Alexander the False Prophet (40)

Often in the course of the torchlight ceremonies and the gambols of the mysteries his thigh was bared purposely and showed golden. No doubt gilded leather had been put about it, which gleamed in the light of the cressets. There was once a discussion between two of our learned idiots in regard to him, whether he had the soul of Pythagoras, on account of the golden thigh, or some other soul akin to it.[*] They referred this question to Alexander himself, and King Glycon resolved their doubt with an oracle:

Nay, Pythagoras’ soul now waneth and other times waxeth;

His, with prophecy gifted, from God’s mind taketh its issue,;

Sent by the Father to aid good men in the stress of the conflict;

Then it to God will return, by God’s own thunderbolt smitten.