"Able was I ___ I...” (3)

I believe the answer is:
ere
(Other definitions for ere that I've seen before include "Before (lit.)" , "Before (poetic)" , "Archaic word for before - a palindrome" , "Before (in poetry)" , "One who steals" .)
I believe the answer is:
ere
(Other definitions for ere that I've seen before include "Before (lit.)" , "Before (poetic)" , "Archaic word for before - a palindrome" , "Before (in poetry)" , "One who steals" .)