Dialogi mortuorum

You know the sequel: yourselves can best say what was the number of the dead whom on one day I dispatched hither. The ferryman tells me that his boat would not hold them; most of them had to come across on rafts of their own construction. In these enterprises, I was ever at the head of my troops, ever courted danger. To

I died a king: Hannibal, a fugitive at the court of the Bithynian Prusias—fitting end for villany and cruelty. Of his Italian victories I say nothing; they were the fruit not of honest legitimate warfare, but of treachery, craft, and dissimulation. He taunts me with selfindulgence: my illustrious friend has surely forgotten the pleasant time he spent in Capua among the ladies, while the precious moments fleeted by. Had I not scorned the Western world, and turned my attention to the East, what would it have cost me to make the bloodless conquest of Italy, and Libya, and all, as far West as Gades? But nations that already cowered beneath a master were unworthy of my sword.—I have finished, Minos, and await your decision; of the many arguments I might have used, these shall suffice,

Scipio First, Minos, let me speak.

Minos And who are you, friend? and where do you come from?

Scipio I am Scipio, the Roman general, who destroyed Carthage, and gained great victories over the Libyans.

Minos Well, and what have you to say?

Scipio That Alexander is my superior, and I am Hannibal’s, having defeated him, and driven him to ignominious flight. What impudence is this, to contend with Alexander, to whom I, your conqueror, would not presume to compare myself!

Minos Honestly spoken, Scipio, on my word! Very well, then: Alexander comes first, and you next; and I think we must say Hannibal third. And a very creditable third, too.

Diogenes Dear me, Alexander, you dead like the rest of us?

Alexander As you see, sir; is there anything extraordinary in a mortal’s dying?

Diogenes So Ammon lied when he said you were his son; you were Philip’s after all.

Alexander Apparently; if I had been Ammon’s, I should not have died.

Diogenes Strange! there were tales of the same order about Olympias too. A serpent visited her, and was seen in her bed; we were given to understand that that was how you came into the world, and Philip made a mistake when he took you for his.

Alexander Yes, I was told all that myself; however, I know now that my mother’s and the Ammon stories were all moonshine.

Diogenes Their lies were of some practical value to you, though; your divinity brought a good many people to their knees.