第12部分(第2/7 頁)

nting；　which　is　proof　enough　that　after　this　great　shah　lost　his　taste　for

coffee；　he　also　lost　his　mind。

This was why the divinely inspired bookbinders； calligraphers； gilders and

miniaturists； who created the greatest masterpieces in the world over a

twenty…year　period　in　Tabriz；　scattered　like　a　covey　of　partridges　to　other　cities。

Shah Tahmasp’s nephew and son…in…law； Sultan Ibrahim Mirza； invited the

most　gifted　among　them　to　Mashhad；　where　he　served　as　provincial　governor；

and settled them in his miniaturists’ workshop to copy out a marvelous

illuminated　and　illustrated　manuscript　of　all　seven　fables　of　the　Seven　Thrones

of Jami—the greatest poet in Herat during the reign of Tamerlane。 Shah

Tahmasp；　who　both　admired　and　envied　his　intelligent　and　handsome　nephew；

and regretted having given his daughter to him； was consumed by jealousy

when he heard about this magnificent book and angrily ousted his nephew

from the post of Governor of Mashhad； banishing him to the city of Kain；

before sending him off to the smaller town of Sebzivar in a renewed fit of

anger。　The　calligraphers　and　illuminators　of　Mashhad　thereupon　dispersed　to

other cities and regions； to the book…arts workshops of other sultans and

princes。

Miraculously；　however；　Sultan　Ibrahim　Mirza’s　marvelous　volume　did　not

remain unfinished； for in his service he had a devoted librarian。 This man

would　travel　on　horseback　all　the　way　to　Shiraz　where　the　best　master　gilders

lived； then he’d take a couple pages to Isfahan seeking the most