lords of that city that had no fear of his anger were haply even the gods! The earthquake refused to move, uncertain whether the city's joyful inhabitants might actually be gods. _Shows the earthquake's initial hesitation due to fear of divine retribution._ > And the centuries plodded by, on and on round the world, and one day they that had danced, they that had sung in that city, remembered the lair of the earthquake in the deeps down under their feet, and made plans one with another and sought to avert the danger, sought to appease the earthquake and turn his anger away. After many centuries, the citizens finally recalled the earthquake beneath them and tried to pacify it with offerings. _Marks the turning point where human fear leads to attempted appeasement._ > They sent down singing girls, and priests with oats and wine, they sent down garlands and propitious berries, down by dark steps to the black depths of the earth, they sent peacocks newly slain, and boys with burning spices, and their thin white sacred cats with collars of pearls all newly drawn from sea, they sent huge diamonds down in coffers of teak, and ointment and strange oriental dyes, arrows and armor and the rings of their queen. They dispatched a variety of offerings including singers, priests, animals, jewels, and precious items to the earthquake's lair. _Lists the extravagant gifts meant to appease the earthquake._ > “Oho,” said the earthquake in the coolth of the earth, “so they are not the gods.” The earthquake realized from the offerings that the city's inhabitants were not divine. _The earthquake's conclusion that the citizens are mortal, leading to impending destruction._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fifty_one_tales_se/chapters/compromise - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fifty_one_tales_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fifty_one_tales_se/chapters