Death of Robert of Molesme
Robert of Molesme, the revered founder of the Cistercian Order, lies on his deathbed in the Abbey of Molesme. Surrounded by his closest monastic brothers, he imparts his final spiritual wisdom and ble
Setting
A dimly lit stone cell within the Abbey of Molesme, austere and simple, with a narrow window allowing minimal light. The room is sparsely furnished, reflecting the monastic ideals of poverty and humility.
Characters
Robert of Molesme
primary
An elderly man in his late seventies, frail and gaunt from years of asceticism and recent illness. His face is deeply lined with wrinkles, marked by a lifetime of devotion and hardship. His white hair is thin and wispy, framing a face that retains a quiet dignity despite his weakened state. His hands, resting atop the rough woolen blanket, are bony and veined, with fingers that once worked tirelessly now lying still.
Abbot Alberic
primary
A middle-aged man of slender build with a tonsured head, his gaunt face marked by deep lines of asceticism and concern. His pale blue eyes are downcast in prayer, and his hands, rough from years of labor and prayer, are clasped tightly together.
Brother Stephen
secondary
A young monk in his early twenties, with a slender build and a pale complexion from years spent indoors. His face is clean-shaven, and his short brown hair is neatly tonsured in the monastic tradition. His hands are delicate, accustomed more to prayer and copying manuscripts than to hard labor. His eyes are downcast, reflecting his humility and the solemnity of the moment.
Brother Giles
background
A middle-aged monk with a lean, wiry frame, his face weathered by years of monastic labor. His hands are rough from manual work, and his posture is slightly stooped from years of humble service. His short-cropped brown hair is streaked with gray, and his deep-set eyes reflect quiet devotion.
Dialog
Robert of Molesme
Deus... in adiutorium meum intende...
Abbot Alberic
Domine, labia mea aperies, et os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam. Let us pray together, Father.
Robert of Molesme
The Lord is... my shepherd... I shall not want...
Abbot Alberic
Shall I send for the brothers to chant the commendatio animae? The hour grows late.
Robert of Molesme
Let them... sleep... The vigil... is kept...
Abbot Alberic
As you wish, domine. Shall I continue the psalm? 'Dominus regit me, et nihil mihi deerit...'
Robert of Molesme
In loco pascuae... ibi me... collocavit...