第94部分(第7/7 頁)

nd　added　them　to　his　own　harem；　and　how　he　pitilessly

separated miniaturist from miniaturist and cruelly forced most of them to

serve as apprentices to his own master illuminators。 At this point in his

History；　he　turns　his　attentions　from　the　shah　and　his　warriors　who　tried　to

repel　the　enemy　from　the　crenellated　towers　of　the　fortress；　to　the　miniaturists

among their pens and paints in the workshop awaiting the terrifying

415

culmination　of　the　siege　whose　oute　was　long　evident。　He　lists　the　names

of　the　artists；　declaring　one　after　another　how　they　were　world…renowned　and

would　never　be　forgotten；　and　these　illuminators；　all　of　whom；　like　the　women

of　the　shah’s　harem；　have　since　been　forgotten；　embraced　each　other　and　wept；

unable　to　do　anything　but　recall　their　former　days　of　bliss。

We　too；　like　melancholy　harem　women；　reminisced　about　the　gifts　of　fur…

lined　caftans　and　purses　full　of　money　that　the　Sultan　would　present　to　us　in

reciprocation　for　the　colorful　decorated　boxes；　mirrors　and　plates；　embellished

ostrich eggs； cut…paper work； single…lea