This is my Gladius. There are many like it, but this one is mine.

My Gladius is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life.
Without me, my Gladius is useless. Without my Gladius, I am useless. I must use my Gladius true. I must hit better than my enemy who is trying to kill me. I must stab him before he stabs me. I will ...

My Gladius and I know that what counts in war is not how many men we are, the noise of our warcry, nor the noise we make. We know that it is the hits that count. We will hit ...

My Gladius is human, even as I [am human], because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strength, its parts, the Scutum and the Pila. I will keep my Gladius clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other. We will ...

Before God, I swear this creed. My Gladius and I are the defenders of the holy roman empire. We are the masters of our enemy. We are the saviors of my life.

So be it, until victory is Romes and there is no enemy, but peace!