The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1865-11-18
A Roman Hero.

In the war between Rome and Carthage
the consul Regulus was taken captive. He
was kept close prisoner for two years, pin,
ing end sckeGing in his loneliness. while in
the meantime the war continued, and at last
a victory so decisive was gained by the Ro,
mans, that the people of Carthage were dis,
couraged, and resolved to ask terms ofpeace.
They thought no one would be so readily
listened to at Rome rs Regulus, and they
therefore sent him there with their enfcys,
having first made him swear that he would
come back to his prison if there should
neither be psaee nor an exchange of prison
ers They little knew how much more a
true hearted Roman cared for his city than
for hmsef-for his word than for his life.
Worn and detected, the captive warrior
CAME to the outside of the gates Of his own
city, and there paused, refusing to ehteT.-
81 am no longer Roman ctizen,' he said !;
II am but the barbaran's slave, and the
senate may not give audience to strangers
within tie walls
His wife Marcio, ran out to greet him, with
his two sons, but he did not look up, and
received their caresses as one beneath their
notice, as a mere slave and he continued,
in spite of all entreaty, to remain outside
the city, and would not even 90 to the little
farm he had loved so well.
The Roman senate, as he would not come
in TO them, came out to hold their meeting
in the Campaigns.
The ambassadors spoke first. Then Reg.
ulns standing, mp said, as one repeating Il
task, "Conscript fathers, being Il slave to
the Carthagnians. | come ON the part Of my
masters to treat with you concerning peace.
and an exchange Of prisoners" He then
turned to 20 away with the ambassadors. as
a stranger might not be present at the de.
liberatons of the senate. His old friends
pressed him to stay and give his opinion as
a senator who had twice been consul; but
he refused to degrade that dignity hv claim
ing it, slave as he was. Bat at the coti,maud
Of his Carthaginian masters, he renamed,
though not taking his seat.
Then he spoke He told the senators to
perscverc in tlt war. He said that he had
seen the distress of Carthage, and that a
peace would be only to her advantage, not
to that of Rome, and, therefore,, he strongly
advised that the war should continue. Then,
is 10 the exchange Of prisoners. the Cariha-
r,nian generals. who were in the hands of
the Romans, were in full health and strength
down to be fit for service again. and indeed
he believed the, his enemy had given him Il
slow POISON, and that he could not live long.
Thus he insisted that no exchange Of prison.
ers should be made.
1t was wonderful even to Romans, to hear
man thus pleading against himself, and
their chief priests came forward and declar-
ed that. as his oath had been rested from
him by force, he was not bound by it to re
turn to his captivity. But ReguluS Mas too
noble to listen to this for moment Have
you resolved to dishonor me? he said, II
am not ignorant that death and the extrem.
est fortunes are preparing for me; but what
are these to the name of an infamous action
or the wounds of guilty mind? Slave as
am 10 Carthage, have still the spirit OF Il
Roman. ! have sworn 10 return. 1t is my
duty T. go; let the gods take care of the
rest"
The senate decided to follow the advice n
RegnIus, though they bitterly regretted his
sacrifice. His wife wept and entrcatei in
vain that they would detain him they couid
merely repeat their permission to him 10 re.
MAIN but nothing could prevail with him
to break his word. and he turned back tc
the chains and death he expected, as calmly
as if he had been returning from his home
Book Of Golden Deeds.