_Ham._ Where is this wondrous man, this matchless hero, This arbiter of kingdoms and of kings, This delegate of heav'n, this Roman god? I long to show his soaring mind an equal, And bring it to the standard of humanity. What pride, what glory will it be to fix An obligation on his stubborn soul! Oh! to constrain a foe to be obliged! The very thought exalts me e'en to rapture. _Enter_ REGULUS _and Guards_. _Ham._ Well, Regulus!--At last-- _Reg._ I know it all; I know the motive of thy just complaint-- Be not alarm'd at this licentious uproar Of the mad populace. I will depart-- Fear not--I will not stay in Rome alive. _Ham._ What dost thou mean by uproar and alarms? Hamilcar does not come to vent complaints; He rather comes to prove that Afric, too, Produces heroes, and that Tiber's banks May find a rival on the Punic coast. _Reg._ Be it so.--'Tis not a time for vain debate: Collect thy people.--Let us strait depart. _Ham._ Lend me thy hearing, first. _Reg._ O patience, patience! _Ham._ Is it esteem'd a glory to be grateful? _Reg._ The time has been when 'twas a duty only, But 'tis a duty now so little practis'd, That to perform it is become a glory. _Ham._ If to fulfil it should expose to danger?---- _Reg._ It rises then to an illustrious virtue. _Ham._ Then grant this merit to an African. Give me a patient hearing----Thy great son, As delicate in honour as in love, Hath nobly given my Barce to my arms; And yet I know he doats upon the maid. I come to emulate the generous deed; He gave me back my love, and in return I will restore his father. _Reg._ Ah! what say'st thou? Wilt thou preserve me then? _Ham._ I will. _Reg._ But how? _Ham._ By leaving thee at liberty to _fly_. _Reg._ Ah! _Ham._ I will dismiss my guards on some pretence, Meanwhile do thou escape, and lie conceal'd: I will affect a rage I shall not feel, Unmoor my ships, and sail for Africa. _Reg._ Abhorr'd barbarian! _Ham._ Well, what dost thou say? Art thou not much surpris'd? _Reg._ I am, indeed. _Ham._ Thou could'st not then have hop'd it? _Reg._ No! I could not. _Ham._ And yet I'm not a Roman. _Reg._ (_smiling contemptuously._) I perceive it. _Ham._ You may retire (_aloud to the guards_). _Reg._ No!--Stay, I charge you stay. _Ham._ And wherefore stay? _Reg._ I thank thee for thy offer, But I shall go with thee. _Ham._ 'Tis well, proud man! Thou dost despise me, then? _Reg._ No--but I pity thee. _Ham._ Why pity me?