translation of "his"

Question

The below is a part of a short story "Barbarians". I could not understand a part. Somebody help me, please!

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The shepherd raised himself on his elbow and watched them as they approached.

-- skipped ----

One of the visitors had already dismounted and was approaching with long, waddling steps.

"Good day to you!"

"And to you!"

He stood up for propriety's sake, although the visitor did not deserve respect, because he was an ill-wisher. Not long ago he had been told at the inn that the visitor had called his flock the bandits of the puszta. Why did he say such a thing? When he had the right to graze his flock wherever his contract permitted?

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1) Who is he ? I think the "he" refers to the visitor. Isn't it? If then, I think the word "ill-wisher" does not mach. The visitor just spoke ill of the shepherd. Is "Ill-wisher" a proper word here?

2) Who is he ? I think the sentence should be like this ;

Why did he say such a thing when he had the right to graze his flock wherever his contract permitted?

In this case, he should be the shepherd.

But, it's not. Who is the "he"? Is it the visitor?

Thank you for reading!!

Nona the brit · Accepted Answer

Yes, in both cases the 'he' is the visitor.

This passage lets us into the thoughts of the shepherd on seeing the visitor.

Wanwo · Answer

Jisu98The below is a part of a short story "Barbarians". I could not understand a part. Somebody help me, please!

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The shepherd raised himself on his elbow and watched them as they approached.

-- skipped ----

One of the visitors had already dismounted and was approaching with long, waddling steps.

"Good day to you!"

"And to you!"

He stood up for propriety's sake, although the visitor did not deserve respect, because he was an ill-wisher. Not long ago he had been told at the inn that the visitor had called his flock the bandits of the puszta. Why did he say such a thing? When he had the right to graze his flock wherever his contract permitted?

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1) Who is he ? I think the "he" refers to the visitor. Isn't it? If then, I think the word "ill-wisher" does not mach. The visitor just spoke ill of the shepherd. Is "Ill-wisher" a proper word here?

Yes, 'he' is the visitor and 'ill-wisher' is a proper word to use here. The visitor had spoke ill of the shepard to other people at the inn. Such a person may be described as an 'ill-wisher'. It's a very old term. You'll probably only find it in old books.

2) Who is he ? I think the sentence should be like this ;

Why did he say such a thing when he had the right to graze his flock wherever his contract permitted?

In this case, he should be the shepherd. But, it's not. Whe is the "he"? Is it the visitor?

I disagree with the above poster. 'he' is the shepard. The shepard doesn't understand why the visitor is calling his flocks bandits when he (the shepard) has the right to graze where he does according to his contract.
I don't know why in the text it's in two sentences because it's not correct. 'When he had the right to graze his flock wherever his contract permitted?' is not proper sentence and can't be written like that. How you've said it should be is the correct way to say it.

Thank you for reading!!

Nona the brit · Answer

Yes, now I've looked at it again I agree with Wanwo on the second 'he' being the shepherd.

For some reason I made an assumption that the visitor also had a flock somewhere.

Jisu98 · Answer

Thank you, 'Nona the brit' and 'Wanwo'!

Really happy to know the answer.

Khoff · Answer

He stood up for propriety's sake, although the visitor did not deserve respect, because he was an ill-wisher. Not long ago he had been told at the inn that the visitor had called his flock the bandits of the puszta. Why did he say such a thing? When he had the right to graze his flock wherever his contract permitted?

I would say that all the reds refer to the shepherd, and the blues to the visitor.

translation of "his"

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