REGULUS, MARCUS Anirus. A favorite hero with the Roman writers, was consul for the first time 267 n.c., and for his successes against the Sallentini, obtained the honor of a triumph. Chosen. consul a second time 256 D.C., he was sent along with his colleague L. Manlius Vulso at the head of a navy of 330 ships (with a land army on board) against the Carthaginians, it being the 9th year of the first Punic war, and encountering the enemy's fleet off Heraclea Minor, he totally defeated it. The Romans then landed near Clypea, where they established their headquarters, and ravaged the surrounding Car thaginian territory with fire and sword, but Manlius being recalled to Rome with one half of the land forces, Regains was left to carry on the war with the remainder. For some time he was victorious in every encounter, but at last (255 n.c.) suffered a total defeat; 30,000 Romans were left dead on the field, about 2,000 fled and took shelter in Clypea, and Regulus, with 500 more, was taken prisoner. Regulus remained in captivity for five years, but when fresh reverses induced the Carthaginians to solicit peace, Regulus was released on parole and sent to Rome in company with the Puuic envoys. The rest of his history is one of the most favorite of Roman tales. It is related. con amore, by the Roman poets and historians, as instance and a model of the most supreme heroism, how Regulus at first refused to Rome since he was no longer a citizen; how, after this conscientious scruple was overcome, he declined to give his opinion in the senate, till that illustrious body laid upon him its commands to do so; how he then earnestly dissuaded them from agreeing to any of the Carthaginian proposals, even to an exchange of prisoners (though no reason appears why such an exchange should not have been effected); and how, after he had succeeded by his earnest appeals, in obtaining the rejection of the Carthaginian offers, he resisted all persuasions to break his parole, though conscious of the fate that awaited him, and, refusing even to see his family, returned with the ambassadors to Carthage, where the rulers. maddened by the failure of their
schemes through his instrumentality, put him to death by the most horrible tortures. The common story is, that he was placed in a cask or chest stuck full of nails with the points projecting inward, and rolled about till lie expired; and on the news of this event reaching Rome, retaliations equally atrocious were committed on two of the noblest Carthaginian prisoners. Unfortunately this' noble instance of heroic patriotism and unflinching fortitude has not even been noticed by Polybius (about 200 ac.), who details at great length the other achievements of Regulus; and Palmerius(Pauhnier de Greutes mesuil) and Beaufort, two eminent historical critics, have adduced strong reasons for the story being merely invented for the purpose of excusing the horrible treatment of th• captive Carthaginians. Niebuhr roundly declares it to be a forgery, and believes that Regulus died a natural death; though, excepting the silence of Polvbius (which would be utterly unaccountable on the supposition of the mode of his death being the same or similar to what is stated in the common account). there appears to he no reason to doubt the statement in which all the other Roman historians agree, that he was put to death by the Carthaginians.
laGUR, the native name for the cotton-soil of India: It is a rich darkish loam, which has yielded a constant succession of crops—one of cotton, and two of corn—for 20 centuries. It covers extensive level tracts in the southern peninsula, varying from 3 to 20 ft. in thickness.