The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-03-06
A Roman Hero,

In the war between Rome aud Carthage
the consul Regulus was taken captive.
He was kept close prisoner for two
years, pining and sickening in his loneli-
ness, while in the meantime the war con-
tinued, and at last victory SO decisive
vas gained by the Romans, that the peo-
pie of Carthage were discouraged, and
resolved to ask terms of peace. They
thought that no one would be so readily
listened to at Rome as Regulus, and they
therefore sent him there with their ENJOYS
having first made him swear that he would
come back to his prison if there should be
neither peace moran exchange of prisoners.
They little knew how much more true
hearted Roman cared for his city than for
himself--for his word than for his life
Worn aud detected, the captive warrior
came to the outside of his own city, and
there paused, refusing to enter. 81 am
no longer a Roman Citizen" he said II
am but the 5arbarian's slave, and the
senate may not give audience to strangers
within the walls"
His wife Marcia 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 con-
tlnued, in spite of all entreaty, to remain
outside the city, aud would not even go
to the little farm he loved so we'll.
! The Roman senate, as he would not
come in to them, came out to hold their
meeting in the Campagna.
The ambassadors spoke first, then Reg
ulus, standing up, said, as one repeating
a task, "Conscript fathers, being a slave
to the Carthagenians, come on the part
j.. of my masters to treat with you concern
ing peace, and an exchange of prisoners.
He then turned to 60 away with the am
bassadors, as stranger might not be
present at the deliberations of the senate.
His old friends pressed him to stay and
give bis opinion as a senator who had
twice been consul but he refused to de.
grade that dignity by claiming it, slave
as he was. But at the command of his
Carthagenian masters, ,heremained, though
not taking his seat.
Then he spoke. He told the senators
to pe-severe in the war. He said that be
had seen the distress of Carthage, and
that peace would be only to her ad-
vantage, not to that of Rome, and, there
fore, he strong ly advised that the war
should continue. Then, as to the ex-
change of prisoners, the Carthagenian
generals, who were in 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 in
deed he believed that his enemy had
given him slow poison, and that he could
not live long. Thus he insisted that no
exchange of prisoners should be made
1t was wonderful even to Romans, to
hear man thus pleading against him
self, and their chief priests came forward
and declared that as his oath had been
wrested from him by force, he was not
bound by 1t to return to his captivity.
But Regulus was too noble to listen to
this for moment. II am not ignorant
that death and the EXTREMIST tortures arc
preparing fer me; but what are these to
the name of an infamous action, or the
wounds of guilty mind ? Slave as | am
to Carthage, have still the spirit of
Roman [ have sworn to return. 1t is
my duty to go; let the gods take care of
the rest"
The senate decided to follow the advice
of Regulus, though they bitterly regretted
his sacrifice. His wife wept and entreated
in vain ihat they would detain him they
could merely repeat their permission to
him to remain but nothing could prevail
with him TO break his word, aud he turned
back to the chains and death he expected,
as calmly as if he had been returning to
his home.