_Man._ Forbid it, Jove! said'st thou thy _latter_ days? May gracious heav'n to a far distant hour Protract thy valued life! Be it _my_ care To crown the hopes of thy admiring country, By giving back her long-lost hero to her. I will exert my power to bring about Th' exchange of captives Africa proposes. _Reg._ Manlius, and is it thus, is this the way Thou dost begin to give me proofs of friendship? Ah! if thy love be so destructive to me, What would thy hatred be? Mistaken Consul! Shall I then lose the profit of my wrongs? Be thus defrauded of the benefit I vainly hop'd from all my years of bondage? I did not come to show my chains to Rome, To move my country to a weak compassion; I came to save her _honour_, to preserve her From tarnishing her glory; came to snatch her From offers so destructive to her fame. O Manlius! either give me proofs more worthy A Roman's friendship, or renew thy hate. _Man._ Dost thou not know, that this exchange refus'd, Inevitable death must be thy fate? _Reg._ And has the name of _death_ such terror in it, To strike with dread the mighty soul of Manlius? 'Tis not _to-day_ I learn that I am mortal. The foe can only take from Regulus What wearied nature would have shortly yielded; It will be now a voluntary gift, 'Twould then become a tribute seiz'd, not offer'd. Yes, Manlius, tell the world that as I liv'd For Rome alone, when I could live no longer, 'Twas my last care how, dying, to assist, To save that country I had liv'd to serve. _Man._ O unexampled worth! O godlike Regulus! Thrice happy Rome! unparalleled in heroes! Hast thou then sworn, thou awfully good man, Never to bless the Consul with thy friendship? _Reg._ If thou wilt love me, love me like a _Roman_. These are the terms on which I take thy friendship. We both must make a sacrifice to Rome, I of my life, and thou of _Regulus_: One must resign his being, one his friend. It is but just, that what procures our country Such real blessings, such substantial good, Should cost thee something--I shall lose but little. Go then, my friend! but promise, ere thou goest, With all the Consular authority, Thou wilt support my counsel in the Senate. If thou art willing to accept these terms, With transport I embrace thy proffer'd friendship. _Man._ (_after a pause._) Yes, I do promise. _Reg._ Bounteous gods, I thank you! Ye never gave, in all your round of blessing, A gift so greatly welcome to my soul, As Manlius' friendship on the terms of honour! _Man._ Immortal Powers! why am not I a slave? By heav'n! I almost envy thee thy bonds. _Reg._ My friend, there's not a moment to be lost; Ere this, perhaps, the Senate is assembled. To thee, and to thy virtues, I commit The dignity of Rome--my peace and honour. _Man._ Illustrious man, farewell! _Reg._ Farewell, my friend!