第16部分(第4/7 頁)

and anxious swallows；

immersed in lovelorn grief； staring at the ground。 Unknowingly； the three

miniaturists had rendered the same scene exactly as the old masters would

have； yet； the one who wanted to distinguish himself and thereby take

responsibility for the painting’s beauty had hidden his signature among the

narcissus　flowers　in　the　most　secluded　spot　in　the　garden。　And　on　account　of

this brazen act； by which the artist broke with the humility of the old

virtuosos； he was immediately exiled from Kazvin to China。 Thus； the

petition was begun anew between the two remaining miniaturists。 This

time； both painted a picture lovely as a poem； depicting a beautiful maiden

mounted　on　her　horse　in　a　magnificent　garden。　But　one　of　the　miniaturists—

whether by a slip of his brush or by intent； no one knew—had depicted

strangely　the　nostrils　of　the　white　horse　belonging　to　the　maiden　with　Chinese

eyes　and　high　cheekbones；　and　this　was　straightaway　perceived　as　a　flaw　by　the

Shah　and　his　daughter。　True；　this　miniaturist　hadn’t　signed　his　name；　but　in

his splendid painting； he’d apparently included a masterful variation in the

horse’s nostrils to distinguish the work。 The Shah； declaring that

“Imperfection　is　the　mother　of　style；”　exiled　this　illustrator　to　Byzantium。　Yet

there was one last significant event according to the weighty History by

Rashiduddin of Kazvin； which occurred when preparations were being made

for the wedding between the Shah’s daughter and the talented miniaturi