A sudden change of march is made,

And Swedish troops invade Ukraine.

The day has come, and from his bed

Mazeppa rose, this suff'rer weak,

This living corpse, who yesternight

The last, sad rites demurely served.

But now, the rival of the Tsar

To Desna hotly makes his way,

With ardent eyes before his troops

His sword high waves and boldly rides.

All signs of age he now throws off,

Erect, and strong, and young, appears,

Like prelate who, in years well struck,

Is called to wear the Papal crown.

The winged news spreads far and wide:

"The Hetman false has humbly laid

At feet of Charles his golden mace."

The fire quick catches, and the flames

Of civil war burst forth.

But who

Shall tell the Tsar's fierce rage and wrath?

The churches echo ban and curse;

The hangman burns Mazeppa's bust;

In noisy council's hot debate

Another chief the Cossacks choose;

And from their place of exile far

The kin of lskra and his chief

Are summoned back. With them the Tsar

Bewails their sires' unrighteous fate,

And subtly whets them to revenge.

And old Palaeus, horseman bold,

His youth renewed, once more returns,

The camp to join and fight the foe.