Dialogues of the Dead (13.1)

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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