Her pretty looks, her auburn braid, her face, All now remain’d the proofs of his disgrace; While, more than hateful in his vixen’s eyes, He saw her comforts from his griefs arise; Who felt a joy she strove not to conceal, 420 When their expenses made her miser feel. War was perpetual: on a first attack She gain’d advantage, he would turn his back; And, when her small-shot whistled in his ears, He felt a portion of his early fears; But, if he turn’d him in the battle’s heat, And fought in earnest, hers was then defeat; His strength of oath and curse brought little harm, But there was no resisting strength of arm. Yet wearied both with war, and vex’d at heart, 430 The slaves of passion judged it best to part. Long they debated, nor could fix a rate For a man’s peace with his contending mate; But mutual hatred, scorn, and fear, assign’d That price—that peace it was not theirs to find. The watchful husband lived in constant hope To hear the wife had ventured to elope; But, though not virtuous, nor in much discreet, He found her coldness would such views defeat; And thus, by self-reproof and avarice scourged, 440 He wore the galling chains his folly forged. The wife her pleasures, few and humble, sought, And with anticipated stipend bought; Without a home, at fashion’s call she fled To an hired lodging and a widow’d bed; Husband and parents banish’d from her mind, She seeks for pleasures that she cannot find; And grieves that so much treachery was employ’d To gain a man who has her peace destroy’d. Yet more the grieving father feels distress, 450 His error greater, and his motives less; He finds too late, by stooping to deceit, It is ourselves and not the world we cheat; For, though we blind it, yet we can but feel That we have something evil to conceal; Nor can we by our utmost care be sure That we can hide the sufferings we endure. TALES OF THE HALL. BOOK XVI. _LADY BARBARA; OR, THE GHOST._ Introductory Discourse—For what Purpose would a Ghost appear?—How the Purpose would be answered—The Fact admitted, would not Doubts return?—Family Stories of Apparitions—Story of Lady Barbara—Her Widowhood—Resides with a Priest—His Family—A favourite Boy—His Education—His Fondness for the Lady—It becomes Love—His Reflections—His Declaration—Her Reply—Her Relation—Why she must not marry a second Time—How warned—Tokens of the Appearance—The Lover argues with the Lady—His Success—The Consequences of it. TALES OF THE HALL. BOOK XVI. _LADY BARBARA; OR, THE GHOST._