Povestea ce urmeaz\u0103 s-a petrecut de mult, de mult. Pe atunci sita cernea paie, cioara vindea c\u0103rbuni \u0219i m\u0103garul, sare. Vezi bine, c\u00e2te nu se puteau \u00eent\u00e2mpla atunci! De unde \u0219tiu eu toate astea? le-a povestit o b\u0103tr\u00e2n\u0103 care, \u0219i ea, le \u0219tia de copili\u021b\u0103, de la o b\u0103tr\u00e2n\u0103 coclit\u0103. \u0218i aceasta, cine mai \u0219tie de la cine le auzise!… Dar mai bine s\u0103 l\u0103s\u0103m vorba \u0219i s\u0103 ascult\u0103m povestea.
\nA fost odat\u0103 ca niciodat\u0103. A fost odat\u0103 un padi\u0219ah care avea trei feciori. C\u00e2nd le veni sorocul, \u00eei \u00eensur\u0103 pe r\u00e2nd. B\u0103iatul mai mare lu\u0103 fiica unui alt padi\u0219ah \u0219i plec\u0103 \u00een \u021bara acestuia, s\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u021beasc\u0103 \u00een locul socrului s\u0103u, b\u0103tr\u00e2n. Mijlociul, o dat\u0103 cu nevasta, primi \u00een dar \u0219i o \u021bar\u0103 pe care s-o c\u00e2rmuiasc\u0103. R\u0103mase acas\u0103 numai mezinul; el trebuia s\u0103 st\u0103p\u00e2neasc\u0103 mo\u0219ia str\u0103bun\u0103, c\u00e2nd tat\u0103l s\u0103u se va fi sf\u00e2r\u0219it.
\n\u00centr-o zi, pe c\u00e2nd prin\u021bul se afla la v\u00e2n\u0103toare, prin fa\u021b\u0103 \u00eei trecu, iute ca o s\u0103geat\u0103, o c\u0103prioar\u0103. Se lu\u0103 dup\u0103 ea \u00een goana calului, dar la o cotitur\u0103 c\u0103prioara \u00eentoarse o clip\u0103 capul \u0219i-l privi \u00een ochi, apoi se mistui \u00een codru. Prin\u021bul sim\u021bi deodat\u0103 cum \u00eel n\u0103p\u0103de\u0219te o c\u0103ldur\u0103 \u00een inim\u0103 \u0219i \u0219opti f\u0103r\u0103. voie: \u201eAh! De-a\u0219 putea \u00eent\u00e2lni o fat\u0103 cu ochii umezi \u0219i bl\u00e2nzi ca ai c\u0103prioarei, a\u0219 purta-o \u00een suflet, statornic, toat\u0103 via\u021ba!”
\nMai r\u0103t\u0103ci el \u00eencoace \u0219i \u00eencolo, \u00een mreaja unui dor nedeslu\u0219it \u021bi p\u00e2n\u0103 la urm\u0103 hot\u0103r\u00ee s\u0103 se \u00eentoarc\u0103 acas\u0103. D\u0103du pinteni calului \u0219i cum tocmai trecea pe sub ni\u0219te copaci mai jo\u0219i, o creang\u0103 \u00eel \u0219fichiui peste obraz \u0219i o pic\u0103tur\u0103 de s\u00e2nge c\u0103zu peste om\u0103tul neatins. Din nou suspin\u0103 prin\u021bul: “De mi-ar fi dat s\u0103 v\u0103d o fat\u0103 cu fa\u021ba alb\u0103 ca neaua \u0219i buzele ro\u0219ii ca pic\u0103tura de s\u00e2nge cald, a\u0219 \u00eendr\u0103gi-o pe ea, \u0219i numai pe ea, c\u00e2te zile a\u0219 tr\u0103i!”
\nDin clipa aceea, prin\u021bul nu-\u0219i mai afl\u0103 lini\u0219tea. T\u00e2njea dup\u0103 fata pe care o pl\u0103smuise \u00eenchipuirea lui \u00eenfierbintat\u0103. Ce n-a f\u0103cut padi\u0219ahul-tat\u0103 s\u0103-i \u00eentoarc\u0103 g\u00e2ndul! Zadarnic \u00eens\u0103; b\u0103iatul se topea pe picioare, D\u00e2ndu-\u0219i seama c\u0103 nimic nu e \u00een stare s\u0103-i st\u0103vileasc\u0103 dorul, tat\u0103l \u00eei d\u0103du \u00eenvoire s\u0103 se duc\u0103 \u00een lumea larg\u0103 s\u0103-\u0219i caute mireas\u0103 dup\u0103 imboldul inimii.
\n\u0218i mezinul plec\u0103. Merse el mult, mult, cutreier\u0103 meleaguri care mai de care mai str\u0103ine, \u00eent\u00e2lni \u00een calea sa sute \u0219i mii de fete, dar niciuna nu se potrivea cu cea din g\u00e2ndul s\u0103u. Dup\u0103 zile \u0219i zile de colindat f\u0103r\u0103 r\u0103gaz, se opri istovit \u00een fa\u021ba unei ci\u0219mele. O b\u0103tr\u00e2n\u0103 mic\u0103, mic\u0103, stafidit\u0103 \u0219i coc\u00e2rjat\u0103, se trudea s\u0103 ia ap\u0103 \u00eentr-un ulcior. Cu toat\u0103 osteneala lui, prin\u021bul s\u0103ri s-o ajute. Umplu ulciorul \u00eentr-o clipit\u0103 \u0219i-i spuse:
\n– Las\u0103-m\u0103 s\u0103 \u021bi-l duc eu acas\u0103, m\u0103tu\u0219ico. Eu tot sunt \u00een drume\u021bie, f\u0103r\u0103 niciun rost. Te petrec pe tine \u0219i-apoi \u00eemi v\u0103d de drum.
\nAjun\u0219i la coliba ei, b\u0103tr\u00e2na \u00eel osp\u0103t\u0103 cu ce avea \u0219i ea mai bun \u0219i \u00eel \u00eembie s\u0103-\u0219i spun\u0103 aleanul care-l face s\u0103 r\u0103t\u0103ceasc\u0103 prin lume. C\u00e2nd b\u0103iatul sf\u00e2r\u0219i de povestit, ea zise:
\n– Uite ce-i, f\u0103tul meu, eu \u00ees s\u0103rac\u0103 \u0219i mare lucru n-am a-\u021bi da. Dar cum nu vreau cu niciun chip s\u0103 pleci de la mine cu m\u00e2na goal\u0103, ia toiagul \u0103sta al meu \u0219i treci \u00een curticica din spatele bordelului. Acolo e un portocal. Arunc\u0103 toiagul \u00een crengile lui \u0219i c\u00e2te poame or c\u0103dea, sunt ale tale.<\/p>\n
Prin\u021bul o ascult\u0103 \u0219i peste pu\u021bin veni \u00eenapoi cu trei portocale.
\n– De-acum \u00eencolo, mai gr\u0103i b\u0103tr\u00e2na, numai de tine at\u00e2rn\u0103 s\u0103 fii fericit ori ba, \u00eentoarce-te lini\u0219tit acas\u0103 \u0219i \u021bine bine minte: s\u0103 nu coje\u0219ti portocalele dec\u00e2t \u00een preajma unei ape, altminteri nu. Dac\u0103 ai s\u0103 faci a\u0219a, o s\u0103-\u021bi fie tare bine. Dac\u0103 n-ai s\u0103 faci a\u0219a, o s\u0103 te c\u0103ie\u0219ti amarnic. \u0218i-acum, drum bun!
\nPrin\u021bul o lu\u0103 spre cas\u0103, dar cum calea era lung\u0103 \u0219i soarele dogora n\u0103prasnic, uit\u0103 de spusele b\u0103tr\u00e2nei \u0219i scoase din s\u00e2n o portocal\u0103, s\u0103-\u0219i ast\u00e2mpere setea. Abia apuc\u0103 s-o cure\u021be de coaj\u0103 \u0219i r\u0103mase \u00eenm\u0103rmurit: din portocal\u0103 ie\u0219i o z\u00e2n\u0103 frumoas\u0103 ca \u00eensu\u0219i visul s\u0103u.
\n\u201eAp\u0103!” \u0219opti ea stins, dar cum jur \u00eemprejur nu erau dec\u00e2t coline sterpe \u0219i pustii, \u0219i nicio pic\u0103tur\u0103 de ap\u0103, z\u00e2na \u00eenchise ochii \u0219i, cu un oftat, pieri.
\nAb\u0103tut, printul plec\u0103 mai departe, \u00eens\u0103 ner\u0103bdarea \u00eei d\u0103dea mereu t\u00e2rcoale. \u201eOare \u0219i dintr-a doua portocal\u0103 va ie\u0219i o z\u00e2n\u0103?” se tot g\u00e2ndea el. Nemaiput\u00e2ndu-se \u00eenfr\u00e2na, coji \u00eenc\u0103 de portocal\u0103, Se ar\u0103t\u0103 o alt\u0103 z\u00e2n\u0103, aidoma primei, dar \u0219i ea pieri, pentru c\u0103 prin\u021bul nu avu strop de ap\u0103 s\u0103-i dea.
\n\u00cenv\u0103\u021b\u00e2nd, \u00een sf\u00e2r\u0219it, ce \u00eenseamn\u0103 puterea st\u0103p\u00e2nirii, prin\u021bul \u00ee\u0219i struni sim\u021b\u0103mintele; a\u0219tept\u0103 s\u0103 fie \u00een preajma unei ape \u0219i numai atunci se \u00eencumet\u0103 s\u0103 \u00eencerce dac\u0103 \u0219i \u00een cea de a treia portocal\u0103 se afla o z\u00e2n\u0103.
\n\u200b C\u00e2nd ajunse l\u00e2ng\u0103 un izvor se opri \u0219i desf\u0103cu cu grij\u0103 coaja ultimei portocale. Dintre feliile ei se ivi o z\u00e2n\u0103 parc\u0103 mai frumoas\u0103 ca celelalte dou\u0103.
\n\u201eAp\u0103”, ceru ea \u0219i feciorul de padi\u0219ah \u00eei d\u0103du s\u0103 soarb\u0103 ap\u0103 proasp\u0103t\u0103. Pe dat\u0103 z\u00e2na se \u00eensufle\u021bi, iar prin\u021bul nu \u0219tia ce s\u0103 mai fac\u0103 de fericire c\u0103-\u0219i atinsese visul. Cu dragoste, prinse z\u00e2na de m\u00e2n\u0103 \u0219i o s\u0103lt\u0103 \u00een \u0219a. Astfel c\u0103l\u0103rir\u0103 al\u0103turi tot restul drumului \u0219i fiecare clip\u0103 ce trecea \u00eei apropia \u0219i mai mult unul de altul.
\nNici nu-\u0219i d\u0103dur\u0103 seama cum \u0219i c\u00e2nd se pomenir\u0103 la hotarul \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u021biei padi\u0219ahului-tat\u0103. O f\u00e2nt\u00e2n\u0103, umbrit\u0103 de un pin stufos, desp\u0103r\u021bea \u021bara sa de \u021bara vecin\u0103. Prin\u021bul, care voia s\u0103-\u0219i aduc\u0103 iubita \u00een seraiul p\u0103rintesc cu toat\u0103 str\u0103lucirea cuvenit\u0103, o sui pe z\u00e2n\u0103 \u00een pin, s\u0103 stea p\u00e2n\u0103 s-o \u00eenturna el cu alaiul de nunt\u0103 cerut de datin\u0103.
\nAbia disp\u0103ru feciorul de padi\u0219ah \u0219i la f\u00e2nt\u00e2n\u0103 se ivi o fat\u0103 ur\u00e2t\u0103, ur\u00e2t\u0103 cum nici nu se poate \u00eenchipui. Era din \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u021bia vecin\u0103 \u0219i venise cu ulciorul, dup\u0103 ap\u0103. Aplec\u00e2ndu-se deasupra f\u00e2nt\u00e2nei, v\u0103zu chipul minunat al z\u00e2nei oglindit al\u0103turi de al s\u0103u \u0219i se \u00eenvine\u021bi de ciud\u0103. Pizma \u00eei crescu c\u00e2nd \u00ee\u0219i arunc\u0103 privirea spre copac \u0219i d\u0103du cu ochii aievea de f\u0103ptura din el. Cu glas pref\u0103cut c\u00e2t mai dulce, \u00eentreb\u0103 pe z\u00e2n\u0103 ce caut\u0103 \u00een copac. Cum aceasta \u00eei povesti totul, f\u0103r\u0103 niciun ascunzi\u0219, pe loc \u00een mintea ur\u00e2tei \u00eencol\u021bi un plan.
\n– Oh! ce via\u021b\u0103 fericit\u0103 te a\u0219teapt\u0103! zise ea. \u0218i ce frumoas\u0103 e\u0219ti! A\u0219 da orice ca s\u0103 te pot vedea mai de aproape. Rogu-te, d\u0103-te pu\u021bin jos din pin, s\u0103 st\u0103m ni\u021bel de vorb\u0103. Vrei?
\nLipsit\u0103 de orice b\u0103nuial\u0103, z\u00e2na, cobor\u00ee din copac \u0219i se aplec\u0103 deasupra f\u00e2nt\u00e2nei s\u0103-\u0219i r\u0103coreasc\u0103 fa\u021ba cu ap\u0103. At\u00e2t a\u0219tept\u0103 ur\u00e2ta! O \u00eembr\u00e2nci \u00een f\u00e2nt\u00e2n\u0103 cu toat\u0103 puterea \u0219i se urc\u0103 ea \u00een pin, \u00een locul z\u00e2nei.
\nAcolo unde z\u00e2na pieri, \u00eenghi\u021bit\u0103 de ap\u0103, r\u0103s\u0103ri o floricic\u0103 alb\u0103, cristalin\u0103 ca lacrima \u0219i tare \u00eenmiresmat\u0103.
\nNu trecu mult \u0219i tropote de cai se auzir\u0103 din ce \u00een ce mai deslu\u0219it: era prin\u021bul, urmat de curteni. Venea, s\u0103-\u0219i ia mireasa \u0219i s-o \u00eenf\u0103\u021bi\u0219eze padi\u0219ahului-tat\u0103. C\u00e2nd din pin se d\u0103du jos fata cea slut\u0103, \u00eencremenir\u0103 cu to\u021bii. \u201eOare pentru o pocitanie ca asta a colindat at\u00e2ta?” murmurar\u0103 oamenii. Mai uimit dec\u00e2t to\u021bi era \u00eens\u0103 prin\u021bul \u00eensu\u0219i. Totu\u0219i nu zise nimic \u0219i urc\u0103 ur\u00e2ta pe cal. Dar, c\u00e2nd s\u0103 plece, privirea-i fu atras\u0103 de floricica cea alb\u0103. O lu\u0103 \u0219i \u0219i-o puse l\u00e2ng\u0103 inim\u0103, \u00eenduio\u0219at f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 \u0219tie nici el pentru ce anume.
\nLa \u00eembel\u0219ugata mas\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasc\u0103, ur\u00e2ta, pricep\u00e2nd c\u0103 chiar z\u00e2na, preschimbat\u0103 \u00een floare; se odihnea l\u00e2ng\u0103 inima prin\u021bului, \u00eel rug\u0103 cu viclenie:
\n– Dragul meu logodnic, f\u0103-mi hat\u00e2rul \u0219i d\u0103-mi mie floarea pe care ai luat-o de la f\u00e2nt\u00e2n\u0103!
\nCum nu se cuvenea s\u0103 se \u00eempotriveasc\u0103 dorin\u021bei logodnicei sale, prin\u021bul \u00eei \u00eentinse floarea pe care ur\u00e2ta o strivi \u00eentre degete, cu ur\u0103, \u0219i o arunc\u0103 pe fereastr\u0103. Pe locul unde c\u0103zu se ivi ca din p\u0103m\u00e2nt o pas\u0103re, cu penele str\u0103lucitoare ca cele mai curate nestemate. Lovind de c\u00e2teva ori v\u0103zduhul cu aripile, p\u0103s\u0103rica \u00ee\u0219i lu\u0103 zborul \u0219i se f\u0103cu nev\u0103zut\u0103.
\nA doua zi, dis-de-diminea\u021b\u0103, c\u00e2nd gr\u0103dinarul ie\u0219i s\u0103 ude florile din jurul palatului, p\u0103s\u0103rica \u00eel urm\u0103ri ca o umbr\u0103, ciripind \u00eentr-una.
\n– Ce tot te \u021bii dup\u0103 mine? Vrei ceva? morm\u0103i ursuz omul.
\n– Ce face prin\u021bul? \u00eentreb\u0103 p\u0103s\u0103rica.
\n– E bine, s\u0103n\u0103tos.
\n– Dar logodnica?
\n– St\u0103 \u00eenchis\u0103 \u00een iatacul ei \u0219i a\u0219teapt\u0103. Zice c\u0103 dac\u0103 n-o s-o mai vad\u0103 soarele, din tuciurie o s\u0103 se fac\u0103 iar alb\u0103 ca om\u0103tul, cum a fost mai \u00eenainte. Nunta s-a am\u00e2nat p\u00e2n\u0103 atuncea.
\nP\u0103s\u0103rica f\u00e2lf\u00e2i din aripi \u0219i, a\u0219ez\u00e2ndu-se pe un trandafir, c\u00e2nt\u0103 de c\u00e2teva ori cu jale, apoi \u00ee\u0219i lu\u0103 zborul \u0219i disp\u0103ru. \u00cen urma ei, trandafirul pe care st\u0103tuse se vesteji p\u00e2n\u0103 la r\u0103d\u0103cin\u0103.
\n\u0218i astfel, r\u00e2nd pe r\u00e2nd, se uscar\u0103 mai toate florile din gr\u0103din\u0103. C\u0103ci \u00een fiecare zori de zi p\u0103s\u0103rica venea \u00een gr\u0103din\u0103, \u00eel \u00eentreba pe gr\u0103dinar despre prin\u021b \u0219i logodnica lui, poposea pe c\u00e2te o floare, \u00ee\u0219i c\u00e2nta c\u00e2ntecul ei de amar \u0219i pleca. \u0218i era destul s\u0103 ating\u0103 cu aripa o floare, c\u0103 pe dat\u0103 aceasta se ve\u0219tejea ca ars\u0103, \u0219i orice i-ar fi f\u0103cut gr\u0103dinarul, nu-\u0219i mai revenea.
\nToate merser\u0103 a\u0219a p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00een clipa \u00een care prin\u021bul b\u0103g\u0103 de seam\u0103 urgia din gr\u0103din\u0103. Foc de sup\u0103rat, chem\u0103 la el pe gr\u0103dinar, hot\u0103r\u00e2t s\u0103-l pedepseasc\u0103 stra\u0219nic pentru lipsa lui de grij\u0103. C\u00e2nd \u00eens\u0103 afl\u0103 adev\u0103rul, porunci s\u0103 se ung\u0103 cu clei pu\u021binele tufe cu flori care mai r\u0103m\u0103seser\u0103 \u0219i, \u00eenainte de rev\u0103rsatul zorilor, se puse el \u00eensu\u0219i la p\u00e2nd\u0103.
\nP\u0103s\u0103rica veni, ca de obicei, dar c\u00e2nd se a\u0219ez\u0103 pe-o floare, nu se mai putu desprinde s\u0103 zboare. \u0218i oric\u00e2t se zb\u0103tu ea, prin\u021bul izbuti cu u\u0219urin\u021b\u0103 s-o prind\u0103 \u0219i s-o duc\u0103 \u00een serai.
\nAuzind cele \u00eent\u00e2mplate, logodnica lui, pricep\u00e2nd c\u0103 z\u00e2na este totuna cu p\u0103s\u0103rica prins\u0103, \u00eencepu s\u0103 se vaiete:
\n– Vai, prin\u021be, prin\u021be! Dac\u0103 vrei s\u0103 m\u0103 vezi mai degrab\u0103 cea care-am fost c\u00e2nd m-ai cunoscut, porunce\u0219te s\u0103 se taie pas\u0103rea asta, s-o m\u0103n\u00e2nc fript\u0103! Simt c\u0103 a\u0219a s-or dezlega toate vr\u0103jile care mi-au preschimbat chipul!
\nPlin de n\u0103dejde, prin\u021bul \u00eei f\u0103cu pe voie \u0219i d\u0103du p\u0103s\u0103rica pe m\u00e2na buc\u0103tarului. \u00cen vreme ce acesta o jumulea, o pan\u0103 fu luat\u0103 de v\u00e2nt \u0219i dus\u0103 \u0219i dus\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 la coliba p\u0103durarului de la marginea p\u0103durii. V\u0103z\u00e2nd pe pervazul fer\u0103struicii sale pana care str\u0103lucea ca stropit\u0103 cu aur, p\u0103durarului nu-i veni s-o arunce. O lu\u0103 \u0219i o puse bine pe m\u0103su\u021ba scund\u0103 din od\u0103i\u021b\u0103 numai dup\u0103 aceea plec\u0103 la lucru.
\nC\u00e2nd se \u00eentoarse seara acas\u0103, trudit ca vai de el, ce-i v\u0103zur\u0103 ochii? C\u0103su\u021ba \u00eei str\u0103lucea de cur\u0103\u021benie, \u00een vatra pe care-o l\u0103sase rece se alergau vesele fl\u0103c\u0103rile, \u00een timp ce pe plit\u0103 ulcele cu bucate sf\u00e2r\u00e2iau de-\u021bi era mai mare dragul.
\n– M\u0103i, m\u0103i, cine s\u0103 fi f\u0103cut toate astea? se \u00eentreb\u0103 nedumerit omul, dar oric\u00e2t \u00ee\u0219i c\u0103zni mintea, oric\u00e2t scormoni prin c\u0103su\u021b\u0103, nu g\u0103si nimic care s\u0103-l ajute s\u0103 \u00een\u021beleag\u0103 ceva.
\nZilele urm\u0103toare se \u00eent\u00e2mpl\u0103 la fel. Atunci, ce-i trecu prin cap mo\u0219neagului? Se pref\u0103cu c\u0103 pleac\u0103 \u00een p\u0103dure, ca de obicei, dar se piti afar\u0103, \u00een dreptul u\u0219ii \u0219i cum auzi mi\u0219care \u00een c\u0103su\u021b\u0103, buzna \u0219i el \u00een\u0103untru. Se trezi fa\u021b\u0103 \u00een fa\u021b\u0103 cu o fat\u0103 frumoas\u0103, frumoas\u0103, care tocmai se preg\u0103tea s\u0103-i deretice prin cas\u0103.
\n– Nu m\u0103 alunga, drag\u0103 b\u0103tr\u00e2ne, gr\u0103i fata. Sunt pribeag\u0103, o str\u0103in\u0103, f\u0103r\u0103 ad\u0103post. Las\u0103-m\u0103 \u00een casa ta \u0219i eu, \u00een schimb, am s\u0103 te \u00eengrijesc cum m-oi pricepe mai bine!
\nP\u0103durarul, fire\u0219te, se \u00eenvoi: cine se \u00eempotrive\u0219te c\u00e2nd e vorba s\u0103-\u0219i schimbe traiul r\u0103u pentru unul mai bun?!
\n…Timpul se scurgea tihnit \u00een c\u0103su\u021ba de la marginea p\u0103durii, p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00eentr-o zi c\u00e2nd printul, s\u0103tul s\u0103 tot stea ferecat \u00een serai a\u0219tept\u00e2nd fericirea pierdut\u0103, ie\u0219i s\u0103 se plimbe. Se l\u0103sa \u00eenserarea; prin fer\u0103struica c\u0103su\u021bei p\u0103durarului, opai\u021bul lumina bl\u00e2nd, ca o chemare. Prin\u021bul se \u00eendrept\u0103 agale \u00eentr-acolo.
\nAbia p\u0103\u0219i pragul \u0219i r\u0103mase ca tr\u0103snit; \u00eenaintea sa st\u0103tea \u00eens\u0103\u0219i z\u00e2na din portocal\u0103, frumoas\u0103 aidoma visului s\u0103u, cea pentru care r\u0103t\u0103cise prin lume \u0219i pe care o pierduse at\u00e2t de repede!
\nO vreme \u00eei pieri glasul, at\u00e2t de tulburat era. Apoi, venindu-\u0219i \u00een fire, o prinse de m\u00e2n\u0103 cu aceea\u0219i dragoste n\u0103valnic\u0103 de alt\u0103dat\u0103 \u0219i o rug\u0103 s\u0103-i dezv\u0103luie ce sau cine i-a desp\u0103r\u021bit at\u00e2ta vreme.
\nC\u00e2nd afl\u0103 din gura ei cum s-au petrecut lucrurile, prin\u021bul alerg\u0103 mai \u00eent\u00e2i de-o izgoni \u00eenapoi \u00een \u021bara ei pe ur\u00e2ta care se furi\u0219ase t\u00e2lh\u0103re\u0219te \u00een seraiul s\u0103u apoi se \u00eentoarse \u00een c\u0103su\u021ba p\u0103durarului \u0219i \u00ee\u0219i lu\u0103 adev\u0103rata mireas\u0103. \u0218i z\u00e2na din portocal\u0103 avu parte de o via\u021b\u0103 lung\u0103 \u0219i fericit\u0103, al\u0103turi de so\u021bul ei care o iubi credincios p\u00e2n\u0103 la moarte.
\n\u00cen amintirea zilelor tinere\u021bii, prin\u021bul, devenit padi\u0219ah, puse de se ridic\u0103 pe locul f\u00e2nt\u00e2nii urgisite de la hotarul \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u021biei, o alta, frumoas\u0103, toat\u0103 numai \u0219i numai din marmur\u0103 alb\u0103. Pe ghizdurile ei, un vestit cioplitor \u00een piatr\u0103 d\u0103ltui povestea pe care a\u021bi auzit-o, \u00eencheind-o cu o zical\u0103 din b\u0103tr\u00e2ni: “Omul, dac\u0103 iube\u0219te trandafirul, trebuie s\u0103-i iubeasc\u0103 \u0219i spinii, c\u0103ci din tufi\u0219ul plin de ghimpi cre\u0219te floarea care \u00eel \u00eenc\u00e2nt\u0103.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Povestea ce urmeaz\u0103 s-a petrecut de mult, de mult. Pe atunci sita cernea paie, cioara vindea c\u0103rbuni \u0219i m\u0103garul, sare. Vezi bine, c\u00e2te nu se puteau \u00eent\u00e2mpla atunci! De unde … <\/p>\n