of　Sultan　Mehmet　the　Conqueror？”

“The　books　that　Shah　Tahmasp　sent　His　Excellency　Sultan　Selim；　Denizen　of

Paradise；　as　a　present　twenty…five　years　ago；”　said　Master　Osman。

The dwarf brought us to a large wooden cabi。 Master Osman grew

impatient　as　he　opened　the　doors　and　cast　his　eyes　on　the　volumes　before　him。

He　opened　one；　read　its　colophon　and　leafed　through　its　pages。　Together；　we

gazed in astonishment at the carefully drawn illustrations of khans with

slightly　slanted　eyes。

“”Genghis　Khan；　Chagatai　Khan；　Tuluy　Khan　and　Kublai　Khan　the　Ruler　of

China；“”　read　Master　Osman　before　closing　the　book　and　taking　up　another。

We came across an incredibly beautiful illustration depicting the scene in

which Ferhad； empowered by love； carries his beloved Shirin and her horse

away　on　his　shoulder。　To　convey　the　passion　and　woe　of　the　lovers；　the　rocks

on the mountain； the clouds and the three noble cypresses witnessing

Ferhad’s　act　of　love　were　drawn　with　a　trembling　grief…stricken　hand　in　such

agony　that　Master　Osman　and　I　were　instantly　affected　by　the　taste　of　tears

and　sorrow　in　the　falling　leaves。　This　touching　moment　had　been　depicted—as

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the great masters intended—not to signify Ferhad’s muscular strength； but

rather to convey how the pain of his love was felt at onc