The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-07-21
A Roman Hero.

the Consul Regulus was taken captive. He
was kept q close prisoner for two years.
pining and sickening in bis Loneliness, while
In the meantime the war continued, and ut
last victory so decisive was gained BY the
Romans, that the people of Carthage wero
discouraged, and resolved to ask torms OF
peace. They thongbt that no one would be
90 readily listened to at Rome % Repulus,
and tbcy therefore sont him there with their
envoys, having irst made him swear that he
would come back to bis prison if thero
should neither be peace nor an exchange of
prisoners. They little knew how much
more q true hearted Roman cared for bis
city than bimself--for bis word than for
his life. ita.i e9w .l g-. "
Worn and detected, tho captive warrior
came to the outside of the gates of bis own
city, and there paused, refusing to entcr. -
Il am no longer Roman Citizen he said;
II am but tho barbarians' slave, and the Sen.
ate I'm may not give audience to strangers With
His wife Marcia ran out to greet MIN. with
bis two sons, but he did rot look up, and re
ceived their caresses as one beneath their
notice. as mere slave, aud he continued, in
spite Of all entreaty, to remain outside the
city, and would not even 20 to the little
| The Roman Senate, az he would not come
In to them, came out to bold their meeting
in the Campagna. .''t 'f'1 't" 80 :
The ambassadors spoke first, then Regulus,
standing up, said, as one repeating task,
"Conscript fathers, being D slave to the
Csrthaginians. I come on the part of nv
masters, to treat with you concerning peace
and an exchange Of prisoners" He then
turned to 60 away with the ambassa dors. as
. stranger might not be present at the de-
liberations of the Senate. His old friends
pressed him to stay and give bis opinion as
. Senator who bad twice been Consul, but
he refused to degrade the dignity BY claim.
ing II; but, ~ the command of bis Cartba-
ginian masters, be remained, though not
taking his seat. - a..
Then he spoke. He told the Senators 10
persevere In the war. He said that he had
seon the distress Of Carthage. and that q
peace would be only to her advantage, no,
to that of Rome, and therefore he strongly
advised that the war should continue. Then
as TO the exchange of prisoners, the Cartha-
genian Generals, who wero 10 the hands OF
the Romans, were in full health and strength,
| whilst he himself was too much broken down
to be fit for service again. and, indeed, be be-
lieved that his enemy had given him slow
poison. and that he could not live long -
Thus he insisted that no exchange of priso-
| ners should be made.
| II was wonderful, even to Romans, to hear
man thus pleading against himself, and
thor Chief Priest came Iorwsru and de.
ciared that. as bis oath had been wrested
from him BY force be was not bound BY II
to return TO bis captivity. But Regulus was
too noble TO listen 10 this for q moment.-
"Have you resolved to dishonor me:" he
said, Il am not ignorant that death and the
EXTREMIST tortures are preparing for me-;
but what are these to the shame of an in.
famous sc,ion, or the wounds OF guilty
mind? Slave as au to Carthage, have
still the spirit OF q Roman. have sworn to
return. 1t is my duty to 90; let the gods
take care Of the rest" +.1 5aG at5 a!'t
The Senate decided to follow, the advice
of Regulus, though they bitterly regretted
bis sscrifce. His wife wept and intres ted
in vain that they would detain him; they
could merely repeat their permission for
him to remain; but nothing could prevail
with him to break his word, and he turned
back to the chains and death he expected,
as If he had been returning 10 his bome.-
Book cfthe Golden deeds. 'p aa'.>'aag'9