Black Beetles in Amber - читать онлайн бесплатно полную версию книги . Страница 163
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Japan has 73,759 Buddhist priests, "most of whom," says a Christian missionary, "are grossly ignorant, and many of them lead scandalous lives."
O Buddha, had you but foreknown The vices of your priesthoodIt would have made you twist and moan As any wounded beast would.You would have damned the entire lotAnd turned a Christian, would you not?There were no Christians, I'll allow, In your day; that would onlyHave brought distinction. Even now A Christian might feel lonely.All take the name, but facts are thingsAs stubborn as the will of kings.The priests were ignorant and low When ridiculed by Lucian;The records, could we read, might show The same of times Confucian.And yet the fact I can't disguiseThat Deacon Rankin's good and wise.'Tis true he is not quite a priest, Nor more than half a preacher;But he exhorts as loud at least As any living creature.And when the plate is passed aboutHe never takes a penny out.From Buddha down to Rankin! There,— I never did intend to.This pen's a buzzard's quill, I swear, Such subjects to descend to.When from the humming-bird I've wrungA plume I'll write of Mike de Young.