As Rothshambeau I bow to you. My word and deeds are to honor you and the family with whom you dwell. Words of your dignity proceed you throughout this land. Your nobility is unquestioned and your word has value to all who listen. You are greatly respected with good reason. It is because of my respect I come to you.

Impassioned and reverent I have come to ask that you share your treasure. Your cattle and swine I do not wish to divide. Neither the grain from your fields, the hay you have stored nor the trees of your forest interest me. The treasure I seek is your most beloved. The riches you stored in hope of one day passing to someone worthy and deserving of the prize.

As my name honored my father it so honors me. I have left my fathers’ field to till my own. My mothers’ breast once nurtured me and her hand taught me of life. With those lessons I built my home. My Lord watches over me and holds me unto his bosom. From him I draw strength and through him I live. My neighbors respect my fences and I help to mend theirs’. The cattle and swine of my field are few, but all birth in spring.

I present myself to you as Rothshambeau, the one worthy of your treasure. I aspire to be the one to whom you give your daughter. I desire that she take my name and walk as I walk, that she shake the dust of your field from her skirt to cover herself with the richness of my soil. As this is my confession of faith and commitment, I petition you to grant me custody of your treasure.

Her children will be mine and my life will be to honor her. I will speak of my passion for her only in darkness and only to her ears. The blood of my body will flow rich with her nourishment and the fruit of my toil will be stored to protect her. When I rise, I will rise with her. Even in despair, I will continually exalt her. In the depths of pain she will be my relief.

My faith in the Lord will be strengthened and fortified by my love for her. Every day of my life will be filled with thoughts of my dedication to her. In the darkness of night I will respect her. In the twilight of life I will care for her. When every day turns to night and again when night gives way to the light, I will count my blessing to be with her.

Our children will grow up with respect for you. As our fields are worked, so shall yours be. As our riches grow, so shall yours. We shall never aspire to be more than yours’. When your time here comes to its’ end I will bury your body and continue to pray for you. I will carve your stone, marking it with the cross to symbolize and honor our Lord.

With humility I request that you grant me your treasure.

Rothshambeau