20
MAZEPPA.
“We met in secret—doubly sweet,
“Some say, they find it so to meet;
“I know not that—I would have given
“My life but to have call’d her mine
“In the full view of earth and heaven;
“For I did oft and long repine
“That we could only meet by stealth.
VIII.
“For lovers there are many eyes,
“And such there were on us;—the devil
“On such occasions should be civil—320
“The devil!—I’m loth to do him wrong,
“It might be some untoward saint,
“Who would not be at rest too long,
“But to his pious bile gave vent—
“But one fair night, some lurking spies
“Surprised and seized us both.
“The Count was something more than wroth—
“I was unarm’d; but if in steel,
“All cap-à-pie from head to heel,
“What ’gainst their numbers could I do?—330
