In bibliotheca

It is midday. The students and Stephen are in the library. The school master is recounting to the students the story of the Christians and the beasts:
“Many Christians were killed in the amphitheatre. The Romans used to produce games in return for the people’s votes and they would want to show off their wealth. Wretched Christians! The pagans always wanted to see much cruelty. Even educated people would watch the games in the amphitheatre; they did not think them cruel, just foolish. For there was no pity for the victims. Now books, not games, are pleasing to us, eh Paul? Come, is Paul able to read to us? Paul? Where is Paul?”
“Sir, when did the Christians mutilate the pagans in the amphitheatre?” asked Augustine, one of the students.
“Where is Paul?” says Stephen, who does not hear him.
“Today Paul is working in the kitchen,” says Augustine.
“What? Why does Paul want to work in the kitchen? He should be in the school. For Paul isn’t a cook but a student.”
 

Augustinus

Soon Stephen returns from the kitchen. “Paul isn’t working in the kitchen, but idling in the woods.”
“He is coming back from the town,” says Augustine, who is friendly to Paul. “Paul is bringing food and wine from the town.”
“Food and wine? Who told Paul to go to the town and buy food and wine?”
“And oil and eggs and perfumes,” says Augustine.
“Perfumes? We are monks! And eggs? There are many eggs here.”
“Not enough for Benedict, Master,” says Augustine. “Paul is always giving food and wine to Benedict. Paul is a slave to the kitchen.”
“Paul’s duty is neither to the cook nor the kitchen, but to the master and school,” wailed the wretched master.
“But now Paul is a slave to Benedict,” says Augustine, “and works in the kitchen with the maids.”
“In the kitchen with the maids?”
“Sir, can we too work in the kitchen?”
“Sssh. Quiet. To your books! Where was I?”
“In the kitchen with the maids?” ask the students.
“Dear me … you foolish boys … ah, I was in the amphitheatre.”