The Well at the World's End
by William Morris



BOOK ONE

The Road Unto Love



CHAPTER 1

The Sundering of the Ways


Long ago there was a little land, over which ruled a regulus or kinglet,
who was called King Peter, though his kingdom was but little.
He had four sons whose names were Blaise, Hugh, Gregory and Ralph:
of these Ralph was the youngest, whereas he was but of twenty winters
and one; and Blaise was the oldest and had seen thirty winters.

Now it came to this at last, that to these young men
the kingdom of their father seemed strait; and they longed
to see the ways of other men, and to strive for life.
For though they were king's sons, they had but little world's wealth;
save and except good meat and drink, and enough or too
much thereof; house-room of the best; friends to be merry with,
and maidens to kiss, and these also as good as might be;
freedom withal to come and go as they would; the heavens