第82部分(第7/7 頁)

a disgraceful affront to my

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dignity；　he　had　this　shameful　work　given　to　me　as　a　model　to　be　copied；　and

out　of　dire　fear　of　Our　Sultan；　I　dishonorably　copied　that　picture　which　was

made　using　infidel　methods。　Had　I　not　been　forced　to　do　that；　perhaps　I　could

grieve　for　your　Enishte；　and　today　help　find　the　scoundrel　who　killed　him。　But

my concern is not for your Enishte； it’s for my workshop。 Your Enishte is

responsible for the way my master miniaturists—whom I love more than if

they　were　my　own　children；　whom　I　trained　with　doting　attention　for　twenty…

five years—betrayed me and our entire artistic tradition； he’s to blame for

their　enthusiastic　imitation　of　European　masters　with　the　justification　that　”it

is　the　will　of　Our　Sultan。“　Each　of　those　disgraceful　masters　deserves　nothing

but　torture！　If　we；　the　society　of　miniaturists；　learn　to　serve　foremost　our　own

talent　and　art　instead　of　Our　Sultan　who　provides　us　with　work；　we　shall　have

earned entry through the Gates of Heaven。 Now then； I’d like to study this

book　alone。”

Master