Death of Augustine of Canterbury
Augustine of Canterbury, the first Archbishop of Canterbury, lies on his deathbed in a modest chamber of Canterbury Cathedral. Surrounded by a monk, a bishop, and a servant, he delivers his final word
Setting
Canterbury Cathedral, specifically the private chamber where Augustine of Canterbury lies on his deathbed. The room is modest with stone walls and a small window allowing minimal light.
Characters
Augustine of Canterbury
primary
An elderly man with a gaunt face and sunken eyes, his pallor reflecting his weakened state. His thinning white hair is neatly arranged, and his hands, resting atop the bedcovers, are bony yet dignified. His breathing is shallow but deliberate.
Monk
secondary
A middle-aged man with a thin, ascetic frame, his face marked by deep lines of devotion and long hours of prayer. His hands are calloused from labor but delicate in movement, trained by years of copying manuscripts. His tonsure is neatly kept, the shaved circle of his crown surrounded by a fringe of graying brown hair. His pale blue eyes are watery with restrained emotion.
Bishop
secondary
A fellow bishop of middle age, with a gaunt face marked by deep-set eyes and a prominent nose, his thinning gray hair cropped short in the monastic tradition. His hands are clasped in prayer, their roughness hinting at a life of both spiritual and physical labor.
Servant
background
A middle-aged man of slight build, with sun-weathered skin and deep-set eyes that speak of years of quiet labor. His hands are calloused from work, and his posture is slightly stooped from years of deference.
Dialog
Augustine of Canterbury
Deus misericordiae... I commend my spirit into Thy hands, as the psalmist foretold. The work in this land must continue, for the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few...
Monk
God willing, we shall tend thy flock as thou hast taught us, holy father...
Bishop
In saecula saeculorum, thy wisdom shall guide us. Speak, venerable father, of thy final instructions for Canterbury's see...
Augustine of Canterbury
Let the brethren remember... the rule of Benedict... and the letters of Gregory... They are lamps... unto our feet...
Monk
The vesper bell tolls, father... Can you hear the brothers chanting?
Bishop
Deo volente, we shall build upon thy foundation as living stones, each in our appointed place...
Augustine of Canterbury
Pax vobiscum... I see... the celestial light...