vastness of my undertakings might excuse such a belief. But to conclude. 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 self-indulgence: 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. _Sci_. First, Minos, let me speak. _Mi_. And who are you, friend? and where do you come from? _Sci_. I am Scipio, the Roman general, who destroyed Carthage, and gained great victories over the Libyans. _Mi_. Well, and what have you to say? _Sci_. 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! _Mi_. 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. F. XIII _Diogenes. Alexander_ _Diog_. Dear me, Alexander, _you_ dead like the rest of us? _Alex_. As you see, sir; is there anything extraordinary in a mortal's dying? _Diog_. So Ammon lied when he said you were his son; you were Philip's after all. _Alex_. Apparently; if I had been Ammon's, I should not have died. _Diog_. 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. _Alex_. Yes, I was told all that myself; however, I know now that my mother's and the Ammon stories were all moonshine. _Diog_. Their lies were of some practical value to you, though; your divinity brought a good many people to their knees. But now, whom did you leave your great empire to? _Alex_. Diogenes, I cannot tell you. I had no time to leave any directions about it, beyond just giving Perdiccas my ring as I died. Why are you laughing? _Diog_. Oh, I was only thinking of the Greeks' behaviour; directly you succeeded, how they flattered you! their elected patron, generalissimo against the barbarian; one of the twelve Gods according to some; temples built and sacrifices offered to the Serpent's son! If I may ask, where did your Macedonians bury you?