第14部分(第3/7 頁)

　they were

holding a fake ceremony in place of the one that was no longer performed

because　age　and　ill　health　bound　the　Head　Poetic　Chronicler　Lokman　Effendi；

who wrote most of the books which were illustrated； to his home； because

Master　Osman　often　disappeared　in　a　cloud　of　indignation　and　wrath；　because

the　four　masters　known　as　Butterfly；　Olive；　Stork　and　Elegant　worked　at　home；

and because Our Sultan no longer waxed enthusiastic like a child in the

workshop。　As　happened　to　many　miniaturists；　Nuri　Effendi　had　grown　old　in

vain；　without　having　fully　experienced　life　or　bee　a　master　of　his　art。　Not

in vain； however； did he spend those years over his worktable being

hunchbacked： He always paid close attention to what happened in the

workshop；　to　who　made　which　exquisite　page。

And　so　I　eagerly　beheld　for　the　first　time　the　legendary　pages　of　the　Book　of

Festivities； which recounted the circumcision ceremonies of Our Sultan’s

prince。 When I was still in Persia； I heard stories about this fifty…two…day

circumcision　ceremony　wherein　people　from　all　occupations　and　all　guilds；　all

of Istanbul； had participated； indeed at a time when the book that

memorialized　the　great　event　was　yet　being　prepared。

In the first picture placed before me； fixed in the royal enclosure of late

Ibrahim　Pasha’s　palace；　Our　Sultan；　the　Refuge　of　the　World；　gazed　upon　the

festivities　in　the　Hippodrome　below　with　a　look　that　bespoke　His　satisfaction。

His　face；　even　though　not　so　detailed　as　to　permit　one　to　distinguish　Him　from

others