forty centuries of ink-第76章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
searched to ascertain whether there were any styluses
in their pen cases。 Stabbing with the pen； therefore；
is not merely a metaphorical expression。
Sir William Gore Ouseley； a famous diplomat and
savant； who was living at the beginning of the nineteenth
century； during his long residence in India
spent a fortune in the collection of ancient Persic and
Arabic MSS。 In 1807 he permitted them to be examined
by Beloe； whose description of a few will bear
repeating：
〃No。 1。 A Koran； in the Cufi or Cufic character；
said to be written by Ali； the son…in…law of
Mahammed； the Arabian prophet。 The substance
upon which this curious manuscript is written
appears to be a fine kind of asses' skin or vellum；
and the ink of a red； brownish colour。 The ends
of verses are marked by large stars of gold。 If
written by Ali； it must be nearly twelve hundred
years old； but at all events may be considered as
very ancient； many hundred years having elapsed
since the use of the Cufi character has given way
to the Neskh； Suls； etc。； etc。 This manuscript is
still in excellent preservation。〃
〃No。 4。 Beharistan； 'The Garden of Spring。'
A book on ethics and education； illustrated by interesting
anecdotes and narratives； written both in
verse and prose； in imitation of the Gulistan； or
'Rose garden' of Saadi； and like it divided into
eight chapters； composed by Nuruddin； Abdurrahman
Jami； ben Ahmed of the village of Jam； near
Herat。 He was born A。 H。 817 and died at the
age of 81 years （about A。 D。 1492）。 As a grammarian；
theologist and poet he was unequalled； and
his compositious are as voluminous as they are
excellent。 The enormous expense which people
have incurred to possess accurate copies of and to
adorn and embellish his works； is no small proof
of the great estimation in which they were held by
the literati of the East。〃
〃This volume is a small folio； consisting of 134
pages； written in the most beautiful Nastilik
character； by the famous scribe Mohammed Hussein；
who； in consequence of his inimitable penmanship；
obtained the title of Zerin Kalm； or 'Pen of
Gold。' The leaves are of the softest Cashmirian
paper； and of such modest shades of green； blue；
brown； dove； and fawn colors； as never to offend
the eye by their glare； although richly powdered
with gold。 The margins； which are broad； display
a great variety of chaste and beautiful delineations
in liquid gold； no two pages being alike。 Some
are divided into compartments； others are in running
patterns； in all of which the illuminations
show the most correct； and at the same time fanciful
taste。 Many are delineations of field sports；
which； though simple outlines of gold； are calculated
to afford the highest gratifications to the lover of
natural history； as well as the artist； from the
uncommon accuracy with which the forms of the
elephant； rhinoceros； buffalo； lion； tiger； leopard；
panther； lynx； and other Asiatic animals are portrayed。
It appears； by the names which are inserted
at the bottom of the pages； that several
artists were employed in the composition and
combination of these ornaments； one for the landscape；
another for the animals； and a third for the
human figures； all of whom have given proofs of
superior merit。 It would take almost a month to
inspect all the excellencies of this rare manuscript；
for； although so richly ornamented in gold； the
chaste colors of the ground prevent any glaring
obtrusion on the eye； and oblige the examiner to
place it in a particular point of light to see the
exquisite and minute beauties of the delineations。
The paintings； which are meant to illustrate the
subject of the book； are done in colors； and in the
center of the leaves。
〃On the back of the first page are the autographs
of the Emperors of Hindustan； Jehangir
and his son Shajehan。〃
〃No。 5。 'A Diwan i Shahi。' A Diwan or Collection
Odes by Shahi；' transcribed by the famous
penman Mir Ali； in Bokar
