above them, the earth to bear them up, and the meadows and acres,
the woods and fair streams, and the little hills of Upmeads,
for that was the name of their country and the kingdom
of King Peter.

So having nought but this little they longed for much;
and that the more because, king's sons as they were,
they had but scant dominion save over their horses and dogs:
for the men of that country were stubborn and sturdy vavassors,
and might not away with masterful doings, but were like to pay
back a blow with a blow, and a foul word with a buffet.
So that, all things considered, it was little wonder if King
Peter's sons found themselves straitened in their little land:
wherein was no great merchant city; no mighty castle, or noble
abbey of monks: nought but fair little halls of yeomen, with here
and there a franklin's court or a shield-knight's manor-house;
with many a goodly church, and whiles a house of good canons,
who knew not the road to Rome, nor how to find the door
of the Chancellor's house.

So these young men wearied their father and mother a long while with
telling them of their weariness, and their longing to be gone:
till at last on a fair and hot afternoon of June King Peter rose up
from the carpet which the Prior of St. John's by the Bridge had given him
(for he had been sleeping thereon amidst the grass of his orchard after
his dinner) and he went into the hall of his house, which was called
the High House of Upmeads, and sent for his four sons to come to him.
And they came and stood before his high-seat and he said:

"Sons, ye have long wearied me with words concerning your longing