第16部分(第2/7 頁)

nt！”　as　she　looked　upon　the　paintings。　“Yet；　time　will

surely　pass；　and　if　he　doesn’t　sign　his　work；　no　one　will　know　that　he　was　the

one　responsible　for　this　majesty。”　The　Sultan　responded；　“If　my　son　signs　his

paintings；　won’t　he　be　unjustly　taking　credit　for　the　techniques　and　styles　of

the　old　masters；　which　he　has　imitated？　Moreover；　if　he　signs　his　work；　won’t

he　be　saying　”My　paintings　bear　my　imperfections‘？“　The　Chinese　wife；　seeing

that she wouldn’t be able to convince her elderly husband on this issue of

signature； was； however； eventually successful in persuading his young son；

confined； as always； in the bookmaker’s workshop。 Humiliated at having to

conceal　his　love；　persuaded　by　his　pretty　young　stepmother’s　ideas　and　with

the Devil’s coercion； the son signed his name in a corner of a painting；

between　wall　and　grass；　in　a　spot　he　assumed　was　beyond　notice。　This；　the　first

picture　he　signed；　was　a　scene　from　Hüsrev　and　Shirin。　You　know　the　one：　After

Hüsrev　and　Shirin　are　wed；　Shiruye；　Hüsrev’s　son　from　his　first　marriage；　falls

in love with Shirin。 One night； entering their bedchamber through the

window； Shiruye swiftly sinks his dagger into his father’s chest。 When the

Sultan　saw　his　son’s　depiction　of　this　scene；　he　was　overe　with　the　sense

that the painting embodied some flaw； he’d seen the signature； but wasn’t

consciously　aware　of　it；　and　he　simply　reacted　to　the　picture　with　the　thought；

”This　painting　bears　a　flaw。“　And　since　one　would　never　expect　any　such　thing

from　the　old　masters；　the　Sultan　was　seized　by　a　kind　of　panic；　suspectin