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horses by temperament and

disposition；　nay；　by　color　even。　So　then；　how　is　it　you　pay　no　attention　to　us；

the servants under your mand； even those like myself whom you

encounter　with　such　frequency？“”

When　I　depict　this　scene；　I　render　the　black；　chestnut　and　white　horses—so

tenderly cared for by the groom in a heavenly green pasture covered with

flowers of every imaginable color—with such happiness and calm that even

the　dullest　of　readers　would　understand　the　moral　of　Sadi’s　story：　The　beauty

and　mystery　of　this　world　only　emerges　through　affection；　attention；　interest

and　passion；　if　you　want　to　live　in　that　paradise　where　happy　mares　and

stallions　live；　open　your　eyes　wide　and　actually　see　this　world　by　attending　to

its　colors；　details　and　irony。

This progeny of the twenty…coin hoja was at once entertained and

frightened　by　me。　He　wanted　to　drop　his　spoon　and　flee；　but　I　didn’t　give　him

the　chance。

“This　is　how　the　master　of　masters　Bihzad　depicted　the　king；　his　groom　and

the　horses　in　that　picture；”　I　said。　“For　a　hundred　years　miniaturists　haven’t

stopped imitating those horses。 Each horse rendered out of Bihzad’s

imagination　and　heart　has　bee　a　model　of　form。　Hundreds　of　miniaturists；

including　myself；　can　draw　those　horses　from　memory。　Have　you　ever　seen　a

picture　of　a　horse？”

“I　once　saw　a　winged　horse　in　an　enchanting　book　that　a　great　teacher；　a

scholar　of　scholars；　had　presented　to　my　late　hoja。”

I　didn’t　know　whether　I　should　push　the　head　of　this　clown　into　his　soup；

who；　along　with　his　teacher；　had　taken　Strange　Creatures　seriou