Att. I thank you, gods: O my full heart! where is he?

Hasten, my brother, lead, O lead me to him.

Pub. It is too soon: restrain thy fond impatience.

With Africa's ambassador he waits,

Until th' assembled senate give him audience. Att. Where was he, Publius, when thou saw'st him first?

Pub. You know, in quality of Roman quæstor, My duty 'tis to find a fit abode

For all ambassadors of foreign states.
Hearing the Carthaginian was arriv'd,
I hasten'd to the port, when, O just gods!
No foreigner, no foe, no African

Salutes my eye, but Regulus-my father!
Att. Oh mighty joy! too exquisite delight!
What said the hero? tell me, tell me all,
And ease my anxious breast.

Pub.
Ere I arriv'd,
My father stood already on the shore,
Fixing his eyes with anxious eagerness,
As straining to descry the capitol.

I saw, and flew with transport to embrace him,
Pronounced with wildest joy the name of father—
With reverence seiz'd his venerable hand,

And would have kiss'd it; when the awful hero, With that stern grandeur which made Carthage tremble,

Drew back-stood all collected in himself,

And said austerely, Know, thou rash young man,
That slaves in Rome have not the rights of fathers.
Then asked, if yet the senate was assembled,
And where? which having heard, without indulging
The fond effusions of his soul, or mine,
He suddenly retired. I flew with speed
To find the consul, but as yet, success
Attends not my pursuit. Direct me to him.

Bar. Publius, you'll find him in Bellona's temple. Att. Then Regulus returns to Rome a slave! Pub. Yes, but be comforted; I know he brings Proposals for a peace; his will's his fate.

Att. Rome may perhaps refuse to treat of peace. Pub. Didst thou behold the universal joy

At his return, thou wouldst not doubt success. There's not a tongue in Rome but, wild with transport,

Proclaims aloud that Regulus is come!

The streets are filled with thronging multitudes,
Pressing with eager gaze to catch a look.
The happy man who can descry him first,
Points him to his next neighbour, he to his ;
Then what a thunder of applause goes round;
What music to the ear of filial love!
Attilia! not a Roman eye was seen,
But shed pure tears of exquisite delight.
Judge of my feelings by thy own, my sister.
By the large measure of thy fond affection,
Judge mine.

Att. Where is Licinius? find him out;
My joy is incomplete till he partakes it.
When doubts and fears have rent my anxious heart,
In all my woes he kindly bore a part:
Felt all my sorrows with a soul sincere,
Sigh'd as I sigh'd, and number'd tear for tear:
Now favouring heav'n my ardent vows has blest.
He shall divide the transports of my breast.

Pub. Barce, adieu !

Bar.

[Exit ATTILIA.

Publius, a moment hear me.

Know'st thou the name of Africa's ambassador?

Pub. Hamilcar ?

Bar. Son of Hanno ?

Pub. Yes! the same.

Bar. Ah me! Hamilcar !-How shall I sup

port it!

(aside.)

Pub. Ah, charming maid! the blood forsakes thy cheek:

Is he the rival of thy Publius? speak,

And tell me all the rigour of my fate.

Bar. Hear me, my lord. Since I have been thy slave.
Thy goodness, and the friendship of Attilia,
Have soften'd all the horrors of my fate.

Till now I have not felt the weight of bondage.
Till now-ah, Publius !—think me not ungrateful,
I would not wrong thee-I will be sincere-
I will expose the weakness of my soul.

Know then, my lord-how shall I tell thee all?
Pub. Stop, cruel maid, nor wound thy Publius

more;

I dread the fatal frankness of thy words:
Spare me the pain of knowing I am scorn'd;
And if thy heart's devoted to another,
Yet do not tell it me; in tender pity
Do not, my fair, dissolve the fond illusion,
The dear delightful visions I have form'd
Of future joy, and fond exhaustless love.

[Exit PUBLIUS.

Bar. (alone.) And shall I see him then, see my
Hamilcar,

Pride of my soul, and lord of all my wishes?
The only man in all our burning Afric
Who ever taught my bosom how to love!

Down, foolish heart! be calm, my busy thoughts!
If at his name I feel these strange emotions,
How shall I see, how meet my conqueror?
O let not those presume to judge of joy

Who ne'er have felt the pangs which absence gives.
Such tender transport those alone can prove,
Who long, like me, have known disastrous love;
The tears that fell, the sighs that once were paid,
Like grateful incense on his altar laid ;

The lambent flame rekindle, not destroy,

And woes remember'd heighten present joy. [Exit.

ACT II.

SCENE The inside of the Temple of Bellona-Seats the Senators and Ambassadors-Lictors guarding the entrance.

for

MANLIUS, PUBLIUS, and Senators.

Man. Let Regulus be sent for to our presence; And with him the ambassador of Carthage.

Is it then true the foe would treat of peace?

Pub. They wish at least our captives were exchang'd,

And send my father to declare their wish :
If he obtain it, well if not, then Regulus
Returns to meet the vengeance of the foe,
And pay for your refusal with his blood:
He ratified this treaty with his oath,

And, 'ere he quitted Carthage, heard, unmov'd,
The dreadful preparations for his death,

Should he return. O Romans! O my countrymen !

Can you resign your hero to your foe?

Say, can you give up Regulus to Carthage?

Man. Peace, Publius, peace, for see thy father

comes.

Enter HAMILCAR and REGULUS.

Ham. Why dost thou stop? dost thou forget this temple?

I thought these walls had been well known to

Regulus?

Reg. Hamilcar! I was thinking what I was

When last I saw them, and what now I am.
Ham. (to the Consul.) Carthage by me to Rome
this greeting sends;

That wearied out, at length, with bloody war,
If Rome inclines to peace. she offers it.

Man. We will at leisure answer thee. Be seated. Come, Regulus, resume thine ancient place.

Reg. (pointing to the Senators.) Who then are these?

Man. The Senators of Rome.

Reg. And who art thou?

Man. What mean'st thou? I'm her Consul; Hast thou so soon forgotten Manlius?

Reg. And shall a slave then have a place in Rome, Among her Consuls and her Senators?

Man. Yes!-For her heroes Rome forgets her laws; Softens their harsh austerity for thee,

To whom she owes her conquest and her triumphs.
Reg. Rome may forget, but Regulus remembers.
Man. Was ever man so obstinately good? (Aside.)
Pub. (rising.) Fathers, your pardon. I can sit
no longer.
(To the Senators)
Reg. Publius, what dost thou mean?
Pub.
To do my duty;

Where Regulus must stand, shall Publius sit?

Reg. Alas! O Rome, how are thy manners chang'd!

When last I left thee, 'ere I sail'd for Afric,

It was a crime to think of private duties
When public cares requir'd attention.-

-Sit,

(To Pub.) And learn to occupy thy place with

honour.

Pub. Forgive me, sir, if I refuse obedience; My heart o'erflows with duty to my father.

Reg. Know, Publius, that thy duty's at an end; Thy father died when he became a slave.

Man. Now urge thy suit, Hamilcar, we attend. Ham. Afric hath chosen Regulus her messenger; In him, both Carthage and Hamilcar speak. Man. (to Reg.) We are prepar'd to hear thee. Ham. (to Reg.) 'Ere thou speak'st Maturely weigh what thou hast sworn to do, Should Rome refuse to treat with us of peace.