REGULUS
Nūllī per tōtum
orbem terrārum cīvēs libentius quam Rōmānī sē patriae dedērunt. Alteram fābulam
vōbīs dē fortī Rōmānō nārrābō.
Prīmō Bellō Pūnicō
diū Rōmānī ā Poenīs superābantur, quia paucās nāvēs, nec magnum nāvium ūsum
habēbant. Sed tandem Rōmānī nāvēs optimās aedificāvērunt, et Poenōs plūrimīs
proeliīs superāvērunt. Itaque Rēgulum cōnsulem ad Āfricam cum exercitū
mīsērunt. Rēgulus exercitum in Āfricam terram exposuit. Prīmō rēs bene gessit;
agrōs ferrō et ignī vastāvit, et magnā spē Carthāginem contendit.
Intereā Poenī
summīs vīribus cōpiās colligēbant, et multa mīlia peditum equitumque in Rōmānōs
dūxērunt. Ācriter pugnābant Rōmānī, sed nōn diū hostium impetum sustinēbant.
Perturbātī et fugātī sunt. Paucī salūtem fugā petīvērunt, et ad oppidum amīcum
cucurrērunt. Maior pars exercitūs aut necātī aut captī sunt.
amīcus, -a, -um:
friendly
Carthāgō, -inis
[3/f]: Carthage
expōnō, -ere,
exposuī, expositus [3]: put out
libentius: more
gladly
mīlle, (pl.)
mīlia: a thousand
optimus, -a, -um:
best, very good
perturbō, -āre
[1]: confuse
Poenus, -ī [2/m]:
a Carthaginian
prīmō: at first
Pūnicus, -a, -um:
Punic, Phoenician, relating to the Carthaginians
Rēgulus, -ī [2/m]:
Regulus, a Roman general
ūsus, -ūs [4/m]:
use, practice
____________________
No citizens
throughout the whole world gave themselves to their country more willingly than
the Romans. I will tell you another story about a brave Roman.
In the First Punic
War, the Romans were for a long time overcome by the Carthaginians, because
they had few ships and did not have great experience with ships. But at last,
the Romans built excellent ships and overcame the Carthaginians in very many
battles. Therefore, they sent the consul Regulus to Africa with an army.
Regulus landed the army in the land of Africa. At first, he managed things
well; he laid waste the fields with sword and fire, and with great hope
hastened toward Carthage.
Meanwhile, the
Carthaginians were collecting forces with their utmost strength, and led many
thousands of infantry and cavalry against the Romans. The Romans fought
fiercely, but they did not withstand the enemy's attack for long. They were
thrown into confusion and put to flight. A few sought safety in flight and ran
to a friendly town. The greater part of the army was either killed or captured.