“从贝尔顿城堡到紧靠桥的索尔威一侧，骑马要三天。”我们飞快地从她父亲的城堡里逃了出来，到了该睡觉的时候了。第一天令人心醉神迷，金色的雾，茂盛的树;我们像神一样骑着马，穿过一个崭新的世界，山楂芬芳的山岭和林间空地，空气中有一种淡淡的、静止的甜蜜——哦，还有她的脸，还有拂过她头发的风!还有我们的骏马稳健的蹄声，带着我们向北，有力而迅速，奔向我高耸的黑塔，寒风凛冽，就像一个游泳者在索尔威河上脱光衣服。每次骑马时，我们都高唱着《挑战命运》这首歌，唱得又响又长:“从贝尔顿城堡到索尔威一侧，尽你所能奋斗，是三天的骑行!”她裹着我的斗篷睡了一个小时，我一直看着她，直到天亮;第二天——是一片荒芜的土地，两边是灰色的光秃秃的小山;阴沉的土地和阴沉的人民，还有像苦烟一样飘来的雾。路像一条蜿蜒的蛇，我们的马在踩下刹车时呜咽着。 Till we sprang to earth at Wyvern Fen, Where fresh steeds stamped, and were off again. Weary and sleepless, bruised and worn, We still had strength for laughter and scorn; Love held us up through the mire and mist, Love fed us, while we clasped and kissed, And still we sang as the night closed in, Stealthy and slow as a hidden sin, 'From Belton Castle to Solway side, Ride how you will, is three days' ride.' My love drooped low on the black mare's back, Drowned in her hair . . . the reins went slack . . . Yet she could not sleep, save to dream bad dreams And wake all trembling, till at last Her golden head lay on my breast. At last we saw the first faint gleams Of day. Dawn broke. A sickly light Came from the withered sun--a blight Was on the land, and poisonous mist Shrouded the rotting trees, unkissed By any wind, and the black crags glared Like sightless, awful faces, spared From death to live accursed for aye. Dragging slow chains the hours went by. We rode on, drunk and drugged with sleep, Too deadly weary now to say Whether our horses kept the way Or no--like slaves stretched on a heap Of poisoned arrows. Every limb Shot with sharp pain; pain seemed to swim Like a red cloud before our eyes. . . . The mist broke, and a moment showed, Sharp as the Devil's oxen-goad, The spear-points where the hot chase rode. Idly I watched them dance and rise Till white wreaths wiped them out again . . . My love jerked at the bridle rein; The black mare, dying, broke her heart In one swift gallop; for my part I dozed; and ever in my brain, Four hoofs of fire beat out refrain, A dirge to light us down to death, A silly rhyme that saith and saith, 'From Belton Castle to Solway side, Though great hearts break, is three days' ride!' The black mare staggered, reeled and fell, Bearing my love down . . . a great bell Began to toll . . . and sudden fire Flared at me from the road, a pyre It seemed, to burn our bodies in . . . And I fell down, far down, within The pit's mouth . . . and my brain went blind. . . . I woke--a cold sun rose behind Black evil hills--my love knelt near Beside a stream, her golden hair Streaming across the grass--below The Solway eddied to and fro, White with fierce whirlpools . . . my love turned. . . . Thank God, some hours of joy are burned Into the mind, and will remain, Fierce-blazing still, in spite of pain! They came behind us as we kissed, Stealthily from the dripping mist, Her brothers and their evil band. They bound me fast and made me stand. They forced her down upon her knees. She did not strive or cry or call, But knelt there dumb before them all-- I could not turn away my eyes-- There was no fear upon her face, Although they slew her in that place. The daggers rent and tore her breast Like dogs that snarl above a kill, Her proud face gazed above them still, Seeking rest--Oh, seeking rest! The blood swept like a crimson dress Over her bosom's nakedness, A curtain for her weary eyes, A muffling-cloth to stop her sighs . . . And she was gone--and a red thing lay Silent on the trampled clay. Beneath my horse my feet are bound, My hands are bound behind my back, I feel the sinews start to crack-- And ever to the hoof-beats' sound, As we draw near the gallows-tree, Where I shall hang right speedily, A crazy tune rings in my brain, Four hoofs of fire tramp the refrain, Crashing clear o'er the roaring crowd, Steadily galloping, strong and loud, 'From Belton Cas