The Tragedy of Afghanistan - A Poem by Theodor Fontane

In the light of recent events I repost a slighty edited version of a translation of a ballad by Theodor Fontane I did back in 2006. Carla Nayland kindly provided me with the historical context - which is outside my area of expertise - in the comments. Das Trauerspiel von Afghanistan Snow like powder from the sky softly falls, When before Djelalabad a rider halts. "Who's there" - "A British