They now were growne to mens estates, And liv'd most gallantly; Each had his horse, his hawke, his hound, And did their manhood try. 100 The ancient man did joy thereat, But yet he did not know Which was his sonne amongst the foure; That bred in him much woe. At length his glasse of life was run, 105 The fates doe so decree; For poore and rich they all must dye, And death will take no fee. Unto some judges he did send, And counsell that were grave, 110 Who presently to him did come To know what he would have. They coming then to his beds side, Unto them he did say: "I know you all to be my friends, 115 Most faithfull every way; And now, before I leave the world, I beg this at your hands, To have a care which of my sonnes Shall have my goods and lands." 120 And to them all he did relate What things his wife had done. "There is but one amongst the foure That is my native sonne; And to your judgement I commit, 125 When I am laid in grave, Which is my sonne, and which is fit My lands and goods to have." He dying, they in councill sate What best were to be done; 130 For 'twas a taske of great import To judge which was his sonne. The brothers likewise were at strife, Which should the living have, When as the ancient man was dead, 135 And buried in his grave. The judges must decide the cause, And thus they did decree: The dead man's body up to take, And tye it to a tree; 140 A bow each brother he must have, And eke an arrow take, To shoot at their dead fathers corps, As if he were a stake. And he whose arrow nearest hit 145 His heart, as he did stand, They'd judge him for to be right heire, And fit to have the land. On this they all did straight agree, And to the field they went; 150 Each had a man his shaft to beare, And bow already bent. "Now," quoth the judges, "try your skill Upon your father there, That we may quickly know who shall 155 Unto the land be heire." The oldest took his bow in hand, And shaft, where as he stood, Which pierc'd so deep the dead mans brest, That it did run with blood. 160