Inter captīvōs Rēgulus ipse Carthāginem ductus est. Tum summō gaudiō Poenī, "Nunc," inquiunt, "Rōmānōs vīcimus; Rōmānī igitur pācem dēsīderābunt et bonās condiciōnēs ferent. Tē, Rēgule, Rōmam iam mittēmus. Tū lēgātī modō in Senātum intrā – sī verbīs tuīs animōs cīvium tuōrum ad pācem addūxeris, tū vinculīs līberāberis, et līber in līberā urbe tuā habitābis. Sed sī Rōmānī nōn ad pācem amīcitiamque adductī erunt, sed malās condiciōnēs ferent, et Poenōs odiō īrāque petent, tū nōn in urbe tuā manēbis, sed Carthāginem iterum veniēs, et vinculīs mortīque crūdēlī tē trādēs."
Rēgulus igitur
Poenīs fidem dedit, et ad patriam celerrimē revertit. Sed ubi Senātum intrāvit,
nōn ad pācem amīcitiamque cīvēs suōs addūxit. "Nunc," inquit,
"superātī sunt Rōmānī; malās condiciōnēs ferent Poenī. Vōs autem meliōrēs
fortiōrēsque estis hostibus; sī igitur bellum summīs vīribus gerētis, et virōs
vōs praebēbitis, mox vōs victōrēs eritis et vestrās condiciōnēs hostibus
ferētis. Ego Carthāginem nāvigābō nec fidem violābō. Vōs animōs ad bellum
firmāte et hostēs sub pedibus prōsternite. Ego nec vincula nec mortem recūsō,
sed vestrō amōre mē dignum praebēbō."
Deinde Rēgulus
fidem nōn violāvit, sed vultū serēnō Rōmā discessit et Carthāginem revertit.
Ibi vinculīs mortīque sē trādidit.
addūcō, -ere,
addūxī, adductus [3]: influence
amīcitia, -ae
[1/f]: friendship
bellum gerō: I
carry on war
condiciō, -ōnis
[3/f]: term, condition
fidēs, -eī [5/f]:
faith, promise; fidem violō: I break my promise
ipse, -a, -um:
one’s self
lēgātus, -ī [2/m]:
ambassador
līber, -era,
-erum: free
melior, -ius:
better
revertō, -ere,
revertī, reversus [3]: turn back; (perfect tense): return
senātus, -ūs
[4/m]: Senate, a governing body
victor, -ōris
[3/m]: victorious
violō, -āre [1]:
violate
____________________
Among the
captives, Regulus himself was led to Carthage. Then, with the greatest joy, the
Carthaginians said, "Now we have conquered the Romans; therefore, the
Romans will desire peace and bring good terms. We will send you to Rome now,
Regulus. Enter into the Senate in the manner of an envoy—if by your words you
lead the minds of your citizens to peace, you will be freed from chains, and
you will live a free man in your free city. But if the Romans are not led to
peace and friendship, but bring bad terms, and attack the Carthaginians with
hatred and anger, you will not remain in your city, but you will come to
Carthage again, and you will surrender yourself to chains and a cruel
death."
Regulus therefore
gave his pledge to the Carthaginians, and returned to his homeland very
quickly. But when he entered the Senate, he did not lead his citizens to peace
and friendship. He said, "Now the Romans are overcome; the Carthaginians
will bring bad terms. You, however, are better and braver than the enemy; if
therefore you wage war with your utmost strength, and show yourselves to be
men, soon you will be victors and you will bring your own terms to the enemy. I
will sail to Carthage and I will not break my pledge. Strengthen your minds for
war and lay the enemy low under your feet. I refuse neither chains nor death,
but I will show myself worthy of your love."
Then Regulus did
not break his pledge, but with a calm countenance he departed from Rome and
returned to Carthage. There he surrendered himself to chains and death.