— His Extraction— Intrigue with the wife of Kontsky discovered— His Punishment — Preservation— Appointed Aide-de-camp to Doroszenko and Samoilovitch — Ingratitude towards his Benefactor — His Election— Shameful Conduct to his Sons— His successful Intrigues against Sofia, hated sister of Peter the Great, never clearly explained— His Inroads against the Tatars of Otchokaf— His Successes cheering to Peter the Great in his Check at Azof— The taking of that Place chiefly attributed to Mazeppa — Favours lavished on his Cossacks — The leading Idea of Mazeppa against Peter the Great and the Kussians — His Intention to return to Poland with his Cossacks — Stratagem to escape — Correspondence with Charles XIL and Turkey— His skill in deceiving the Czar— His Stratagem for getting rid of his Enemies— His Danger— Blind Confidence of the Czar in his Fidelity— His Precautions before joining the Swedish King— His Deputation to the Czar, and his Intention discovered— His Speech to the Cossacks— Its Effect— Sack of Baturin by Menzikof — Mazeppa's Effigy — Torture of Thirty Prussian Officers — The Czar's offers to Mazeppa rejected — Treaty with the Zaporogues — His advice to besiege Pultawa — Accidental Success of the Kussians— Unfortimate Position of the Cossacks— Danger of Mazeppa and the King of Sweden— Arrival in Turkey — Mazeppa's Remorse, and Death at Bender.
Mazeppa was the son of a Polish gentleman established in Podolia/ and by one of those fortunate circumstances which often exercise a great influence on human destiny, and also by his family connexions. attracted the attention of John Kazimer, king of Poland, who spared no expense in giving him an excellent education, and made him page at his court.
The beauty, accomplishments, and enterprising spirit of the young page did not fail of making a deep impression on many a fair lady in fashionable circles. He was introduced to the wife of Martin Kontsky, grand general of artillery; and felt inspired at the first sight with a passion which, by frequent opportunities of seeing the beloved object, and the difficulty of gratifying its fancy, became every day stronger, more dangerous, and daring. For a while the passion of the two lovers by their mutual prudence and carefulness was not known; and its secret gratification added new charms to its existence. Such a thing, however, could not possibly be long concealed at a court, where jealous and watchful eyes were constantly directed on both parties. A lady, whose advances Mazeppa received with coldness, soon discovered the true object of the latter 's affection, and indirectly apprised the husband of the conduct of his beautiful and guilty spouse.
Mazeppa, watched secretly, was caught by the outraged husband, who, indignant at the extent of his domestic misfortune, and excited by the thirst of revenge, ordered his men to scourge him unmercifully till he lost his consciousness, to pour a sort of salt liquid on his body, and cover it with tar. The young page was then tied by cutting strings to the back of a wild and indomitable Ukrainian horse, sought and prepared beforehand for that purpose, and was thus left to his destiny.
The horse suddenly liberated after being tormented, and unable to shake the weight oiF its back, dashed at a furious speed into the deserts of his native steppes. Hunted by wolves, as well as by some Cossacks, who thought it an apparition of an evil spirit, the horse traversed torrents, ravines, rivers, crossed the Dnieper, and gallopped with incredible speed into a small town in the Eastern Ukraine on the market day; and there, excited by hunger, fear, and fatigue, fell dead. Mazeppa, restored to life, and hospitably taken care of by the Cossacks, adopted their manners and religion, and became the favourite aide-de-camp of Doroszenko; on the retirement of the latter, he became the aide-de-camp of Samoilovitch, an able Cossack chief, by whom he was treated in the most friendly manner; an ungrateful return for which, however, was subsequently manifested by Mazeppa; who, taking advantage of the unfortunate expedition of Samoilovitch into the Crimea, became his principal accuser, deposed him, and was unanimously chosen their leader in his stead.
Not satisfied with his new position, which he owef' to his craft and ingratitude, and dreading the influence and revenge of the two sons of Samoilovitch, his benefactor, he unjustly ordered one of them to be slain and sent the other through his intrigues to Siberia. These acts displeasing even his own partisans did him much harm and thwarted some of his mighty projects.