第1章

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’sbytheBridgehadgivenhim(forhehadbeensleepingthereonamidstthegrassofhisorchardafterhisdinner)andhewentintothehallofhishouse，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，andknowethlogic(thoughitbeofthelawandnotoftheschools)，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。