第24部分(第7/7 頁)

　house　as　soon　as　I　learned　that　his　body　had　been　found。　There；

the　diminutive　garden　where　we　once　sat　and　recited　poetry；　now　covered　in

snow；　seemed　diminished；　just　like　any　garden　revisited　after　a　period　of　years。

His house was that way； too。 From the next room； I could hear the wails of

women； and their exaggerated exclamations； mounting as if they were

peting　with　each　other。　When　his　eldest　brother　spoke；　I　listened　intently：

The　face　of　our　forlorn　brother　Elegant　was　practically　destroyed；　and　his　head

was　smashed。　After　he　was　removed　from　the　bottom　of　the　well　where　he’d

lain　for　four　days；　his　brothers　scarcely　knew　him；　and　his　poor　wife；　Kalbiye；

whom they’d brought from the house； was forced to identify the

unrecognizable　body　in　the　dark　of　night　by　its　torn　and　tattered　clothing。　I

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was　reminded　of　a　depiction　of　the　Midian　merchants　pulling　Joseph　from　the

pit into which he’d been cast by his jealous brothers。 I quite enjoy painting

this　scene　from　the　romance　of　Joseph　and　Zuleyha；　for　it　reminds　us　tha