第74部分(第2/7 頁)

t in the fields； a poor mouse； caught

between　the　attacks　of　a　marten　on　the　ground　and　a　hawk　in　the　air；　finds　his

salvation in an unfortunate cat caught in a hunter’s trap。 They e to an

agreement： The cat； pretending to be the mouse’s friend； licks him； thereby

scaring　away　the　marten　and　the　hawk。　In　turn；　the　mouse　cautiously　frees　the

cat from the snare。 Even before I could understand the painter’s sensibility；

the master had stuffed the book back beside the other volumes and had

randomly　opened　another。

This　was　a　pleasant　picture　of　a　mysterious　woman　and　a　man：　The　woman

had　elegantly　opened　one　hand　while　asking　a　question；　holding　her　knee　with

the　other　over　her　green　cloak；　as　the　man　turned　to　her　and　listened　intently。

I looked at the picture avidly； jealous of the intimacy； love and friendship

between　them。

Putting that book down； Master Osman opened to a page from another

book。　The　cavalry　of　Persian　and　Turanian　armies；　eternal　enemies；　had　donned

their full panoply of armor； helmets； greaves； bows； quivers and arrows and

had mounted those magnificent； legendary and fully armored horses。 Before

they　engaged　one　another　in　a　battle　to　the　death；　they　were　arrayed　in　orderly

ranks facing each other on a dusty yellow steppe holding the tips of their

lances upright； bedecked in an array of colors and patiently watching their

manders；　who’d　rushed　to　the　fore　and　begun　to　fight。　I　was　about　to　tell

myself that regardless of whether the illustration was made today or a

hundred