Among the most glorious names of which the Roman republic went superb, by the consent of all antiquity, the name of Attilio Regolo has always occupied the distinguished place, since it did not sacrifice only blood, sweat and care for the country. His, but he knew how to turn his misadventures to the advantage of it.

Carried already of years and of merit found him unhappy prisoner in Carthage, when that city terrified by the fortune of the emula Rome was forced by ambassadors to procure peace from that or at least the change of prisoners.

The freedom that would be redefined to Attilio Regolo by the execution of these proposals and to believe it to be an opportune instrument for Carthaginism; together with the African ambassador, they sent him to Rome, having first obliged him to solemnly swear to return to his chains, when nothing was obtained. At the unexpected arrival of Regulus, the Romans burst out in so many transports of tender joy, in how many sadness and desolation they were already five years previously spent in the unspeakable proclamation of his slavery. And for the freedom of such a great hero it would certainly have seemed to them light any very serious condition. But Rather, instead of availing himself of his private advantage of the credit and love he had among his citizens, he employed it to dissuade them from accepting the insidious enemy's proposals; and glad to have persuaded him, amid the tears of his children, between the prayers of the conjoined, among the requests of his friends, of the senate and of the whole people, who crowded around him to restrain him, he religiously returned to the undoubted death that awaited him in Africa, leaving to posterity such a portentous example of fidelity and constancy. Appiano, Zonaras, Cicero, Horace, and others.