Ivan Mazepa

Ivan Stepanovych Mazepa (1639–1709) was a Cossack military, political, and civic leader who served as the Hetman of Zaporizhian Host and the Left-bank Ukraine in 1687–1708.

Quotes

• While all for peace sincerely preach,
  Not all in one direction reach.
  Some right, and some left do range,
  Yet all are brothers, how very strange.
  There is no love, nor does harmony rank
  Since we quenched our thirst at the Zhovti's bank.
  Through disagreement, non[sic] are saved.
  By our own endeavor have we become enslaved.
  Aye, brothers, 'tis time to see
  That we all cannot masters be!
  Not all are grace with knowledge wide
  Enough, to over all preside.
  Glance at a vessel, if you but will
  You'll see many voyagers and still
  The master had the ruling hand
  The entire ship is at his command.
  Even the bee boasts a mother
  Whom it obeys, and no other.
  Have mercy, God, for Ukraine
  Whose sons are scattered o'er the plain.
  Some still are mired in pagan days
  Beseeching others to follow their hasty ways:
  "Our Motherland, to defend, to cherish!
  Let us not permit her to perish!"
  Another the Poles for silver serves,
  The while he grievingly observes:
  "Aged Mother, if Thou but will
  Tell why Thou art so deathly ill!"
  Wantonly have you been torn asunder
  When to the Dnieper, the Turks obtained as plunder
  All your forts to make you ail,
  So that in the end your health would fail.
  A third gives Moscow loquacious praise
  Serving her faithfully in divers ways.
  Another the Mother does berate
  And damn his own unhappy fate:
  "'Twere best not to have sampled life,
  Than to live in the midst of all this strife.
  From all sides on us they turn
  With fire and sword they ruin, burn."
  All are wanting in good will.
  No proper civility can Thou instil.
  "Mouzhik" is the name they have applied,
  While bringing subjection, like a tide.
  Why didst Thou not teach Thy sons to obey?
  Why from Thy side did Thou let them stray?
  'Twould have been best if in unity
  We had tried to reckon with adversity.
  Alone I am bound to fail,
  The most I can do is rail:
  "Hey! Gentlemen, Generals, pray
  Why have you fallen asleep this way?
  And you, Sir Colonels, whose hands are clean
  Of all politics, no matter the sheen,
  Will you not clasp hands and bring
  An end to the bitter suffering?
  Our Mother has so long endured, and lo,
  Now hurl it down upon the foe.
  Recruit the torch to do your labor
  Along with the keenest saber.
  Stand by your faith to the bitter end,
  Your liberty, too, you must defend.
  And immortalize in glory bright
  That with our sword we protect our right!"
  • Translation by Dimitri Horbay in the newspaper Svoboda, Ukrainian Weekly, Saturday, 22 March 1958, No. 55, Vol. LXV.