第99部分(第1/7 頁)

in　a　futile　attempt　to　attain　a　style　and　European　character；　we　will　still　fail—

just as I failed in making this self…portrait despite all my proficiency and

knowledge。 This primitive picture I’ve made； without even achieving a fair

resemblance of myself； revealed to me what we’ve know all along without

admitting it： The proficiency of the Franks will take centuries to attain。 Had

Enishte Effendi’s book been pleted and sent to them； the Veian

masters would’ve smirked； and their ridicule would’ve reached the Veian

Doge—that　is　all。　They’d　have　quipped　that　the　Ottomans　have　given　up　being

Ottoman　and　would　no　longer　fear　us。　How　wonderful　it　would　be　if　we　could

persist on the path of the old masters！ But no one wants this； neither His

Excellency　Our　Sultan；　nor　Black　Effendi—who　is　melancholy　because　he　has

no　portrait　of　his　precious　Shekure。　In　that　case；　sit　yourselves　down　and　do

nothing but ape the Europeans century after century！ Proudly sign your

names　to　your　imitation　paintings。　The　old　masters　of　Herat　tried　to　depict　the

world　the　way　God　saw　it；　and　to　conceal　their　individuality　they　never　signed

their　names。　You；　however；　are　condemned　to　signing　your　names　to　conceal

your　lack　of　individuality。　But　there　is　an　alternative。　Each　of　you　has　perhaps

been summoned； and if so； you’re hiding it from me： Akbar； Sultan of

Hindustan； is strewing about money and blandishments； trying to gather in

his　court　the　most　talented　artists　in　the　world。　It’s　quite　apparent　that　the

book　to　be　pleted　for　the　thousandth　year