TheSunderingoftheWaysLongagotherewasalittleland，overwhichruledaregulusorkinglet，whowascalledKingPeter，thoughhiskingdomwasbutlittle。
　　HehadfoursonswhosenameswereBlaise，Hugh，GregoryandRalph：
　　oftheseRalphwastheyoungest，whereashewasbutoftwentywintersandone；andBlaisewastheoldestandhadseenthirtywinters。
　　Nowitcametothisatlast，thattotheseyoungmenthekingdomoftheirfatherseemedstrait；andtheylongedtoseethewaysofothermen，andtostriveforlife。
　　Forthoughtheywereking’ssons，theyhadbutlittleworld’swealth；
　　saveandexceptgoodmeatanddrink，andenoughortoomuchthereof；house-roomofthebest；friendstobemerrywith，andmaidenstokiss，andthesealsoasgoodasmightbe；
　　freedomwithaltocomeandgoastheywould；theheavensabovethem，theearthtobearthemup，andthemeadowsandacres，thewoodsandfairstreams，andthelittlehillsofUpmeads，forthatwasthenameoftheircountryandthekingdomofKingPeter。
　　Sohavingnoughtbutthislittletheylongedformuch；
　　andthatthemorebecause，king’ssonsastheywere，theyhadbutscantdominionsaveovertheirhorsesanddogs：
　　forthemenofthatcountrywerestubbornandsturdyvavassors，andmightnotawaywithmasterfuldoings，butwereliketopaybackablowwithablow，andafoulwordwithabuffet。
　　Sothat，allthingsconsidered，itwaslittlewonderifKingPeter’ssonsfoundthemselvesstraitenedintheirlittleland：
　　whereinwasnogreatmerchantcity；nomightycastle，ornobleabbeyofmonks：noughtbutfairlittlehallsofyeomen，withhereandthereafranklin’scourtorashield-knight’smanor-house；
　　withmanyagoodlychurch，andwhilesahouseofgoodcanons，whoknewnottheroadtoRome，norhowtofindthedooroftheChancellor’shouse。
　　Sotheseyoungmenweariedtheirfatherandmotheralongwhilewithtellingthemoftheirweariness，andtheirlongingtobegone：
　　tillatlastonafairandhotafternoonofJuneKingPeterroseupfromthecarpetwhichthePriorofSt。John’sbytheBridgehadgivenhimforhehadbeensleepingthereonamidstthegrassofhisorchardafterhisdinnerandhewentintothehallofhishouse，whichwascalledtheHighHouseofUpmeads，andsentforhisfoursonstocometohim。
　　Andtheycameandstoodbeforehishigh-seatandhesaid：
　　“Sons，yehavelongweariedmewithwordsconcerningyourlongingfortravelontheroads；nowifyeverilywishtobegone，tellmewhenwouldyetakeyourdepartureifyehadyourchoice？”
　　Theylookedatoneanother，andthethreeyoungeronesnoddedatBlaisetheeldest：sohebegan，andsaid：“Savingtheloveandhonourthatwehaveforthee，andalsoforourmother，wewouldbegoneatonce，evenwiththenoon’smeatstillinourbellies。
　　Butthouartthelordinthisland，andthoumustrule。
　　HaveIsaidwell，brethren？”Andtheyallsaid“Yea，yea。”
　　Thensaidtheking；“Good！nowisthesunhighandhot；
　　yetifyeridesoftlyyemaycometosomegoodharbourbeforenightfallwithoutfounderingyourhorses。
　　Socomeyeinanhour’sspacetotheFour-want-way，andthereandthenwillIorderyourdeparture。”
　　Theyoungmenwerefullofjoywhentheyheardhisword；andtheydepartedandwentthiswayandthat，gatheringsuchsmallmattersaseachdeemedthatheneeded，andwhichhemightlightlycarrywithhim；
　　thentheyarmedthemselves，andwouldbidthesquiresbringthemtheirhorses；butmentoldthemthatthesaidsquireshadgonetheirwaysalreadytotheWant-waybytheking’scommandment：
　　sothithertheywentatoncea-footallfourincompany，laughingandtalkingtogethermerrily。
　　ItmustbetoldthatthisWant-wayaforesaidwasbutfourfurlongsfromtheHouse，whichlayinaningleoftherivercalledUpmeadsWateramongstveryfairmeadowsattheendoftheuplandtillage；andthelandslopedgentlyuptowardthehill-countryandtheunseenmountainsonthenorth；
　　buttothesouthwasalowridgewhichranalongthewater，asitwoundalongfromwesttoeast。Beyondthesaidridge，ataplacewhenceyoucouldseethehigherhillstothesouth，thatstretchedmainlyeastandwestalso，therewaspresentlyanendoftheKingdomofUpmeads，thoughtheneighboursonthatsidewerepeaceableandfriendly，andwerewonttosendgiftstoKingPeter。ButtowardthenorthbeyondtheWant-wayKingPeterwaslordoveragoodstretchofland，andthatofthebest；
　　yetwasheneverarichman，forhehadnofreedomtotaxandtailhisfolk，norforsoothwouldhehaveuseditifhehad；
　　forhewasnoillman，butkindlyandofmeasure。Onthesenorthernmarchestherewaswaratwhiles，whereastheyendedinagreatforestwellfurnishedoftrees；andthiswoodwasdebateable，andKingPeterandhissonsrodethereinattheirperil：
　　butgreatplentywasthereinofallwilddeer，ashart，andbuck，androe，andswine，andbearsandwolveswithal。
　　ThelordontheothersidethereofwasamightiermanthanKingPete，albeithewasabishop，andabaronofHolyChurch。
　　Tosaysoothhewasaclose-fistandamanslayer；thoughhedidhismanslayingthroughhisvicars，theknightsandmen-at-armswhoheldtheirmanorsofhim，orwhomhewaged。
　　InthatforesthadKingPeter’sfatherdiedinbattle，andhiseldestsonalso；therefore，beingamanofpeace，herodethereinbutseldom，thoughhissons，thethreeeldestofthem，hadbothriddenthereinandrantherefromvaliantly。
　　AsforRalphtheyoungest，hisfatherwouldnothavehimridetheWoodDebateableasyet。
　　SocamethoseyoungmentotheWant-ways，andfoundtheirfathersittingthereonaheapofstones，andoveragainsthimeighthorses，fourdestriers，andfourhackneys，andfoursquireswithal。
　　Sotheycameandstoodbeforetheirfather，waitingforhisword，andwonderingwhatitwouldbe。
　　NowspakeKingPeter：“Fairsons，yewouldgoonalladventuretoseekawiderland，andamorestirringlifethanyemaygetofmeathome：
　　sobeit！ButIhavebethoughtme，that，sinceIamgrowingoldandpasttheageofgettingchildren，oneofyou，mysons，mustabideathometocherishmeandyourmother，andtoleadourcarlesinwariftroublefallethuponus。NowIknownothowtochoosebymineownwitwhichofyoushallrideandwhichabide。Forsoitisthatyearediverseofyourconditions；buttheevilconditionswhichoneofyoulackstheotherhath，andthevaliancywhichonehath，theotherlacks。
　　Blaiseiswiseandprudent，butnogreatmanofhishands。
　　Hughisastoutriderandlifter，butheadstrongandfoolhardy，andoverbounteousaskinker；andGregoryiscourteousandmanyworded，butsluggishindeed；thoughIwillnotcallhimadastard。AsforRalph，heisfairtolookon，andperadventurehemaybeaswiseasBlaise，asvaliantasHugh，andassmooth-tonguedasGregory；butofallthisweknowlittleornothing，whereasheisbutyounganduntried。
　　Yetmayhedobetterthanyouothers，andIdeemthathewilldoso。
　　Allthingsconsidered，then，Isay，Iknownothowtochoosebetweenyou，mysons；soletluckchooseforme，andyeshalldrawcutsforyourroads；
　　andhethatdrawethlongestshallgonorth，andthenextlongestshallgoeast，andthethirdstrawshallsendthedrawerwest；butastohimwhodraweththeshortestcut，heshallgonowhitherbutbackagaintomyhouse，theretoabidewithmethechancesandchangesoflife；
　　anditismostlikethatthisoneshallsitinmychairwhenIamgone，andbecalledKingofUpmeads。
　　“Now，mysons，doththisordinancepleaseyou？Forifsobeitdothnot，thenmayyeallabideathome，andeatofmymeat，anddrinkofmycup，butlittlechidedeitherforslothormisdoing，evenasithathbeenaforetime。”
　　Theyoungmenlookedatoneanother，andBlaiseansweredandsaid：
　　“Sir，asformeIsaywewilldoafteryourcommandment，totakewhatroadluckmayshowus，ortoturnbackhomeagain。”
　　Theyallyeasaidthisoneaftertheother；andthenKingPetersaid：
　　“NowbeforeIdrawthecuts，IshalltellyouthatIhaveappointedthesquirestogowitheachoneofyou。RichardtheRedshallgowithBlaise；forthoughhebesomewhatstrickeninyears，andwise，yetisheafiercecarleandadoughty，andknowethwellallfeatsofarms。
　　“LancelotLongtongueshallbesquiretoHugh；forheisgoodofseemingandcancompassallcourtesy，andknowethlogicthoughitbeofthelawandnotoftheschools，yetisheapropermanofhishands；asneedsmusthebewhofollowethHugh；
　　forwhereisHugh，thereistroubleanddebate“ClementtheBlackshallserveGregory：forheisacarefulcarle，andspeakethonewordtoeverytendeedsthathedoeth；
　　whethertheybedonewithpointandedge，orwiththehammerinthesmithy。
　　“Lastly，Ihavenonelefttofollowthee，Ralph，saveNicholasLongshanks；
　　butthoughhehathmorewordsthanIhave，yethathhemorewisdom，andisamanletteredandfar-travelled，andlovethourhouserightwell。
　　“Howsayye，sons，isthistoyourliking？”
　　Theyallsaid“yea。”Thenquoththeking；“Nicholas，bringhitherthestrawsreadydight，andIwillgivethemmysonstodraw。”
　　Soeachyoungmancameupinturnanddrew；andKingPeterlaidthestrawstogetherandlookedatthem，andsaid：
　　“Thusitis，HughgoethnorthwithLancelot，GregorywestwardwithClement。”
　　Hestayedamomentandthensaid：“BlaisefaretheastwardandRichardwithhim。Asforthee，Ralphmydearson，thoushaltbackwithmeandabideinmyhouseandIshallseetheedaybyday；andthoushalthelpmetolivemylastyearshappilyinallhonour；andthyloveshallbemyhope，andthyvaliancymystay。”
　　Therewithhearoseandthrewhisarmabouttheyoungman’sneck；
　　butheshrankawayalittlefromhisfather，andhisfacegrewtroubled；
　　andKingPeternotedthat，andhiscountenancefell，andhesaid：
　　“Naynay，myson；grudgenotthybrethrenthechancesoftheroad，andtheill-hapofthebattle。Hereatleastfortheeisthebounteousboardandthefullcup，andtheloveofkindredandwell-willers，andthefellowshipofthefolk。
　　Owellisthee，myson，andhappyshaltthoube！”
　　Buttheyoungmanknithisbrowsandsaidnowordinanswer。
　　Thencameforwardthosethreebrethrenwhoweretofareatalladventure，andtheystoodbeforetheoldmansayingnought。Thenhelaughedandsaid：
　　“Oho，mysons！HereinUpmeadshaveyeallyeneedwithoutmoney，butwhenyefareintheoutlandsyeneedmoney；isitnotalackofyoursthatyourpouchesbebare？Abide，forIhaveseentoit。”
　　Therewithhedrewoutofhispouchthreelittlebags，andsaid；“Takeyeeachoneofthese；forthereinisallthatmytreasurymayshedasnow。
　　Ineachoftheseistherecoinedmoney，bothwhiteandred，andsomedealofgolduncoined，andofringsandbroochesafew，andbyestimationthereisineachbagthesamevaluereckonedinlawfulsilverofUpmeadsandtheWoldsandtheOverhill-Countries。Takeupeachwhatthereis，anddothebestyemaytherewith。”
　　Theneachtookhisbag，andkissedandembracedhisfather；
　　andtheykissedRalphandeachother，andsogottohorseanddepartedwiththeirsquires，goingsoftlybecauseofthehotsun。
　　ButNicholasslowlymountedhishackneyandledRalph’swar-horsewithhimhomeagaintoKingPeter’sHouse。
　　RalphGoethBackHometotheHighHouseRalphandKingPeterwalkedslowlyhometogether，andastheywentKingPeterfelltotellingofhowinhisyoungdaysherodeintheWoodDebateable，andwasbelatedthereallalone，andhappeduponmenwhowereoutlawsandwolfheads，andfearedforhislife；
　　buttheytreatedhimkindly，andhonouredhim，andsawhimsafeonhiswayinthemorning。Sothatneverthereafterwouldhebeartandpartwiththosewhohuntedoutlawstoslaythem。
　　“For。”saidhe，“itiswiththesemenaswithothers，thattheymakepreyoffolk；yettheseforthemorepartpreyontherich，andthelawfulpreyonthepoor。Otherwiseitiswiththesewolfheadsaswithlordsandknightsandfranklins，thatastherebebadamongstthem，soalsotherebegood；
　　andthegoodonesIhappedon，andsomayanotherman。”
　　HeretopaidRalphlittleheedatthattime，sincehehadheardthetaleanditsmoralitybefore，andthatmorethanonce；
　　andmoreoverhismindwassetuponhisownmattersandthesewashepondering。Albeitperchancethewordsabodewithhim。
　　SocametheytotheHouse，andRalph’smother，whowasanobledame，andwell-likingasforheryears，whichwerebutlittleoverfifty，stoodinthehall-doortoseewhichofhersonsshouldcomebacktoher，andwhenshesawthemcomingtogether，shewentuptothem，andcastherarmsaboutRalphandkissedhimandcaressedhim——
　　beingexceedinggladthatitwasheandnotoneoftheotherswhohadreturnedtodwellwiththem；forhewasherbest-beloved，aswaslittlemarvel，seeingthathewasbyfarthefairestandthemostloving。ButRalph’sfacegrewtroubledagaininhismother’sarms，forhelovedherexceedingwell；
　　andforsoothhelovedthewholehouseandallthatdweltthere，downtotheturnspitdogsinthechimneyingle，andtheswallowsthatnestedintheearthenbottles，whichwhenhewaslittlehehadseenhismotherputupintheeavesoftheout-bowers：butnow，loveornolove，thespurwasinhisside，andhemustneedshastenasfatewouldhavehim。However，whenhehaddisentangledhimselffromhismother’scaresses，heenforcedhimselftokeepacheerfulcountenance，anduphelditthewholeeveningthrough，andwasbyseemingmerryatsupper，andwenttobedsinging。