Year: 1865

Carthage, the consul Regulus was
taken captive. He was kept u close
prisoner for two years, pining and
sickening in his loneliness while in the
meantime the war continued, and at
last a victory SO decisive was gained
by the Romans, that the people of
Carthage were discouraged, aud de-
termined 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 nor an 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 and detected, the captive
warrior came to the outside OF the
gates of his own city, he refused TO
enter. 81 am no longer q Roman cit
izen," he said, 81 am but the barba-
rians' 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 receive 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 go to the
little farm he had loved so we'll


The Roman Senate, az he would
not come in to them, came out to
hold their meeting in the Campagna.


The ambassadors spoke first, then
Regulus, standing up said, as one re-
peating q task, "conseript fathers,
being q slave to tie CarthageniaRs,
| come on the part of my masters TO
treat with you concerning peace, and
an exchange Of prisoners" lie then
turned to go away with the ambassa.
dors, as stranger might not epres-
ent at the deliberations OF the SEN
ate. His old friends pressed him to
stay and give his opinion as a Sena-
tor, who had twice been consul but
he refused to degrade that dignity
by claiming it, save as he was. But
at the command of his Carthagenian
masters, remained, though not talk
ing his seat


Then he spoke. He told the Sen.
ators to persevere in the war, He
said he had seen the distress Of Car
thage, and that peace would be only
to her advantage, not TO Rome, and
therefore he strongly advised that
the war should continue. Then as
to the exchange Of prisoners, the
Carlhagenian Generals who were in
the hands of the Romans, were in full
health and strength, whilst he, him
self was to much broken down to be
ilt for service again, and he indeed
believed that his enemies had given
him slow poison, and that he could
not live long. Thus insisted that
no exchange Of prisoners should be
made.


1t was wonderful even to Romans,
to hear man thus pleading against
himself, and the Chief Priest came
forward and declared that rs his oatl
had been wrested from him by force
he was not bound by it to return to
his captivity Regulus was too no.
bic to listen to this for moment.


"Have You resolved. to dishonor
me p he said. II am not ignorant
that death and the EXTREMIST tor.
lures are preparing for me but what
are those to the shame of an infa.
nous action or the wounds cf IA guilty
mind ? Slave as l am to Carthage
| have still the spirit OF a 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 Regulns, though they bit
terly regretted his sacrifice. His
wife wept and entreated in vain that
they would detain him; they could
merely repeat their permission to him
to remain but nothing could pre-.
vail with him to break his word. and
he turned back to the chains and
death he expected, as calmly as if he
had been returning to his home.