Though I went in the disguise of an outcast, I felt a halo resting on my brow.

Sat upon by brutal enemies, unjustly hated, annihilated a hundred times, I yet arose and held my head high, sure that I should find my kingdom in the end, although I had lost my way in exile; for He who had brought my ancestors safe through a thousand perils was guiding my feet as well.

God needed me and I needed Him, for we two together had a work to do, according to an ancient covenant between Him and my forefathers.
This is the dream to which I was heir, in common with every sad-eyed child of the Pale.

This is the living seed which I found among my heirlooms, when I learned how to strip from them the prickly husk in which they were passed down to me.

And what is the fruit of such seed as that, and whither lead such dreams?
If it is mine to give the answer, let my words be true and brave..