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pleasurably and confidently—had you seen them； you would’ve said this artist
is no illustrator； but a calligrapher。 I was gazing at my hand with awe； while it
moved as if it belonged to another。 These spectacular arcs became the horse’s
ample stomach； solid chest and swanlike neck。 The illustration might’ve been
considered plete。 Oh； the talent of which I am possessed！ Meanwhile； I
looked to see that my hand had traced out the nose and open mouth of the
strong and joyful horse and laid down the intelligent forehead and ears。 Next；
once again； look Mother； how beautiful； I merrily drew another arc as if
scripting a letter； and I was moved to the verge of laughter。 I swooped down in
a perfect arc from the neck of my rearing horse to its saddle。 My hand
occupied itself with the saddle as I proudly regarded my horse； now ing
into being； with a robust； rounded body not unlike my own： Everyone will be
stunned by this horse。 I thought about the sweet ments Our Sultan would
make when I won the prize； He’d present me with a purse of gold coins； and I
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had the urge to laugh again as I imagined how I’d count them at home。 Just
then； my hand； which I gazed at out of the corner of my eye； finished with the
saddle and took my brush to the inkwell and back before I began the horse’s
rump with a chuckle as though I’d told a joke。 I briskly outlined the tail。 How
gentle and curvaceous I made the rear end； lovingly wishing to cup it in my
hands like the gentle butt of a boy I was about to violate。 As I smiled； my clever
hand finished with the hind legs； and my brush stopped： This was the finest
rearing horse the world had ever known。 I was overe with joy； happily
thinking about how much they would like my horse； how they would declare
me the most talented of miniaturists and even how they would announce at
once that I was to bee Head Illuminator； but then I considered what else
those idiots would say： “How quickly and joyfully he’s drawn this！” For this
reason alone； I was worried they wouldn’t take my wonderful illustration
seriously。 Therefore； I meticulously rendered the mane； nostrils； teeth； strands
of horsetail and saddle blanket in minute detail so there would be no doubt
that I had indeed labored over the illustration。 From this position； that is； the
rear lateral view； the horse’s testicles should’ve been visible； but I left them
out because they might unduly preoccupy the women。 Proudly； I studied my
horse： rearing； moving like a tempest； strong and powerful！ It was as if a wind
had kicked up and set elliptical brush strokes in motion； like the letters in a
line of script； yet the animal was also poised。 They’d praise the magnificent
miniaturist who drew this illustration as if praising a Bihzad or a Mir
Musavvir； and then； I； too； would be like them。
When I draw a magnificent horse； I bee a great master of old drawing
that horse。
301
I AM CALLED “STORK”
After the evening prayers I intended to go to the coffeehouse； but they told me
there was a visitor at the door。 Good tidings； I hoped。 I went to discover a
messenger from the palace。 He described the Sultan’s contest。 Fine； the
world’s most beautiful horse。 You tell me how much you’ll offer for each； and
I’ll quickly draw you five or six of them。
Rather than say any such thing； I maintained my reserve； and simply
invited the boy waiting at the door inside。 I thought for a moment： The
world’s most beautiful horse doesn’t even exist that I might draw it。 I can
draw war steeds； large Mongolian horses； noble Arabians； heroic； writhing
chargers covered in blood； or even luckless packhorses pulling a cartfull of
stone to a building site； but no one would call any of them the world’s most
beautiful horse。 Naturally； by “the world’s most beautiful horse；” I knew that
Our Sultan meant the most splendid of the horses that had been depicted
thousands of times in Persia； in keeping with all of the formulas； models and
poses of yore。 But why？
Of course； there were those who didn’t want me to win the purse of gold。 If
they’d told me to draw your average horse； it’s mon knowledge that
nobody’s picture could pete with mine。 Who was it that had duped Our
Sultan？ Our Sovereign； despite the endless gossip of all of those jealous artists；
knows full well that I am the most talented of His miniaturists。 He admires my
illustrations。
My hand abruptly and angrily sprang to action as if wanting to rise above
all of these vexing considerations； and in one concentrated effort； I drew a true
horse beginning from the tip of its hoof。 You might see one like this on the
street or in battle。 Weary； but controlled…Next； in the same fit of anger； I
dashed off a spahi cavalryman’s horse； and this one was even better。 None of
the miniaturists of the book arts workshop could draw such beautiful animals。
I was about to draw another from memory when the boy from the palace said；
“One is enough。”
He was about to grab the sheet and leave； but I restrained him because I
knew full well； as I know my own name； that these scoundrels would be giving
up a purse of gold coins for these horses。
If I illustrate the way I want to； they won’t give me the gold！ If I can’t win
the gold； my name will be tarnished forever。 I stopped to think。 “Just wait；” I
said to the boy。 I went inside and returned with two incredibly shiny
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counterfeit Veian gold pieces； which I proceeded to give to the boy： He was
afraid； his eyes widened。 “You’re as brave as a lion；” I said。
I removed one of the notebooks of forms that I kept hidden from the eyes
of the world。 This is where I secretly made copies of the most beautiful
illustrations that I’d seen over the years。 Not to mention the copies that the
chief of the dwarfs； Jafer； in the treasury would make of the best trees；
dragons； birds； hunters and warriors from the pages of volumes locked away；
that is； if you gave him ten gold pieces； the rogue。 My notebook is excellent；
not for those who want to see the actual world in which they live through
pictures and decoration； but for those who want to recall the fables of old。
Flipping through the pages while showing the images to the pageboy； I
selected the best of the horses。 I briskly poked holes over the lines of that
picture with a needle。 Next； I placed a clean sheet of paper under the stencil。 I
gradually sprinkled a liberal amount of coal dust on top； then shook it so the
dust would pass through the holes。 I lifted the stencil。 The coal dust； dot by
dot； had transferred the beautiful horse’s entire shape to the sheet below。 It
was a pleasure to behold。
I grabbed my pen。 With an inspiration that suddenly welled up within me； I
elegantly connected the dots with quick and decisive strokes； such that as I was
drawing the horse’s belly； graceful neck； nose and rump； I lovingly felt the
horse within me。 “There it is；” I said。 “The world’s most beautiful horse。 Not
one of those fools could draw this。”
So the boy from the palace would believe this as well； and so he wouldn’t
explain to Our Sultan how I’d been inspired to draw this picture； I gave him
three more counterfeit coins。 I implied that I would give him even more if I
ended up winning the gold。 Furthermore； he also imagined； I believe； that he
might soon be able to catch sight of my wife once again； whom he’d leered at
open…mouthed。 There are many who believe you can tell a good miniaturist by
the horse he draws； however； to be the best miniaturist； it’s not enough to
make the best horse； you must also convince Our Sultan and His circle of
sycophants that you are indeed the best miniaturist。
When I draw a magnificent horse； I am who I am； nothing more。
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I WILL BE CALLED A MURDERER
Were you able to determine who I am from the way I sketched a horse？
As soon as I heard I was invited to make a horse； I knew this was no
petition： They wanted to catch me through my illustration。 I’m perfectly
aware that the horse sketches I’d drawn on rough paper were found on poor
Elegant Effendi’s body。 But I have no fault or style by which they might
discover me through the horses I’ve made。 Though I was as certain of this as I
could be； I was in a panic while rendering the horse。 Had I done something
incriminating when I made the horse for Enishte？ I had to depict a new horse
this time。 I thought of pletely different things。 I “restrained” myself and
became another。
But who am I？ Am I an artist who would suppress the masterpieces I was
capable of in order to fit the style of the workshop or an artist who would one
day triumphan