The Story of Regulus

by James Baldwin

　　

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On the other side of the sea from Rome there was once a great citynamed Car-thage. The Roman people were never very friendly to thepeople of Car-thage, and at last a war began between them. For a longtime it was hard to tell which would prove the stronger. First theRomans would gain a battle, and then the men of Car-thage would gain abattle; and so the war went on for many years.Among the Romans there was a brave gen-er-al named Reg´u-lus,--a manof whom it was said that he never broke his word. It so happened aftera while, that Reg-u-lus was taken pris-on-er and carried to Carthage.Ill and very lonely, he dreamed of his wife and little children so faraway beyond the sea; and he had but little hope of ever seeing themagain. He loved his home dearly, but he believed that his first dutywas to his country; and so he had left all, to fight in this cruelwar.He had lost a battle, it is true, and had been taken prisoner. Yet heknew that the Romans were gaining ground, and the people of Carthagewere afraid of being beaten in the end. They had sent into othercountries to hire soldiers to help them; but even with these theywould not be able to fight much longer against Rome.One day some of the rulers of Carthage came to the prison to talk withRegulus."We should like to make peace with the Roman people," they said, "andwe are sure, that, if your rulers at home knew how the war is going,they would be glad to make peace with us. We will set you free and letyou go home, if you will agree to do as we say.""What is that?" asked Regulus."In the first place," they said, "you must tell the Romans about thebattles which you have lost, and you must make it plain to them thatthey have not gained any-thing by the war. In the second place, youmust promise us, that, if they will not make peace, you will come backto your prison.""Very well," said Regulus, "I promise you, that, if they will not makepeace, I will come back to prison."And so they let him go; for they knew that a great Roman would keephis word.When he came to Rome, all the people greeted him gladly. His wife andchildren were very happy, for they thought that now they would not beparted again. The white-haired Fathers who made the laws for the citycame to see him. They asked him about the war."I was sent from Carthage to ask you to make peace," he said. "But itwill not be wise to make peace. True, we have been beaten in a fewbattles, but our army is gaining ground every day. The people ofCarthage are afraid, and well they may be. Keep on with the war alittle while longer, and Carthage shall be yours. As for me, I havecome to bid my wife and children and Rome fare-well. To-morrow I willstart back to Carthage and to prison; for I have promised."Then the Fathers tried to persuade him to stay."Let us send another man in your place," they said."Shall a Roman not keep his word?" answered Regulus. "I am ill, and atthe best have not long to live. I will go back, as I promised."His wife and little children wept, and his sons begged him not toleave them again."I have given my word," said Regulus. "The rest will be taken careof."Then he bade them good-by, and went bravely back to the prison and thecruel death which he ex-pect-ed.This was the kind of courage that made Rome the greatest city in theworld.

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