M. Atilius Regulus, cum consul iterum in Africa ex insidiis captus esset duce Xanthippo Lacedaemonio, iuratus missus est ad senatum, ut, nisi redditi essent Poenis captivi nobiles quidam, rediret ipse Carthaginem. Is cum Romam venisset, utilitatis {5} speciem videbat, sed eam, ut res declarat, falsam iudicavit: quae erat talis: manere in patria, esse domui suae cum uxore, cum liberis, quam calamitatem accepisset in bello, communem fortunae bellicae iudicantem tenere consularis dignitatis {10} gradum. . . . Itaque quid fecit? In senatum venit, mandata exposuit, sententiam ne diceret recusavit: quam diu iure iurando hostium teneretur, non esse se senatorem. . . . Cuius cum valuisset auctoritas, captivi retenti sunt, ipse Carthaginem {15} rediit neque eum caritas patriae retinuit nec suorum, . . . ‘At stulte, qui non modo non censuerit captivos remittendos, verum etiam dissuaserit.’ Quo modo stulte? etiamne, si reipublicae conducebat? potest autem, quod inutile reipublicae sit, id cuiquam {20} civi utile esse? CICERO, _De Officiis_, iii. 99, 100. [Linenotes: 1. +consul.+ Regulus was Consul 261 and 256 B.C., and Proconsul in Africa 255 B.C., when he was defeated and taken prisoner by Xanthippus. 6. +speciem+ = the _specious (plausible) appearance (semblance)_. 12, 13. +sententiam ... recusavit+ = _declined to give his own opinion on the case_. 13. +iure iurando+ (sc. _dato_) = _by the oath sworn to his enemies_. 17. ‘+At stulte+’ (sc. _fecit_) = ‘_But, it may he said, he acted like a fool._’ 19. +etiamne+ (sc. _stulte fecit_) = _What, how did he act like a fool, if_ ...--Holden.] 20, 21. +potest autem ... utile esse.+ Cf. Ὅ τῇ πόλει οὐκ ἔστι βλαβερὸν οὐδὲ τὸν πολίτην βλάπτει = that which is not harmful (βλαβερόν = +inutile+) to the State is not harmful to the citizen.] +Parallel Passages.+ Polybius, i. 31-36 (he makes no mention of the embassy of Regulus); Pliny, _Ep._ vii. 2 (interesting letter on the death of Regulus); and espec. Hor. _Od._ III. v. 13-end. ‘With counsel thus, ne’er else aread [_advised_], He nerved the Fathers’ weak intent, And, girt by friends that mourn’d him, sped Into illustrious banishment.’ --C. C5 FIRST PUNIC WAR, 264-241 B.C. A. _First Roman Naval Victory near Mylae, 260 B.C._