ring　oneself　of　utmost　importance；

like　situating　oneself　at　the　center　of　the　world。”

Thereafter； this idea dawned on him： These methods which the Frankish

artists　made　use　of　as　if　playing　a　prideful　child’s　game；　could　be　more　than

simply　magic　associated　with　Our　Exalted　Sultan—but　could　in　fact　bee　a

force　meant　to　serve　our　religion；　bringing　under　its　sway　all　who　beheld　it。

I　learned　that　the　idea　of　preparing　an　illuminated　manuscript　had　arisen

then：　my　Enishte；　who’d　returned　to　Istanbul　from　Venice；　suggested　it　would

be excellent indeed for Our Sultan to be the subject of a portrait in the

Frankish style。 But after His Excellency took exception； a book containing

pictures　of　Our　Sultan　and　the　objects　that　represented　Him　was　agreed　upon。

“It　is　the　story　that’s　essential；”　our　wisest　and　most　Glorious　Sultan　had

said。　“A　beautiful　illustration　elegantly　pletes　the　story。　An　illustration　that

does　not　plement　a　story；　in　the　end；　will　bee　but　a　false　idol。　Since　we

cannot　possibly　believe　in　an　absent　story；　we　will　naturally　begin　believing　in

the　picture　itself。　This　would　be　no　different　than　the　worship　of　idols　in　the

Kaaba　that　went　on　before　Our　Prophet；　peace　and　blessings　be　upon　him；　had

destroyed　them。　If　not　as　part　of　a　story；　how　would　you　propose　to　depict　this

red　carnation；　for　example；　or