y
habited, and of good mein. At the moment when the Father entered, all of
them bowed with reverence; which action they repeated thrice, and so very
low, that they touched the ground with their foreheads, as the Japonese
are very dextrous at that exercise. And this reverence, which they call
Gromenare, is only performed by the son to the father, and by the vassal
to his lord. After this, two of them separating from the company, to
testify their general joy at the sight of him, one of them spoke in this
manner: "May your arrival, holy Father Bonza, be as pleasing to our king
as the smiles of a babe are to his mother, who holds him in her arms;
which certainly will be, for we swear to you by the hairs of our heads,
that every thing, even to the very walls, which seem to dance for joy at
your desired presence, conspires to your good reception, and excites us
to rejoice at your arrival; we doubt not but it will turn to the glory of
that God. of whom you have spoken so greatly at Amanguchi." This
compliment being ended, these young lords were following the Father; but
the child of whom we made mention, and whom Xavier led by the hand, made
a sign to them, that they should go no farther. They mounted on a terrace
bordered with orange trees, and from thence entered into another hall,
more spacious than either of the former. Facharandono, the king's
brother, was there, with a magnificent retinue. Having done to the saint
all the civilities which are practised to the greatest of Japan, he told
him, "that this day was the most solemn and auspicious of all the year
for the court of Bungo; and that his lord the king esteemed himself more
rich and happy to have him in his palace, than if he were master of all
the silver contained in the two-and-thirty treasuries of China. In the
mean time," added the prince, "I wish you an increase of glory, and an
entire accomplishment of that design, which brought you hither from the
extremities of the earth."

Then the child, who had hitherto been the master of the ceremonies to the
Father, left him in the hands of Facharandono, and retired apart. They
entered into the king's antichamber, where the principal lords of the
kingdom were attending him. After he had been received by them with all
possible civilities, he was at last introduced to his audience in a
chamber which glittered with gold on every side. The king, who was
standing, advanced five or six paces at the first appearance of the
Fathe