It was a sudden meeting, and the light Of a dull moon made indistinct our fight; He foremost fell!—But see, the woman creeps 590 Like a lost thing, that wanders as she sleeps. See here, her husband’s body—but she knows That other dead! and that her action shows. Rachel! why look you at your mortal foe?— She does not hear us—Whither will she go?” Now, more attentive, on the dead they gazed, And they were brothers: sorrowing and amazed, On all a momentary silence came, A common softness, and a moral shame. “Seized you the poachers?” said my lord—“They fled, 600 And we pursued not—one of them was dead, And one of us; they hurried through the wood, Two lives were gone, and we no more pursued. Two lives of men, of valiant brothers lost! Enough, my lord, do hares and pheasants cost!” So many thought, and there is found a heart To dwell upon the deaths on either part; Since this their morals have been more correct, The cruel spirit in the place is check’d; His lordship holds not in such sacred care, 610 Nor takes such dreadful vengeance for a hare; The smugglers fear, the poacher stands in awe Of Heaven’s own act, and reverences the law; There was, there is a terror in the place That operates on man’s offending race; Such acts will stamp their moral on the soul, And while the bad they threaten and control, Will to the pious and the humble say, } Yours is the right, the safe, the certain way, } ’Tis wisdom to be good, ’tis virtue to obey. 620} So Rachel thinks, the pure, the good, the meek, Whose outward acts the inward purpose speak. As men will children at their sports behold, And smile to see them, though unmoved and cold; Smile at the recollected games, and then Depart and mix in the affairs of men: So Rachel looks upon the world, and sees It cannot longer pain her, longer please, But just detain the passing thought, or cause A gentle smile of pity or applause; 630 And then the recollected soul repairs Her slumbering hope, and heeds her own affairs. TALES OF THE HALL. BOOK XXII. _THE VISIT CONCLUDED._ Richard prepares to depart—Visits the Rector—His Reception—Visit to the Sisters—Their present Situation—The Morning of the last Day—The Conference of the Brothers—Their Excursion—Richard dissatisfied—The Brother expostulates—The End of their Ride, and of the Day’s Business—Conclusion. TALES OF THE HALL. BOOK XXII. _THE VISIT CONCLUDED._