An old man and a woman gave him an oat cake and a drink of home-brewed.
He was fond of folk like these--at home with them and they with him.
There was no need to make talk, but he sat and looked at the marigolds while the woman moved about and the old man wove rushes into mats.
From here he took to the hills and walked awhile with a shepherd numbering his sheep.

Finally, in mid-afternoon, he found himself upon a heath, bare of trees, lifted and purple.
He sat down amid the warm bloom; he lay down.

Within was youth's blind tumult and longing, a passioning for he knew not what.

"I wish that there were great things in my life.

I wish that I were a discoverer, sailing like Columbus.