"Romans! Romans! Lend me your ears, for this is the story of a man whose word was iron, whose soul stood taller than any triumphal arch!"

It was in the First Punic War, when Rome and Carthage fought like eagles locked in the storm. Marcus Atilius Regulus, consul of Rome, had borne our eagles across the sea to Africa, striking terror at the gates of Carthage itself. But Fortune, that fickle goddess, turned her wheel—our legions were broken, our ships burned, and Regulus, Rome’s champion, was taken alive.

Years passed. Carthage wearied of war. 

They came to Regulus in his chains and said: "Go, Roman. Sail home. Speak to your Senate. Persuade them to make peace—or to ransom you for gold. Swear this oath: that if they refuse, you will return to us, though death awaits you."

And Regulus—aye, Regulus swore. They loosed his fetters, gave him safe passage, and he crossed the wine-dark sea back to our shores.

When he came to the Senate, the people thronged the streets, crying: "Regulus! Regulus the victor returns!"

But his face was grave as marble. He raised his hand, and the Forum fell silent.

Hear his words, Romans, for they burn like fire even now: "Fathers of the Senate, listen well. Carthage sues for peace—not from mercy, but from weakness. Reject their plea. Reject their ransom. Send me back to chains, if you love Rome! For if we yield now, our sons will reap war again—and lose!"

A roar of grief swept the crowd. “Stay, Regulus! Stay! Break your oath—they are but barbarians!”

But Regulus thundered: "Break my oath? And teach Rome to lie? Shall the name of Atilius live in shame, that my word was wind? No, Romans! It is better to die faithful than live faithless!"

So he embraced his wife, his children clinging like ivy to the oak—and he tore himself away. No guard dragged him. No fetters bound him. He walked of his own will, back to Carthage, back to death. For the Carthaginians—aye, cruel as the sea—took him, shut him in a spiked chest, and left him to perish in torment.

Thus died Regulus—poor in years, rich in honour.

And when men speak of Rome, let them say: "Here is a people who hold faith dearer than life, and oaths dearer than the light of the sun!"