But what distressed him greatly was not having another hermit there to confess him and to receive consolation from; and so he solaced himself with pacing up and down the little meadow, and writing and carving on the bark of trees and on the fine sand a multitude of verses all in harmony with his sadness
The character is deeply troubled by the absence of another hermit, as he longs for companionship and the comfort of confession. This loneliness weighs heavily on him, affecting his emotional state. To cope with his distress, he wanders the meadow, seeking solace in movement and expression.
In his solitude, he turns to creativity, writing verses that reflect his melancholic feelings. He engraves his thoughts onto the bark of trees and the soft sand, channeling his sadness into artistic endeavors. This activity serves as a temporary relief, highlighting the interplay between his isolation and his desire for connection.
