Reg. What I have sworn I will fulfil, Hamilcar. Be satisfied. Ye guardian gods of Rome, Reg. Carthage by me this embassy has sent ; Her next preposal is, exchange of captives; If Reject them both. Ham. What dost thou mean? Pub. My father! Man. Exalted fortitude! I'm lost in wonder. (Aside) Reg. Romans! I will not idly spend my breath, To show the dire effects of such a peace; The foes, who beg it, shew their dread of war. Man. But the exchange of prisoners thou proposest? Reg. That artful scheme conceals some Punic fraud. Ham. Roman, beware! hast thou so soon forgotten? Reg. I will fulfil the treaty I have sworn to. Reg. Conscript fathers! hear me. Though this exchange teems with a thousand ills, This treaty fix'd, Rome's honour is no more. Her fame, her fortitude, her all were lost. Through ignominious fear of death, for bondage; More than compensates for it. Reg. -I am old, Assist my country much; but mark me well; her: That was the time to prize its service high. Now, weak and nerveless, let the foe possess it, Let Carthage have the poor, degrading triumph Pub. O fatal virtue ! Ham. What do I hear? this constancy confounds me. Man. (to the Senators) Let honour be the spring of all our actions, Not interest, fathers. Let no selfish views Preach safety at the price of truth and justice. -Know, fathers, that these savage Africans Have these barbarians any tortures left, I The terrors of your rage in the dire visages Ham. Surprise has chill'd my blood! I'm lost in wonder! Pub. Does no one answer? must my father perish! Man. Romans, we must defer th' important question : Maturest counsels must determine on it. Rest we awhile :-Nature requires some pause Reg. Have you a doubt remaining? Manlius, speak. Man. Yes, Regulus, I think the danger less To lose th' advantage thy advice suggests, Than would accrue to Rome in losing thee, Whose wisdom might direct, whose valour guard her. Athirst for glory thou wouldst rush on death, And for thy country's sake wouldst greatly perish. Too vast a sacrifice thy zeal requires, For Rome must bleed when Regulus expires. Exeunt Consul and Senators. Manent REGULUS, PUBLIUS, HAMILCAR; to them enter ATTILIA and LICINIUS. Ham. Does Regulus fulfil his promise thus ? Lic. Ah! my friend! Lic. and Att. O by this hand we beg Reg. Away! no more. Thanks to Rome's guardian gods, I'm yet a slave And will be still a slave, to make Rome free! Att. Was the exchange refused? Oh! ease my fears. Reg. Publius! conduct Hamilcar and myself To the abode thou hast for each provided. Att. A foreign residence? a strange abode ? And will my father spurn his household gods? Pub. My sire a stranger?--Will he taste no more The smiling blessings of his cheerful home? Reg. Dost thou not know the laws of Rome forbid A foe's ambassador within her gates? Pub. This rigid law does not extend to thee. Att. Reg. Attilia! no. The present exigence Reg. The fate of Regulus is chang'd, not Regulus I am the same; in laurels or in chains. 'Tis the same principle; the same fix'd soul, Unmov'd itself, though circumstances change. Still struggles with, still conquers adverse fortune; ATTILIA, HAMILCAR, going, enter BARCE. Ham. Ah! my long-lost BARCE: Again I lose thee; Regulus rejects Th' exchange of prisoners Africa proposes. My heart's too full. Oh, I have much to say! Bar. Yet you unkindly leave me, and say nothing. Ham. Ah! didst thou love as thy Hamilcar loves, Words were superfluous; in my eyes, my Barce, [Exit HAMILCAR. Att. My father then conspires his own destruction. Is it not so? Bar. Indeed, I fear it much; But as the senate has not yet resolv'd, There is some room for hope; lose not a moment; And his lov'd home explores with straining eyes; |