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。