"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