"I loved, and was beloved again-- They tell me, sire, you never knew Those gentle frailties; if 'tis true, I shorten all my joy or pain; 285 To you 'twould seem absurd as vain; But all men are not born to reign, Or o'er their passions, or as you Thus o'er themselves and nations too. I am--or rather _was_--a prince, 290 A chief of thousands, and could lead Them on where each would foremost bleed; But could not o'er myself evince The like control.--But to resume: I loved, and was beloved again; 295 In sooth, it is a happy doom, But yet where happiest ends in pain.-- We met in secret, and the hour Which led me to that lady's bower Was fiery Expectation's dower. 300 My days and nights were nothing--all Except that hour which doth recall In the long lapse from youth to age No other like itself--I'd give The Ukraine back again to live 305 It o'er once more--and be a page, The happy page, who was the lord Of one soft heart and his own sword, And had no other gem nor wealth Save nature's gift of youth and health.-- 310 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; 315 For I did oft and long repine That we could only meet by stealth. VIII