though far inferior to the enemy in the management of his, fleet, yet he gained the first naval victory, the Carthagin'ians losing fifty of their ships, and the undisturbed sovereignty of the sea, which they valued more. The highest honours were conferred on Duil'lius for this remarkable victory, and a rostral column, that is, a column adorned with the rostra or prows of ships, raised to commemorate the event, still exists in Rome. 13. The Romans soon invaded Sicily, and gained some signal successes, principally by the aid of their ally, king Hi'ero. On one occasion the consul Calati'nus was entrapped by the Carthaginians into a defile, and would certainly have been destroyed but for the bravery of a military tribune, Calpurnius Flem'ma, who with three hundred men kept the whole of the hostile forces at bay, until the consul extricated his army. But notwithstanding repeated triumphs, the Romans discovered that the conquest of Sicily was to be obtained only by humbling the power of Carthage at home For this reason the senate resolved to carry the war into Africa itself, and accordingly they sent Reg'ulus and Man'lius, with a fleet of three hundred sail, to make the invasion. 14. Reg'ulus was reckoned the most consummate warrior that 309 Rome could then produce and a professed example of frugal severity. His patriotism was still greater than his temperance all private passions seemed extinguished in him, at least they were swallowed up in one great ruling affection, the love of his country. 15 The two generals set sail with their fleet, which was the greatest that had ever yet left an Italian port, carrying a hundred and forty thousand men. They were met by the Carthagin'ians with a fleet equally powerful, and men more used to the sea, 16. While the fight continued at a distance, the Carthagin'ians seemed successful; but when the Romans came to grapple with them, the difference between a mercenary army, and one that fought for fame, was apparent. 17 The resolution of the Romans was crowned with success'; the enemy's fleet was dispersed, and fifty-four of their vessels taken 18. The consequence of this victory was an immediate descent upon the coast of Africa, and the capture of the city Clu'pea': together with twenty thousand men, who were made prisoners of war? 19. The senate being informed of successes, and applied to for fresh instructionmanded Man'lius back to Italy, in order to superintend the Sicilian war; and directed that Reg'ulus should continue in Africa, tɩ prosecute his victories there. 20. A battle ensued, in which Carthage was once more defeated, and 17,000 of its best troops were cut off. This fresh victory contributed to throw them into the utmost despair for more than eighty of their towns submitted to the Romans 21 In this distress, the Carthaginians, destitute of generals at home, were obliged to send to Lacedæ'mon, offering the command of their armies to Xantippus, a general of great experience, who undertook to conduct them./ 22. This general began by giving the magistrates proper instructions for levying their men; he assured them 1 Clupea, or Cly'pea, now Aklib'ia, is a town of Africa Proper, twenty-two miles from the site of Carthage. (Strabo.) It was very conveniently situated to serve as a magazine of arms and provisions for the Romans, and there were several ports near it, to shelter their fleets. (Polyb.) 2 While Reg'ulus lay encamped here, near the river Bagra'da, be is said to have slain a monstrous serpent by the help of his battering engines. Its skin, which was 120 feet long, was sent to Rome, and preserved for a long time with great care. 3 To complete their misfortunes, the Numid'ians entered their territory, laid waste their fields, and committed such dreadful devastations, that a severe famine ensued, with all its attendant horrors. At this critical juncture, Reg'ulus, who had advanced to the very gates of the city, sent the Carthagin'ians proposals of peace. The depnties were received with transports of joy till the conditions were known, when they were found so severe, that the senators protested they would rather die a thousand deaths than submit to them. that their armies were hitherto overthrown, not by the strength of the enemy, but by the ignorance of their own commanders; he therefore required a ready obedience to his orders, and assured them of an easy victory. 23. The whole city seemed once more revived from despondence, by the exhortation of a single stranger; and soon from hope grew into confidence. 24. This was the spirit the Grecian general wished to excite in them: so that when he saw them thus ripe for the engagement, he joyfully took the field. 25. The Lacedæmo'nian made the most skilful disposition of his forces; he placed his cavalry in the wings; he disposed the elephants at proper intervals, behind the line of the heavy armed infantry; and bringing up the light-armed troops before, he ordered them to retire through the line of infantry after they had discharged their weapons. 26/ At length both armies engaged; after a long and obstinate resistance, the Romans were overthrown with dreadful slaughter, the greatest part of their army destroyed, and Reg'ulus himself taken prisoner. 27 Several other distresses of the Romans followed soon after. They lost their fleet in a storm2 and Agrigen'tum3, their principal town in Sicily, was taken by Karth'alo, the Carthaginian general. They built a new fleet, which shared the fate of the former; for the mariners, as yet unacquainted with the Mediterranean shores, drove upon quicksands, and soon after the greater part perished in a storm. The Romans, considering these two disasters as indications of the will of the gods that they should not contend by sea, made a decree that no more than fifty galleys should for the future be equipped. But they soon annulled a law which would have proved fatal to their rising greatness. 1 Xantippus met with a very ungrateful return for the signal services he had rendered the Carthagin'ians, for the seamen who were appointed to conduct him home had private orders to throw him overboard, lest he should ascribe to himself the honour of this victory. 2 A fine army was thus lost; all the riches that had been amassed in Africa were swallowed up by the sea, and the whole coast from Pachi'num to Cameri'na was covered with dead bodies and the wrecks of ships, so that history scarcely affords another example of so dreadful a disaster. 3 Now Girgenti. In its flourishing condition it contained 200,000 inhabitants. (Polyb. Strabo.) Questions for Examination. What did the Romans now desire? 2. What state afforded them an opportunity for this purpose? 3. Were their wishes gratified, and how? 4. What measures did the Mamertines adopt? 5 Did the Romans afford them the assistance they requested? 6. Where was Carthage situated, and when was it built? 7. Was it a powerful state? 8. Had the Romans or the Carthagin'ians the means most likely to ensure success? 9. Were Rome and Carthage on an equal footing in other respects? 10. Did the Romans attempt to overcome this obstacle? 11. What assisted their endeavours? 12. Who was their first naval commander, and what was his success? 13. What were the means adopted to conquer Sicily? 14. What was the character of Regulus? 15. What was the amount of the forces on both sides? 16. On which side did the advantage lie? 17. With whom did the victory remain ? 18. What was the consequence of this victory? 19. What were the orders of the senate? 20. What was the next event deserving notice, and its consequences? 21. To what expedient were the Carthaginians obliged to have recourse? 22. What were the first acts of this general? 23. What were the effects his arrival produced? 24. What was the consequence? 25. In what way was the Carthaginian army drawn up? 26. What was the event of the battle? 27. What other disasters did the Romans encounter? 1. THE Carthagin'ians being thus successful, were desirous of a new treaty of peace, hoping to have better terms than those insisted upon by Reg'ulus ' They supposed that These are subsequently mentioned. he, whom they had now for four years kept in a dungeon, confined and chained, would be a proper solicitor. It was expected, that being wearied with imprisonment and bondage, he would gladly endeavour to persuade his countrymen to a discontinuance of the prolonged his captivity. 2. He was accordinolent with their ambashim, to return in case of being unsuccessfulcted from sadors to Rome/under a promise, 'previously exacted from was even given to understand that his life depended upon the success of his negotiation' 3.When this old general, together with the ambassadors of Carthage, approached Rome, numbers of his friends came out to meet him, and congratulate him on his return 41 Their acclamations resounded through the city; but Regulus refused, with settled melancholy, to enter the gates. In vain he was entreated on every side to visit once more his little dwelling, and share in that joy which his return had inspired. He persisted in saying, that he was now a slave belonging to the Carthagin'ians, and unfit to partake in the liberal honours of his country. 5. The senate assembling without the walls, as usual, to give audience to the ambassadors, Reg'ulus opened his commis sion, as he had been directed by thegin'ian council, and their ambassadors seconded his proposals. 6 The senate themselves, who were weary of a war which had been protracted above fourteen years, were no way disinclinable to a peace. It only remained for Reg'ulus himself to give his opinion. 7. When it came to his turn to speak, to the surprise of the whole, he gave his voice for continuing the war 8. So unexpected an advice not a little disturbed the senate: they pitied, as well as admired a man who had used such eloquence against his private interest, and could conclude upon a measure which was to terminate in his own ruin. 9. But he soon relieved their embarrassment by breaking off the treaty, and by rising, in order to retu to his bonds and his confinement. 10. In vain did the senate and his dearest friends entreat 1 Though the Carthagin'ians had been partially successful, their condition fully justified their anxiety for peace. The war had already lasted fourteen years; they had lost their best commanders, their elephants, and their fleets; their finances were exhausted, their armies diminished, and the only towns they had now left in Sicily were Lilybæ'um (now Boco), and Drepa'nnum (now Trapa'ni), the former of which was invested by the Roman army. |