Odinioar\u0103, pe c\u00e2nd purecii erau ciobani, coco\u0219ul\u2014v\u0103t\u0103\u0219el, vulpea\u2014samsar, co\u021bofana\u2014b\u0103rbier, vie\u021buia un padi\u0219ah care avea doi feciori. \u0218i cu toate c\u0103 erau ei fra\u021bi buni, din aceea\u0219i mam\u0103 \u0219i acela\u0219i tat\u0103, nu se asemuiau de loc unul cu altul. Cel mare \u00eentuneca p\u00e2n\u0103 soarele la amiaz\u0103, at\u00e2t de ursuz \u0219i de cumplit era. Doar c\u0103-l priveai \u0219i-\u021bi pierea cheful de via\u021b\u0103. Cel mic rev\u0103rsa \u00een jur o lumin\u0103 bl\u00e2nd\u0103, de-o seam\u0103 cu stelele. Vesel \u0219i cu inima deschis\u0103, alina orice durere. \u00cen preajma sa p\u00e2n\u0103 \u0219i orfanul \u00ee\u0219i uita de ursita-i amar\u0103. To\u021bi cei care \u00eei cuno\u0219teau pe cei doi prin\u021bi – \u00centunecatul \u0219i Luceaf\u0103rul, c\u0103ci a\u0219a \u00eei poreclise norodul – oftau \u00eeng\u00e2ndura\u021bi:
\n\u201eAcum, treac\u0103-mearg\u0103, dar o s\u0103 vin\u0103 vremea c\u00e2nd padi\u0219ahul-tat\u0103 o s\u0103 \u00eenchid\u0103 ochii. Atunci, dac\u0103 dup\u0103 datin\u0103, locul o s\u0103-i fie luat de fiul mai mare, vai de traiul supu\u0219ilor. O vor duce mai r\u0103u ca \u00een iad. Dac\u0103 \u00eens\u0103, nu \u00centunecatul, ci Luceaf\u0103rul ar primi sceptrul \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesc, totul s-ar \u00eentoarce \u00een bine.”
\nG\u00e2ndurile astea \u00eel zbuciumau \u0219i pe padi\u0219ah. \u00ce\u0219i iubea feciorii deopotriv\u0103, c\u0103 doar le era tat\u0103 la am\u00e2ndoi, dar, pe de alt\u0103 parte, avea \u0219i grija oc\u00e2rmuirii. \u0218i azi a\u0219a, m\u00e2ine a\u0219a, tot \u00een g\u00e2nduri \u0219i g\u00e2nduri, \u00eei pieri somnul, \u00eei pieri pofta de m\u00e2ncare, se \u00eemboln\u0103vi \u0219i c\u0103zu la pat. C\u00e2\u021bi vraci destoinici nu venir\u0103 s\u0103-l cerceteze ca s\u0103 g\u0103seasc\u0103 leacul bolii, c\u00e2\u021bi oameni \u00een\u021belep\u021bi nu-\u0219i d\u0103dur\u0103 sfatul, dar totul \u00een zadar! Padi\u0219ahul, chinuit de g\u00e2ndurile lui, sl\u0103bea v\u0103z\u00e2nd cu ochii.
\n\u00centr-o zi, un cer\u0219etor str\u0103in se opri la por\u021bile seraiului, cer\u00e2nd de m\u00e2ncare. \u0218i cum Luceaf\u0103rul se afla pe aproape \u0219i-l v\u0103zu, \u00eei d\u0103rui chiar el cu m\u00e2na lui o mul\u021bime de merinde \u0219i, pe deasupra, \u0219i un pumn cu galbeni \u0219i unul cu argin\u021bi. \u0218i, din vorb\u0103 \u00een vorb\u0103, cer\u0219etorul afl\u0103 de boala padi\u0219ahului. Ceru s\u0103 vad\u0103 \u0219i el pe sl\u0103vitul st\u0103p\u00e2n \u0219i \u00eenainte de a p\u0103r\u0103si seraiul spuse, cl\u0103tin\u00e2nd din cap:
\n– Numai m\u0103rul care r\u00e2de \u0219i m\u0103rul care pl\u00e2nge i-ar putea ajuta padi\u0219ahului, altceva nu!
\nDe unde s\u0103 iei m\u0103rul care r\u00e2de \u0219i m\u0103rul care pl\u00e2nge, c\u00e2nd, cu o clip\u0103 mai \u00eenainte, nici nu \u0219tiai c\u0103 se afl\u0103 pe lume minun\u0103\u021biile astea! Dar Luceaf\u0103rul, care de mult nu mai putea r\u0103bda s\u0103 se uite cu bra\u021bele \u00eencruci\u0219ate cum i se stinge p\u0103rintele, ceru \u00eenvoirea s\u0103 se duc\u0103 \u00een lume ca s\u0103 g\u0103seasc\u0103 leacul spus de cer\u0219etor. Mai cu voie, mai f\u0103r\u0103 voie, de sil\u0103, de mil\u0103, \u00centunecatul i se al\u0103tur\u0103 mezinului \u0219i iat\u0103-i pe am\u00e2ndoi pornind la drum prin lume. Merser\u0103 ei ce merser\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 ce d\u0103dur\u0103 de-o f\u00e2nt\u00e2n\u0103 pe ale c\u0103rei ghizduri se deslu\u0219eau, scrijelate, ni\u0219te litere. Se uitar\u0103 mai bine \u0219i citir\u0103: “Cine merge pe poteca din dreapta se duce \u0219i vine, cine merge pe poteca din st\u00e2nga se duce, dar nu se mai \u00eentoarce”.
\nSosise ceasul desp\u0103r\u021birii pentru cei doi fra\u021bi. \u0218i ca s\u0103 \u0219tie, la \u00eenapoiere, unul de soarta celuilalt, \u00ee\u0219i scoase fiecare din deget inelul \u0219i \u00eel puse sub un bolovan de l\u00e2ng\u0103 f\u00e2nt\u00e2n\u0103. Care cum se \u00eentorcea trebuia s\u0103 dea piatra la o parte \u0219i s\u0103-\u0219i ia inelul.
\n\u0218i fra\u021bii \u00ee\u0219i v\u0103zur\u0103 mai departe de drum a\u0219a cum se \u00eenvoiser\u0103: \u00centunecatul o apuc\u0103 pe poteca din dreapta, Luceaf\u0103rul pe cea din st\u00e2nga, a drumului f\u0103r\u0103 \u00eentoarcere. \u0218i umbl\u0103, \u0219i umbl\u0103 el zile lungi de var\u0103, din zori \u0219i p\u00e2n\u0103-n sear\u0103, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 \u00eent\u00e2lneasc\u0103 nicio vietate. \u00cen a patruzecea zi de colindat, d\u0103du peste o poian\u0103 \u00eentins\u0103 \u00een care p\u0103\u0219tea o turm\u0103 de oi. Se apropie de ciobanul turmei \u0219i-i d\u0103du bine\u021be:
\n– Pacea fie cu tine, unchia\u0219ule!
\n– \u0218i cu tine, f\u0103tul meu! Da’ ia zi, ce v\u00e2nt te m\u00e2n\u0103 prin locurile astea? C\u0103 eu, de at\u00e2\u021bia amar de ani de c\u00e2nd tr\u0103iesc, n-am v\u0103zut pe-aici picior de om.
\nAt\u00e2ta a\u0219tepta Luceaf\u0103rul, s\u0103-\u0219i descarce sufletul cuiva! \u00cencepu dar s\u0103-\u0219i spun\u0103 p\u0103sul. \u0218i vorbi despre boala padi\u0219ahului-tat\u0103 cu at\u00e2ta durere, \u00eenc\u00e2t p\u00e2n\u0103 \u0219i ochii ciobanului se umezir\u0103.
\n– Tare a\u0219 vrea s\u0103 te ajut s\u0103-\u021bi vindeci p\u0103rintele, dar nu \u0219tiu cum a\u0219 face. M\u0103rul care r\u00e2de \u0219i m\u0103rul care pl\u00e2nge se afl\u0103 chiar \u00een iatacul domni\u021bei din seraiul padi\u0219ahului meu. Te-a\u0219 duce p\u00e2n\u0103 acolo, da’ vorba e, cum s\u0103 intri \u00een\u0103untru, c\u0103 la poart\u0103, \u00een fiece sear\u0103, m\u0103 opre\u0219te \u0219i-mi num\u0103r\u0103 mioarele…
\nChibzui \u0219i chibzui ciobanul \u0219i p\u00e2n\u0103 la urm\u0103, \u00eennod\u0103 iar firul vorbei:
\n– Ia stai ni\u021belu\u0219! Vezi burduful \u0103sta mare? C\u00e2nd ne apropiem de serai, te v\u00e2r \u00een el \u0219i intri cu turma odat\u0103. Eu \u00ee\u021bi spun cu de-am\u0103nuntul unde-i iatacul domni\u021bei \u0219i raftul pe care \u00ee\u0219i \u021bine merele. Mai departe-i treaba ta. Dac-ai s\u0103 izbute\u0219ti s\u0103 iei merele, o s\u0103 fie bine, dac-ai s\u0103 fii prins, \u00ee\u021bi pierzi via\u021ba. Hai s-o \u0219i pornim la drum, c\u0103 mai avem cale, nu glum\u0103, de str\u0103b\u0103tut.
\nSe petrecu totul dup\u0103 spusele ciobanului. C\u0103tre diminea\u021b\u0103, atunci c\u00e2nd somnul e mai dulce, Luceaf\u0103rul ie\u0219i din burduf \u0219i, bini\u0219or-bini\u0219or, se strecur\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00een iatacul domni\u021bei care dormea dus\u0103. \u0218i era at\u00e2t de frumoas\u0103 domni\u021ba, at\u00e2t de frumoas\u0103, c\u0103 pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 ea p\u0103lea p\u00e2n\u0103 \u0219i farmecul unei nop\u021bi senine de var\u0103. Oricine o vedea \u00eenm\u0103rmurea, parc\u0103 lovit \u00een inim\u0103. Dar Luceaf\u0103rul se g\u00e2ndi la suferin\u021ba padi\u0219ahului-tat\u0103 \u0219i sc\u0103p\u0103 de sub vraja frumuse\u021bii fetei. \u00centinse m\u00e2na s\u0103 ia cele dou\u0103 mere, dar unul \u00eencepu s\u0103 r\u00e2d\u0103 cu hohote, altul s\u0103 pl\u00e2ng\u0103 cu sughi\u021buri. Iute, Luceaf\u0103rul alerg\u0103 \u00een v\u00e2rful picioarelor \u0219i se ascunse \u00een burduf.
\nDomni\u021ba se trezi \u0219i chem\u0103 str\u0103jile care r\u0103scolir\u0103 peste tot, dar nu d\u0103dur\u0103 de nimeni.
\n– V\u0103 bate\u021bi joc de mine? dojeni ea merele. Dac\u0103 m\u0103 mai trezi\u021bi din somn, f\u0103r\u0103 rost, s\u0103 \u0219ti\u021bi c\u0103 v\u0103 bat!
\nCulc\u00e2ndu-se din nou, fata adormi, Atunci Luceaf\u0103rul veni iar\u0103\u0219i \u0219i u\u0219urel-u\u0219urel se furi\u0219\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 la mere. Dar, c\u00e2nd s\u0103 le ia, unde mi se pornir\u0103 merele s\u0103 fac\u0103 un t\u0103r\u0103boi! H\u0103uia saraiul de hohotele lor de r\u00e2s \u0219i de sughi\u021burile de pl\u00e2ns! Noroc c\u0103 Luceaf\u0103rul apucase s\u0103 se bage \u00een burduf, c\u0103 ungher din serai nu r\u0103mase nescotocit. Cum \u00eens\u0103 iar\u0103\u0219i nu fu g\u0103sit\u0103 nicio urm\u0103 de ho\u021b, domni\u021ba lu\u0103 merele \u0219i a\u0219a le lovi, a\u0219a le lovi unul de altul c\u0103, de i-ar fi stat \u00een putin\u021b\u0103, nu \u0219tiu z\u0103u dac\u0103 \u0219i m\u0103rul care r\u00e2de n-ar fi v\u0103rsat lacrimi!
\n– Dac\u0103 v\u0103 mai prind c\u0103 m\u0103 scula\u021bi din somn, v\u0103 tai \u00een buc\u0103\u021bi \u0219i v\u0103 m\u0103n\u00e2nc!
\nA\u0219a se f\u0103cu c\u0103, dup\u0103 ce se lini\u0219ti tot seraiul \u0219i Luceaf\u0103rul, tiptil-tiptil, fu pentru a treia oar\u0103 l\u00e2ng\u0103 mere, ele, de fric\u0103, t\u0103cur\u0103 chitic. B\u0103iatul le lu\u0103 frumu\u0219el de pe raft \u0219i le ascunse \u00een s\u00e2n. Cum tocmai se cr\u0103pa de ziu\u0103 \u0219i ciobanul se preg\u0103tea s\u0103 ias\u0103 cu turma la p\u0103scut \u00eel v\u00e2r\u00ee pe prin\u021b \u00een burduf \u0219i-l scoase teaf\u0103r afar\u0103 din serai. \u0218i dus a fost, Luceaf\u0103rul! Nu se opri dec\u00e2t la f\u00e2nt\u00e2n\u0103. Aici, c\u00e2nd d\u0103du bolovanul la o parte, s\u0103-\u0219i ia inelul, g\u0103si inelul \u00centunecatului.
\n“Pesemne c-a p\u0103\u021bit el ceva, de nu s-a \u00eentors \u00eenc\u0103. M\u0103 duc s\u0103-l caut ca, la \u00eentoarcerea acas\u0103, bucuria tatii s\u0103 fie deplin\u0103! \u00ee\u0219i zice Luceaf\u0103rul.”
\nDar abia o apuc\u0103 pe poteca din dreapta \u0219i fu silit s\u0103 se opreasc\u0103: de-a curmezi\u0219ul drumului z\u0103cea un om sf\u00e2r\u0219it, gata-gata s\u0103-\u0219i dea duhul. Luceaf\u0103rul nu a\u0219tept\u0103 s\u0103 i se cear\u0103 ajutorul, \u00eengenunche iute l\u00e2ng\u0103 el, \u00eei lu\u0103 capul pe genunchi \u0219i \u00eei d\u0103du s\u0103 bea c\u00e2teva \u00eenghi\u021bituri de ap\u0103 proasp\u0103t\u0103. \u00centr-o clipit\u0103 omul se \u00eenvior\u0103, deschise ochii \u0219i gr\u0103i:
\n\u200b – Tinere, tinere, nu-i nevoie s\u0103-mi spui cine e\u0219ti \u0219i ce cau\u021bi, c\u0103 eu le \u0219tiu pe toate. Nu mai z\u0103bovi \u0219i zore\u0219te spre padi\u0219ahul-tat\u0103, s\u0103-l mai prinzi \u00een via\u021b\u0103! C\u00e2t despre fratele t\u0103u, \u00centunecatul, degeaba-l mai cau\u021bi. C\u00e2nd a trecut pe-aici \u0219i eu z\u0103ceam \u00een praful drumului, i-am cerut ajutor. \u00cen loc de asta, a ridicat biciul asupra-mi, ca prin lovituri s\u0103 m\u0103 sileasc\u0103 s\u0103 m\u0103 dau la o parte. At\u00e2t l-am rugat, at\u00e2t l-am rugat s\u0103 m\u0103 cru\u021be, s\u0103-i fie mil\u0103, dar \u00een zadar! \u201eN-ai inim\u0103 de om, ci de piatr\u0103! i-am zis eu atunci. \u00cen piatr\u0103 s\u0103 te prefaci!” \u0218i s\u0103 vezi minune: la fiecare lovitur\u0103 de bici pe care mi-o d\u0103dea, se preschimba pu\u021bin c\u00e2te pu\u021bin \u00een stan\u0103 de piatr\u0103. Acum, piatr\u0103 ca toate pietrele e fratele t\u0103u mai mare, \u00centunecatul. Tu alearg\u0103 la p\u0103rintele t\u0103u, s\u0103 nu-\u021bi fie zadarnic\u0103 truda!
\n\u0218i dup\u0103 ce vorbi astfel, omul din drum se f\u0103cu nev\u0103zut. Luceaf\u0103rul \u00een\u021belese c\u0103 n-are \u00eencotro. Se \u00eentoarse la f\u00e2nt\u00e2n\u0103, lu\u0103 \u0219i inelul \u00centunecatului de sub bolovan \u0219i se \u00eendrept\u0103 spre cas\u0103.
\nAjuns l\u00e2ng\u0103 patul de z\u0103cere al padi\u0219ahului-tat\u0103, scoase din s\u00e2n merele. Cum le atinse, acestea \u00eencepur\u0103 s\u0103 fac\u0103 ce \u0219tiau: unul, adic\u0103, s\u0103 r\u00e2d\u0103, iar cel\u0103lalt, s\u0103 pl\u00e2ng\u0103; \u0219i pe loc puterea prinse s\u0103 se \u00eenfiripe \u00een trupul bolnavului. Dar \u00centunecatul? fur\u0103 primele cuvinte rostite de padi\u0219ah dup\u0103 at\u00e2tea zile de suferin\u021b\u0103. Drept r\u0103spuns, Luceaf\u0103rul \u00eei ar\u0103t\u0103 inelul, iar tat\u0103l pricepu pe dat\u0103 c\u0103 nu mai are \u00een via\u021b\u0103 dec\u00e2t un singur fiu. \u0218i tare \u00eel mai duru inima, dar dragostea nem\u0103surat\u0103 a Luceaf\u0103rului \u0219i tov\u0103r\u0103\u0219ia celor dou\u0103 mere n\u0103zdr\u0103vane \u00eel ajutar\u0103 s\u0103 biruie \u0219i cump\u0103na asta.
\n\u00centr-o zi, un c\u0103l\u0103re\u021b str\u0103in, plin de colb din cre\u0219tet p\u00e2n\u0103-n t\u0103lpi, b\u0103tu la por\u021bile seraiului. Spunea c\u0103 vine de departe, trimis de o domni\u021b\u0103 s\u0103 str\u0103bat\u0103 lumea cu un \u0219irag de m\u0103t\u0103nii, p\u00e2n\u0103 va da de omul care, povestindu-\u0219i via\u021ba, are de spus at\u00e2tea p\u0103\u021banii c\u00e2te boabe au m\u0103t\u0103niile ei. \u00censeamn\u0103 c\u0103 acela – zicea domni\u021ba – e ho\u021bul m\u0103rului care r\u00e2de \u0219i al m\u0103rului care pl\u00e2nge, f\u0103r\u0103 de care ea nu poate s\u0103 tr\u0103iasc\u0103.
\nVorbele lui st\u00e2rnir\u0103 \u00een sufletul Luceaf\u0103rului o mare tulburare, c\u0103ci frumuse\u021bea neasemuit\u0103 a domni\u021bei nu-i ie\u0219ise o clip\u0103 din cuget. Cu voia padi\u0219ahului-tat\u0103 plec\u0103 iar la drum, \u00eenso\u021bind pe c\u0103l\u0103re\u021b p\u00e2n\u0103 la palatul domni\u021bei, unde povesti peripe\u021biile vie\u021bii sale care se potrivir\u0103 la num\u0103r cu boabele \u0219iragului de m\u0103t\u0103nii.
\n– Ar mai fi trebuit \u00eenc\u0103 o boab\u0103 la m\u0103t\u0103nii, \u00eencheie el cu un z\u00e2mbet.
\n– Pentru ce? \u00eel \u00eentreb\u0103 domni\u021ba, cu inima b\u0103t\u00e2nd mai repede, c\u0103ci prinsese drag de prin\u021b.
\n– Pentru sf\u00e2r\u0219itul pove\u0219tii mele care \u00eenc\u0103 nu e spus, domni\u021b\u0103! ad\u0103ug\u0103 Luceaf\u0103rul \u0219i \u00eentorc\u00e2ndu-se spre tat\u0103l fetei, o ceru de so\u021bie.
\nSe f\u0103cu nunt\u0103 mare, mare, cum arareori s-a mai pomenit vreodat\u0103. Iar dimpreun\u0103 cu tinerii, se bucurar\u0103 nespus \u0219i padi\u0219ahii-socri. Patruzeci de zile \u0219i patruzeci de nop\u021bi a \u021binut petrecerea. \u0218i ce nu s-a dat la osp\u0103\u021b! Din toate bun\u0103t\u0103\u021bile, un bob de orez mi-a r\u0103mas \u0219i mie. \u00cendat\u0103 ce l-am m\u00e2ncat, m-a \u00eemboldit un chef de vorb\u0103 cum n-am mai avut niciodat\u0103. \u0218i a\u0219a s-a f\u0103cut c\u0103 m-am pomenit spun\u00e2ndu-v\u0103 povestea m\u0103rului care r\u00e2de \u0219i a m\u0103rului care pl\u00e2nge.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Odinioar\u0103, pe c\u00e2nd purecii erau ciobani, coco\u0219ul\u2014v\u0103t\u0103\u0219el, vulpea\u2014samsar, co\u021bofana\u2014b\u0103rbier, vie\u021buia un padi\u0219ah care avea doi feciori. \u0218i cu toate c\u0103 erau ei fra\u021bi buni, din aceea\u0219i mam\u0103 \u0219i acela\u0219i tat\u0103, … <\/p>\n