B.C . 260. THE ÀTBICAHS BENS MARCUS BEOTJLTJS TO BOME. 65 tarn from the path of honour, than it ie to divert the sun from its course." Then Pyrrhus the king went to Sicily : Fabriciua having defeated the Tarentines, celebrated a triumph ; bat Pyrrhus, on his return to his own country, was killed at Argoe, a city of Greece. About this time, among the Jews, Simon, the son of Onias, flourished as high priest, he who was surnamed the Just. At this time blood flowed from the springs in many places, and milk fell from the clouds in the form of rain. Up to the four hundred and seventy-seventh year of the city, though the name of Rome was by this time illustrious, still its arms had never been carried out of Italy. Therefore, that it might be known what was the amount of the forces of the Romans, a census was taken, and there were found to be two hundred and ninety-two thousand and three hundred and thirty-four citizens, although wars had never ceased since the first foundation of the city. War was now commenced against the Africans, and in the first and second year of it triumphs were celebrated for vic tories gained over them in Sicily. Duilius also defeated the admiral of the Carthaginians in a pitched battle ; he took thirty-two ships and sank twenty-four ; took seven thousand o f the enemy prisoners, and slew three thousand ; nor was there any victory which caused more delight to the Romans, because being previously invincible by land, they henceforth were very powerful by sea also. At this time Aulus Regulus killed a serpent of wonderful size near the river Bagrada ; its skin was a hundred and twenty feet long, and it was brought to Rome, where it was for a long time an object of astonishment to all beholders. About this time silver money was coined at Rome for the first time. About the same time the Africans, after a battle with the Romans, requested Marcus Regulus, the Roman general whom they had taken prisoner in the war, to go to Rome and obtain peace for them from the Romans, and effect an exchange of prisoners. When he arrived in Rome he was introduced into the senate ; but he refused to act as a free Roman. For he - said, that ever since the day on which he had fallen into the hands of the Africans, he had ceased to be a Roman ; and in order to confirm his assertion, he removed his wife from his embrace. And he advised the senate not to make peace with TOL. I. E