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　reach　the　sublime　level　of　the　old　masters

of Herat； despite having lovingly sacrificed our entire lives to this work。

Humbly　accepting　this　truth　makes　life　easier。　Indeed；　it　is　precisely　because　it

makes　life　easier　that　modesty　is　such　a　highly　prized　virtue　in　our　part　of　the

world。

With　an　air　of　such　modesty　I　was　touching　up　an　illustration　in　the　Book　of

Festivities；　which　described　the　circumcision　ceremonies　of　our　prince；　wherein

was depicted the Egyptian Governor…General’s presentation of the following

gifts：　a　gold…chased　sword　decorated　with　rubies；　emeralds；　and　turquoise　on　a

swatch　of　red　velvet　and　one　of　the　Governor…General’s　proud；　lightning　fast

and spirited Arabian horses with a white blaze on its nose and a silvery；

gleaming　coat；　fully　appointed　with　a　gold　bit　and　reins；　stirrups　of　pearl　and

greenish…yellow chrysoberyl； and a red velvet saddle embellished with silver

thread and ruby rosettes。 With a flick of my brush； here and there； I was

touching up the illustration； whose position I had arranged while

delegating　the　rendering　of　the　horse；　the　sword；　the　prince　and　the　spectator…

ambassadors　to　various　apprentices。　I　applied　purple　to　some　of　the　leaves　of

the　plane　tree　in　the　Hippodrome。　I　dabbed　yellow　upon　the　caftan…buttons　of

the　Tatar　Khan’s　ambassador。　As　I　was　brushing　a　sparse　amount　of　gold　wash

onto　the　horse’s　reins；　somebody　knocked　at　the　door。　I　quit　what　I　was　doing。

It　was　an　imperial　pageboy。　The　Head　Treasurer　had　summoned　me　to　the

palace。 My eyes ached ever so mildly。 I placed my magnifying lens in