L. VIVES.
MArcus (a) Attilius Regulus] This is a famous history, and recorded by many. This Regulus in the first Carthaginian warre, was made Consull with Lucius Manlius * 1.1 Uolsco: vnto which two the Affrican warre was committed: being the sole warre that the Romanes at that time waged: Regulus was the first Romane that euer lead armie ouer the Seas into Affricke, where hauing foiled the Carthaginians in many battailes hee droue them to seeke for helpe of Zanthippus of Lacedaemon, a singular and well practised captaine, by whose meanes the warre was renewed, and in a set fight the Romane army ouer-come, & Attilius Regulus taken by his enemies. Who hauing beene kept diuers yeeres prisoner in Carthage together with his fellow captiues, in the foureteenth yeare of the warre, and the 503. after the building of Rome, was sent Embassador to the Romanes about the exchang∣ing of their prisoners: swearing vnto his enemies to returne vnlesse he attained the effect of his Embassage. Comming to Rome, and hauing a day of hearing appointed, the Consull desired him to ascend the Consuls seate, and thence to vtter his opinion of the Embassage; which he at first refused to vtter: but being commanded by the Senate to do it, he did so, and therevpon vtterly diswaded that which the Carthaginians desired; because the Cartha∣ginian prisoners at Rome were young, and able for the warres, but the Romanes at Car∣thage, old, past militarie vse, and not very needfull in counsell. To his opinion the whole Se∣nate assented: Now hee himselfe, though hee were hindered by his children, kinsmen, ser∣uants, countrimen, familiars, clients, and the most part of the people, yet would not stay, but needes would goe to discharge his othe which he had sworne to his enemies, although hee knew that the Affricans would hate him deadly, and so put him to death with some cruell torture or other. So returning vnto Carthage, and declaring the effect of his embassage, he was put to death indeed with strange and intollerable torments. (b) In a narrow barrell] some relate it in another manner, but all agree that hee was ouer-watched vnto death. (c) By the gods] It had beene more significantly spoken, to haue said by those gods, &c. with an emphasis. (d) Argument with a double proofe,] It is a Dilemma: If man receiue the rewarde following the due worship of those gods in this life, why perished Regulus, being so deuout in that kinde? if he haue it not vntill after this life, why do they as whip∣pers expect the prosperous estate of this life from them? (e) What doth not each multi∣tude] How then can the multitude bee happy, when euery particular man is miserable? (f) Uertue of his minde] So holds Tully in many places, Seneca also, and all learned and wise men, speaking of Regulus. (g) Habitations,] meaning these earthly ones.