Rēgulus

Nowhere in the whole world have citizens devoted themselves to their country more willingly than the Romans.

I shall tell you another story about a brave Roman.

During the First Punic War the Romans were long defeated by the Carthaginians, because they had few ships and little experience using ships.

But at last the Romans built excellent ships and defeated the Carthaginians in many battles.

And so they sent the consul Regulus with an army to Africa.

Regulus landed his army on African soil.

At first he campaigned successfully; he laid waste the fields with sword and fire, and advanced toward Carthage full of great hope.

Meanwhile the Carthaginians were gathering forces with all their strength and led many thousands of foot soldiers and horsemen against the Romans.

The Romans fought fiercely, but could not withstand the enemy assault for long.

They were thrown into confusion and routed.

A few sought safety in flight and ran to a friendly town.

The greater part of the army were either killed or captured.

Among the captives, Regulus himself was taken to Carthage.

Then the Carthaginians, filled with great joy, said: “Now we have defeated the Romans; so the Romans will want peace and will offer favorable terms.”

“We shall now send you, Regulus, to Rome.”

“Enter the Senate in the manner of an envoy. If you persuade your fellow citizens to make peace by your words, you will be released from your chains and live as a free man in your free city.”

“But if the Romans do not agree to peace and friendship, but offer unfavorable terms and pursue the Carthaginians with hatred and anger, you will not remain in your city; instead you will return to Carthage and surrender yourself to chains and a cruel death.”

Regulus therefore gave the Carthaginians his word and returned home as quickly as possible.

But when he entered the Senate, he did not persuade his fellow citizens to accept peace and friendship.

“The Romans have now been defeated,” he said; “the Carthaginians will offer harsh terms.”

“But you are better and braver than your enemies; if you wage war with all your strength and prove yourselves men, soon you will be victors and impose your own terms on the enemy.”

“I shall sail to Carthage and I shall not break my word.”

“Steel your spirits for war and lay the enemy low beneath your feet.”

“I shrink from neither chains nor death, but I shall show myself worthy of your love.”

Then Regulus kept his word: he left Rome with a calm expression and returned to Carthage.

There he surrendered himself to chains and death.

Yet he knew what the barbarous torturer was preparing for him; nevertheless he brushed aside his obstructing relatives and the crowd delaying his return, as though, a lawsuit settled, he were leaving behind his clients’ lengthy business and setting out for the fields of Venafrum or Spartan Tarentum.