e taken from
under him, and commanded him to withdraw, telling him, by way of
raillery, "That his choler was a convincing proof of a Bonza's holiness;"
and then seriously adding, "That a man of his character had more commerce
with hell than heaven." At these words, the Bonza cried out with excess
of rage, "The time will come, when no man of this world shall be worthy
enough to serve me; there is not that monarch now breathing on the face
of the earth, but shall be judged too vile to touch the hem of my
garment." He meant, when he was to be transformed into one of their
deities, and that God and he should be mixed into one divinity, which is
the reward of a Bonza after death. Though the king could not hear his
madness without smiling, yet he had so much compassion on his folly, that
he took upon him to confute those extravagant propositions; but Xavier
desired him to defer it to a fitter time, till he had digested his fury,
and was more capable of hearing reason. Then the king said only to
Faxiondono, "That he should go and do penance for the pride and insolence
of his speech, wherein he had made himself a companion of the gods."
Faxiondono did not reply, but he was heard to mutter, and grind his
teeth, as he withdrew. Being at the chamber door, and ready to go out,
"May the gods," said he aloud, "dart their fire from heaven to consume
thee, and burn to ashes all those kings who shall presume to speak like
thee!"

The king and Xavier prosecuted their discourse on several articles of
religion till dinner time; when the meat was on the table, the king
invited the Father to eat with him. Xavier excused himself with all
possible respect, but that prince would absolutely have it so. "I know
well," said he, "my friend and father, that you are not in want of my
table; but, if you were a Japanner, as we are, you would understand, that
a king cannot give those he favours a greater sign of his good will, than
in permitting them to eat with him; for which reason, as I love you, and
am desirous of shewing it, you must needs dine with me; and farther, I
assure you, that I shall receive a greater honour by it, than I bestow."
Then Xavier, with a low reverence, kissing his scymitar, which is a mark
of most profound respect, much practised in Japan, said thus to him: "I
petition the God of heaven, from the bottom of my heart, to reward your
majesty for all the favours you have heaped on me, by bestowing on you
the light of faith, and th