第16部分(第1/7 页)

the　master　miniaturist—nothing　but　imperfections；　were　deeply　disturbed　by

them。 In the paintings； which the Khan observed at length； he felt that his

former　bliss　had　been　disrupted　in　numerous　ways；　and　he　grew　increasingly

jealous　of　his　Tatar　beauty　who　was　depicted　with　the　individual　touch　of　the

painter。　So；　with　the　intention　of　making　his　pretty　Tatar　jealous；　he　made　love

with another concubine。 His beloved was so bereft upon learning of this

betrayal　from　the　harem　gossips　that　she　silently　hanged　herself　from　a　cedar

tree　in　the　harem　courtyard。　The　Khan；　understanding　the　mistake　he’d　made

and　realizing　that　the　miniaturist’s　own　fascination　with　style　lay　behind　this

terrible　incident；　immediately　blinded　this　master　artist　whom　the　Devil　had

tempted。

71

BA

Once　upon　a　time　in　a　country　in　the　East　there　was　an　elderly　Sultan；　a　lover

of illustrations； illuminations and miniatures； who lived happily with his

Chinese　wife　of　unsurpassed　beauty。　Alas；　it　soon　happened　that　the　Sultan’s

handsome son from a previous marriage and the Sultan’s young wife had

bee　enamored　of　each　other。　The　son；　who　lived　in　terror　of　his　treachery

against　his　father；　and　ashamed　of　his　forbidden　love；　sequestered　himself　in

the　bookmaker’s　workshop　and　gave　himself　over　to　painting。　Since　he　painted

out of the sorrow and strength of his love； each of his paintings was so

magnificent　that　admirers　couldn’t　distinguish　them　from　the　work　of　the　old

masters。 The Sultan took great pride in his son； and his young Chinese wife

would　say；　“Yes；　magnifice