Moreover, he knew that she could nourish her own flesh and blood with milk better than she could minister to the wounds of a stranger.
As the woman was departing, a young man came riding up in a cart.

He saw the old man, and drew near to minister to his wounds.

On being asked who he was, he said his father was a labourer, and added that he was used to the labours of a peasant.

Starkad praised his origin, and pronounced that his calling was also most worthy of honour; for, he said, such men sought a livelihood by honourable traffic in their labour, inasmuch as they knew not of any gain, save what they had earned by the sweat of their brow.

He also thought that a country life was justly to be preferred even to the most splendid riches; for the most wholesome fruits of it seemed to be born and reared in the shelter of a middle estate, halfway between magnificence and squalor.