"Having received the same into his hand, he asked whether they were all in charity with him, and without any enmity or rancour.
"They answered that they were all in perfect charity and free from anger; and in their turn asked him whether he was in the same mind towards them.
"He answered, 'I am in charity, my children, with all the servants of God.'
"Then, strengthening himself with the heavenly viaticum,* he prepared for the entrance into another life, and asked how near the time was when the brothers were to be awakened to sing the nocturnal praises of our Lord.
*The Eucharist given to the dying.
"They answered, 'It is not far off.'
"Then he said, 'Well, let us wait that hour.' And signing himself with the sign of the cross, he laid his head on the pillow, and falling into a slumber ended his life so in silence."
Thus his life, which had been begun in silence, ended also in silence, with just a few singing years between.
"Thus it came to pass, that as he had served God with a simple and pure mind, and undisturbed devotion, so he now departed to His presence, leaving the world by a quiet death. And that tongue which had composed so many holy words in praise of the Creator, uttered its last words while he was in the act of signing himself with a cross, and recommending himself into His hands."*
*Bede, Ecclesiastical History