Text b.

Ivan Mazepa was one of the greatest and the most contradictory Ukrainian Hetmans. He came to power at the time that was very difficult for Ukraine. The autonomy of Ukraine had been rapidly curtailed by tsarist Russia and Poland. So, Mazepa joined the Swedish King Karl XII to protect Ukraine from both Russian and Polish yoke.

Ivan Mazepa was the leader badly needed by Ukraine of that time. He was a distinguished man among the leaders known to the history of the European countries. Being an aristocrat, Ivan Mazepa was a European by his education. He studied in Kyiv collegiums and then in Warsaw and travelled a lot round Europe. He had a remarkable memory, spoke Latin perfectly well at the time when in Moscow Peter I could hardly find an interpreter speaking Latin. He was a keen observer of human nature, a good psychologist and this helped him to deal with people from different countries and social backgrounds. He had a remarkable talent for diplomacy. Ivan Mazepa had exquisite manners and was really a fascinating man. Whether it was his charming manner of communication or his brilliant mind, but all those who came in touch with him seemed drawn to him. Even Peter I, cruel and barbaric, but looking for European culture, respected him greatly.

He understood art in all its complexity, being himself a poet who created verse. Mazepa had a special liking for books and collected a big library at his residence in Baturyn. He was a real Maecenas. He gave great sums of money for building new schools and churches, and for the needs of education on the whole.

There are many poems, dramas, novels and historical essays about Hetman Ivan Mazepa. The best known are written by Lord Byron, Victore Hugo, Bohdan Lepkiy, Renai Martel and others.

Ivan Mazepa was a very handsome and charismatic man. He had dark hair, beautiful black eyes and was very attractive till his old age. He met with his greatest love when he was nearly 60. She was Motrya Kotchubei, a very young and beautiful girl. This love story was very romantic, but tragic for both of them.

After the tragic for Ukraine Poltava battle Mazepa's plans were ruined. He was forced to immigrate to Benderi, where he died in a short period of time. It was not the age that killed this great patriot, it was nostalgia and the crush-up of his greatest dream.

For many years Russian and then Soviet history claimed Hetman Ivan Mazepa as a traitor and his name was forbidden to pronounce. In the memory of the Ukrainian people Hetman Ivan Mazepa has become a symbol of love and devotion to his Motherland, to the idea of independence of Ukraine.

Notes: observer - знавець

yoke -ярмо

2. Answer the questions to the text. Then ask 5 - 6 questions of your own. Be careful about the structure of your questions.

1. What place does Hetman Ivan Mazepa occupy in the Ukrainian history?

2. At what period of the Ukrainian history did he come to power?

3. What did Ivan Mazepa do to protect Ukraine?

4. What kind of a leader and a person was he?

5. What social background did he come from?

6. What education did he get?

7. What helped him to communicate with people?

8. What did Mazepa do for the development of education and culture in Ukraine?