They it was who despatched me on this journey, since by the law of war I have become their slave.  They ask, if possible, to conclude the war upon terms pleasing to both parties or, if not, to effect an exchange of prisoners.”  At the end of these words he withdrew with the envoys that the Romans might deliberate in private.  When the consuls urged him to take part in their discussion, [Sidenote:  FRAG. 43^22] HE PAID NO HEED UNTIL PERMISSION WAS GRANTED BY THE CARTHAGINIANS.  For a time he was silent.  Then, as the senators bade him state his opinion, he spoke: 

(BOOK 12, BOISSEVAIN.)

“I am one of you, Conscript Fathers, though I be captured times without number.  My body is a Carthaginian chattel, but my spirit is yours.  The former has been alienated from you, but the latter nobody has the power to make anything else than Roman.  As captive I belong to the Carthaginians, yet, as I met with misfortune not from cowardice but from zeal, I am not only a Roman, but my heart is in your cause.  Not in a single respect do I think reconciliation advantageous to you.”

After these words Regulus stated also the reasons for which he favored rejecting the proposals, and added:  “I know, to be sure, that manifest destruction confronts me, for it is impossible to keep them from learning the advice I have given; but even so I esteem the public advantage above my own safety.  If any one shall say:  ’Why do you not run away, or stay here?’ he shall be told that I have sworn to them to return and I would not transgress my oaths, not even when they have been given to enemies.  There are various explanations for this, but the principal one is that if I abide by my oath I alone shall suffer disaster, but if I break it, the whole city will be involved.”

But the senate out of consideration for his safety showed a disposition to make peace and to restore the captives.  When he was made aware of this, he pretended, in order that he might not be the cause of their letting slip their advantage, that he had swallowed deadly poison and was destined certainly to die from its effects.  Hence no agreement and no exchange of prisoners was made.  As he was departing in company with the envoys, his wife and children and others clung to him, and the consuls declared they would not surrender him, if he chose to stay, nor yet would they detain him if he was for departing.  Consequently, since he preferred not to transgress the oaths, he was carried back.  He died of outrages, so the legend reports, perpetrated by his captors.  They cut off his eyelids and for a time shut him in darkness, then they threw him into some kind of specially constructed receptacle bristling with spikes; and they made him face the sun; so that through suffering and sleeplessness,—­for the spikes kept him from reclining in any fashion,—­he perished.  When the Romans found it out, they delivered the foremost captives that they held to his children to outrage and put to death in revenge.