we　were　beset　by　such　cold　and　snow

that we two dervishes； hugging each other tightly； fell asleep and froze to

death。 Just before dying I had a dream： I was the subject of a painting that

entered　Heaven　after　thousands　and　thousands　of　years。

335

IT　IS　I；　MASTER　OSMAN

They　tell　a　story　in　Bukhara　that　dates　back　to　the　time　of　Abdullah　Khan。　This

Uzbek　Khan　was　a　suspicious　ruler；　and　though　he　didn’t　object　to　more　than

one artist’s brush contributing to the same illustration； he was opposed to

painters　copying　from　one　another’s　pages—because　this　made　it　impossible

to　determine　which　of　the　artists　brazenly　copying　from　one　another　was　to

blame for an error。 More importantly； after a time； instead of pushing

themselves to seek out God’s memories within the darkness； pilfering

miniaturists　would　lazily　seek　out　whatever　they　saw　over　the　shoulder　of　the

artist beside them。 For this reason； the Uzbek Khan joyously weled two

great　masters；　one　from　Shiraz　in　the　South；　the　other　from　Samarkand　in　the

East；　who’d　fled　from　war　and　cruel　shahs　to　the　shelter　of　his　court；　however；

he forbade the two celebrated talents to look at each other’s work； and

separated them by giving them small workrooms on opposite ends of his

palace；　as　far　from　each　other　as　p