Page:Mazeppa (1819).djvu/20

14 “Of vassal or of knight’s degree, “Could vie in vanities with me; “For I had strength, youth, gaiety, “A port, not like to this ye see, “But smooth, as all is rugged now; “For time, and care, and war, have plough’d “My very soul from out my brow; “And thus I should be disavow’d “By all my kind and kin, could they “Compare my day and yesterday; “This change was wrought, too, long ere age “Had ta’en my features for his page: “With years, ye know, have not declined “My strength, my courage, or my mind, “Or at this hour I should not be “Telling old tales beneath a tree, “With starless skies my canopy. “But let me on: Theresa’s form— “Methinks it glides before me now, “Between me and yon chestnut’s bough, “The memory is so quick and warm; “And yet I find no words to tell “The shape of her I loved so well: