There I knelt at her feet. Then, and only then, could I speak. I said something to this effect:
“Dear Princess: Man may not know such honor but once. No man can hope to have beside him forever another being equal to thyself. It can be the joy of but one man to have such a companion; for there is but one. To such a woman a man may ever be a lover; for his life must be all sunshine and delight.
“If then you will accept me as thy constant companion through this life, receive my promise to guard you and protect you in any and all emergencies.”
She stepped down from her throne and knelt beside me. A holy monk came forward and performed the ceremony which made my life overflowing with happiness.
Though years have passed since that eventful day, her beauty has not dimmed; the luster of her eyes is still powerful; the sweetness of her disposition has grown in grandeur.
As we gaze on the children at play, we clasp each other’s hands in that sweet rapture only known to those who truly love and are as truly loved.
May your lot be as pleasant as mine, dear reader!
I must add that every one of the knights and gentlemen who made the attempt to find the secret chamber found within the household of my princess some beautiful woman who reciprocated his affections. So that our palace contains a retinue unequaled for valor and renown, and there is growing up around us an army of robust children whose merry laughter and pretty pranks fill us all with continual joy.
Success nearly always crowns the efforts of the venturesome. The failure of an adventure is always chronicled with glaring head-lines, thus proving the above assertion. At all events, I was certainly for pushing into anything mysterious, with the result of final triumph.
My dear reader, may your adventures end as fortunately as have mine.