I confess,

Reg. Manlius, enough. Cease thy applause; 'tis dang'rous; praise like thine Might tempt the most severe and cautious virtue. Bless'd be the gods, who gild my latter days With the bright glory of the Consul's friendship!

Manlius, enough.

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 

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