Hurrah! For the Dead Ride Fast!

"Is there a hundred miles between
Us and our bridal bed?
Eleven has struck on the clock I ween,
And dawn will soon shine red."
"Nay, look, my love, at the full moons face:
We and the dead folk ride apace,
So before day with darkness meets
You shall press your bridal sheets."

They ride, they ride, on either hand
Too fast to see or know them,
Fly hedges, wastes, and pasture-land,
The rocks resound below them.
"Dost fear, my love! The moon shines bright.
Hurrah! For the dead ride fast by night.
Don't fear, my love, the dead!"
"Nay, let them rest, the dead!"

They flew to right, they flew to left,
The hills, the trees, the sedges;
They flew to left, to right, to left
Townlets and towns, and hedges.
"Don't fear, my love, the moon shines bright!
Hurrah, for the dead ride fast by night -
Dost fear, my love, the dead?"
"Ah, let them rest the dead."

On, on they race by the moons pale light;
All things seem flying fast;
The heavens, the stars, the earth, the night.
In one wild dream flash past.
"Don't fear, my love - the moon shines bright.
Hurrah, for the dead ride fast by night -
Dost fear, my love, the dead?"
"Alas, let be the dead."

In a second's space came a wonder strange,
A hideous thing to tell;
The rider's face knew a ghastly change,
The flesh from the white bones fell.
A featureless skull glared down on her,
No hair to feel, no lips to stir:
She was clasped by a skeleton!
Yet the frightful ride went on....

Originally Published in "HORROR AT FONTENAY" by Alexandre Dumas translated into English as part of the Dennis Wheatley's Library of the Occult