Dialogues of the Dead (25.5-26.1)

ALEXANDER

The result you all know, Minos, and the numbers of dead I sent down to you in a single day. The ferryman certainly says that his boat could not cope with them on that occasion, but that the majority of them made their own rafts and crossed over in that way. Moveover, while doing this, I faced danger at the head of my men, and did not object to wounds. Not to speak of what happened at Tyre and Arbela, I marched as far as India, making the Ocean the boundary of my empire. I kept their elephants [*] and overcame Porus; I crossed the Tanais, and defeated the Scythians, formidable foes, in a mighty cavalry battle; I treated my friends well, and wrought vengeance on my enemies. Even if men did think me a god, they had some excuse for such beliefs about me in view of the greatness of my achievements.

ALEXANDER

Last of all, I died a king, whereas he died an exile, at the court of Prusias of Bithynia—a proper end for so exceedingly wicked and cruel a man. Take for instance his conquests in Italy. I won’t mention that these were achieved not by might, but by knavery and treachery and deceit, but of open legitimate warfare there was nothing at all; but when he reproaches me with luxurious living, I think the distinguished gentleman has forgotten how he behaved in Capua, consorting with loose women, and wasting in debauchery his opportunities for victory in the war. But suppose I hadn’t despised the west, and preferred to march against the east,

what great feat would I have accomplished by a bloodless conquest of Italy and the subjection of Libya and everything as far as Gades? But I didn’t think it worth fighting against peoples who were already cowering before me, and ready to admit me their master, I have had my say. Do you, Minos, make you decision. Though I could have said much, this is enough.

SCIPIO

Do not do so yet, but hear what I have to say.

MINOS

Who are you, my good man? Where do you come from, that you wish to speak?

SCIPIO

From Italy. I am Scipio, the General who destroyed Carthage, [*] and overcame the Libyans in mighty battle.

MINOS

Well, what have you to say?

SCIPIO

That I am a lesser man than Alexander, but superior to Hannibal, for I drove him before me, after defeating him, and forcing him to flee ignominiously. Is he not shameless, then, in posing as the rival of Alexander, with whom even I, Scipio, the conqueror of Hannibal, do not presume to compare myself?

MINOS

By heaven, what you say, Scipio, is reasonable! So let Alexander be adjudged [*] first, and after him you, and then, if you don’t mind, Hannibal third, though even he is of no little account.

ANTILOCHUS

I was surprised at what you had to say the other day, Achilles, to Odysseus on the subject of death. What ignoble words! What little credit they reflected on both of your teachers, Chiron and Phoenix! I was listening, you know, when you said you would gladly “if but on earth above” be thrall to any man “whose lot is poverty, whose substance small”, rather than be king of all the dead. [*] To speak thus might perhaps have been right for some mean cowardly Phrygian, who loves life regardless of honour, but for the son of Peleus, who surpassed all the heroes in his love of danger, to have such mean ideas for himself is utterly shameful, and opposed to the way you acted in life; for, though you could have had a long and obscure reign in the land of Phthia, you gladly preferred death with glory.