Alexander the False Prophet (60)

Such was the conclusion of Alexander’s spectacular career, and such the dénouement of the whole play; being as it was, it resembled an act of Providence, although it came about by chance. It was inevitable, too, that he should have funeral games worthy of his career—that a contest for the shrine should arise. The foremost of his fellow-conspirators and . impostors referred it to Rutilianus to decide which of them should be given the preference, should suceeed to the shrine, and should be crowned with

the fillet of priest and prophet. Paetus was one of them, a physician by profession, a greybeard, who conducted himself in a way that befitted neither a physician nor a greybeard. But Rutilianus, the umpire, sent them off unfilleted, keeping the post of prophet for the master after his departure from this life.