Action was beneficial for him, though he soon exhausted himself.

He would have liked to fight out his battle that day.

Should he go on spending his days and nights in a slowly increasing torment?
The longer he fought the less chance he had of victory.

Victory! There could be none.

What victory could be won over a strange ineradicable susceptibility to the sweetness, charm, mystery of a woman?
He plodded the fragrant fields with bent head, in despair.