Year: 1865

T :

 | 's --

 I In the war between Rome and Carthage. the consul Regulus was taken captive. He was

 kept close prisoner for two years, pining and sickening in his loneliness, while in tie mean time the war continued, and at last victory so decisive was gained by the Romans, that the people of Carthage were discouraged, and resolved to ask terms of peace. They thoug Int that no one would be 50 readily listened to at Rome as Regulus, and they therefore Sent him 'here With their conveys. having first made him swear that he would come back to his prison if there should neither be peace nor an excbanoe of prisoners. They little ew how much more truehearted Roman cared for his city than for himself-for his word than for his life s.... ...

 Worn and dejected, the captive warrior came to the outside of the gates of his own city, and there paused. refused to enter. . am no lon- ger Roman citizen, he said I am but the barbarians slave. and the senate may not give audience to strangers within the walls i His wife Marcia ran out to meet him, with his two sons but he did ot look up. and re ceIved their caresses as one beneath their mo- tice, as mere slave. and he continued, in spite of all entreaty, to remain outside the city, and would not even go 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 Campsgna.

 The ambassador spoke first, then Reeulus. standing up, said, as one repeating task, Conscript fathers. being a slave to the Car l thagenIans, come on the part of my masters ] to treat with you concerning peace and an ex- change of prisoners He then turned to 20 away with the ambassador, as stranger might not be present at the deliberations of the sen. ate His old friends pressed him 10 stay and give his opinion as senator who had twice been consul but he refused to degrade that dignity by claiming it, slave as he was. But at the command of his Carthagenan masters he re. mained, though not taking his seat.

 Then he spoke. He told the senators to persevere in the war. He said that he had Seen the distress of Carthage, and that peace would be only to her advantage, not to that of Rome, and therefore he strongly advised that the war should continue. Then, as to the ex change of prisoners, the Carthagenian gener- als, who were in the hands of the Roma ns, were in full health and strength, whilst he himself was too much broken down to be fit for ser vice again, and indeed he believed his enemy had given him slow poison, and that he could not live long. Thus he insisted that no ex change of prisoners should be made.

 It was wonderful, even to Romans. to hear a man pleading against himself, and their chief priest came forward and declared that, as his oath had been wrested from him by force. he was not bound by it to return to his captivity. But Regulns was tco noble to listen to this for a moment. Have you resolved to dishonor me?' he said l am not ignorant that death and the extremest tortares are preparing for me but what are these to the shame of an in- famous action, or the wounds of guilty mind Slave as l am to Carthage, l have still the spirit of Roman. I have sworn to return. It 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 that they would detain him they could mere- ly repeat their permission to remain but noth- ing could prevail with him to break his word, and he turned back to the chains and death he expected ns calmly as if he had been returning to his home.-Book of Golden Deeds.