Appeared a roofless Hut; four naked walls

That stared upon each other!—I looked round,

And to my wish and to my hope espied

The Friend I sought;[10] a Man of reverend age,

But stout and hale, for travel unimpaired.

There was he seen upon the cottage-bench,

Recumbent in the shade, as if asleep;

An iron-pointed staff lay at his side.

Him had I marked the day before—alone

And stationed in the public way, with face