"But, sirs, it is not courteous of you To speak so roughly to an old man, who
Has not offended you by word or deed.
It’s there in Holy Writ for you to read:
"Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head
Of an old man”—and therefore do no harm,
I warn you, to an old man while you’re young,
Any more than you’d like to have it done
To you in old age, should you live so long.
Now God be with you! I go where I must go.”

How is the old man characterized in this excerpt?

as an adventurer eager to join the youth
as a church leader recruiting the youth
as a sage counselor reproving the youth
as a cruel authority punishing the youth

what a fa@ ಠ▄ಠ ╾━╤デ╦︻

the correct answer is:

this is an example of the writer telling through description rather than showing through dialogue.

sometimes writers like to explain explicitely what's happening instead of adding dialogues of the situations., which is the case in this passage,

answer; (external conflict)

the development of trade during the middle age increased to the change given in the agriculture, which gave money, industry and markets a bigger importance in economy. the agriculture production was more than the consumption, which meant the creation of wider markets out of the areas. besides, with the end of multiple wars, the population increased and new trade routes were created.