A fost odat\u0103 ca niciodat\u0103. A fost odat\u0103 un mo\u015f care avea trei feciori: celui mai mic dintre ei, \u00eei spuneau to\u0163i Ivanu\u015fka-prost\u0103nacul.
\n\u015ei mo\u015ful acela a sem\u0103nat \u00eentr-un an ni\u015fte gr\u00e2u. Gr\u00e2ul a crescut tare frumos, numai c\u0103 se \u00eenn\u0103dise cineva care-l strivea \u015fi-l c\u0103lca \u00een picioare.
\nAtunci mo\u015ful le-a zis feciorilor:
\n– Dragii mei feciori! S\u0103 sta\u0163i de paz\u0103 cu r\u00e2ndul fiecare dintre voi, noapte de noapte, ca s\u0103 p\u0103zi\u0163i \u015fi s\u0103 mi-l prinde\u0163i pe ho\u0163!
\nVeni noaptea cea dint\u00e2i.
\nCel mai mare dintre feciori se duse s\u0103 p\u0103zeasc\u0103 gr\u00e2ul, dar i se f\u0103cu somn. \u015ei-atunci se furi\u015f\u0103 \u00een \u015fura cu f\u00e2n \u015fi dormi p\u00e2n\u0103 diminea\u0163a.
\nC\u00e2nd se \u00eentoarse acas\u0103, a doua zi \u00een zori, zise:
\n– N-am \u00eenchis ochii toat\u0103 noaptea, am p\u0103zit gr\u00e2ul! Am \u00eenghe\u0163at bocn\u0103, dar n-am v\u0103zut niciun ho\u0163!
\n\u00cen cea de a doua noapte se duse feciorul cel mijlociu \u015fi dormi p\u00e2n\u0103 diminea\u0163a \u00een \u015fura cu f\u00e2n.
\n\u00cen cea de-a treia noapte veni r\u00e2ndul lui Ivanu\u015fka-prost\u0103nacul s\u0103 se duc\u0103 la p\u0103zit.
\nEl \u00ee\u015fi puse \u00een s\u00e2n o pl\u0103cint\u0103, lu\u0103 o funie \u015fi plec\u0103. \u00cendat\u0103 ce ajunse \u00een c\u00e2mp se a\u015fez\u0103 pe un pietroi. \u015eedea \u2014 nu dormea, din pl\u0103cint\u0103 molf\u0103ia \u015fi a\u015ftepta ho\u0163ul.
\nChiar la miezul nop\u0163ii se n\u0103pusti pe ogorul cu gr\u00e2u un cal; p\u0103rul calului \u2014 un fir de aur \u015fi altul de-argint. Calul alerga \u2014 p\u0103m\u00e2ntul cutremura, din urechi nouri de fum scotea, din n\u0103ri \u2014 p\u0103l\u0103laie de fl\u0103c\u0103ri \u0163\u00e2\u015fnea.
\n\u015ei calul acesta \u00eencepu s\u0103 m\u0103n\u00e2nce gr\u00e2ul. Drept e, c\u0103 mai mult \u00eel c\u0103lca \u00een picioare dec\u00eet \u00eel m\u00eenca.<\/p>\n
Ivanu\u015fka se apropie tiptil de cal \u015fi dintr-o mi\u015fcare dibace \u00eei arunc\u0103 funia pe dup\u0103 g\u00e2t.
\nSe smuci calul din toate puterile, dar degeaba!
\n\u00cen vremea asta Ivanu\u015fka i se s\u0103lt\u0103 u\u015furel \u00een spinare \u015fi se prinse zdrav\u0103n de coam\u0103.
\nCalul \u00eencepu s\u0103 alerge nebune\u015fte peste c\u00e2mpuri. Alerg\u0103 \u015fi tot alerg\u0103 dar nu izbuti s\u0103-l tr\u00e2nteasc\u0103 pe c\u0103l\u0103re\u0163!
\nAtunci \u00eencerc\u0103 s\u0103-l \u00eenduplece cu bini\u015forul pe Ivanu\u015fka:
\n– D\u0103-mi drumul, Ivanu\u015fka, las\u0103-m\u0103 slobod! C\u0103 eu, drept r\u0103splat\u0103, f\u0103g\u0103duiesc s\u0103-\u0163i fac un mare bine.
\n– Fie, zise Ivanu\u015fka, de dat, dau eu drumul, dar dup\u0103 aceea cum o s\u0103 te mai g\u0103sesc?
\n– P\u0103i, s\u0103 ie\u015fi \u00een c\u00e2mpia mare, liber\u0103 din zare-n zare, s\u0103 fluieri de trei ori voinice\u015fte \u015fi s\u0103 strigi deslu\u015fit, viteje\u015fte: \u201eCalule-n\u0103zdr\u0103vanule, roibule-viteazule, te-a\u015fterne \u00een fa\u0163\u0103-mi degrab\u0103, ca frunza c\u0103zut\u0103 \u00een iarb\u0103!” \u015fi eu voi fi acolo.
\nIvanu\u015fka \u00eei d\u0103du drumul calului, dup\u0103 ce, mai \u00eent\u00e2i, \u00eel puse s\u0103 f\u0103g\u0103duiasc\u0103 cum c\u0103 niciodat\u0103 nu va mai m\u00e2nca \u015fi nici nu va mai c\u0103lca \u00een picioare gr\u00e2ul.
\n\u00cen zorii zilei veni \u015fi Ivanu\u015fka acas\u0103.
\n– Ei, ce-ai v\u0103zut pe unde-ai fost? \u00eel \u00eentrebar\u0103 fra\u0163ii lui.
\n– P\u0103i, am prins un cal, le r\u0103spunse Ivanu\u015fka, p\u0103rul calului \u2014 un fir de aur \u015fi altul de-argint.
\n– \u0218i unde-i calul acela?
\n– P\u0103i, mi-a f\u0103g\u0103duit c\u0103 nu mai intr\u0103 \u00een gr\u00e2u, \u015fi-atunci i-am dat drumul.
\nFra\u0163ii nu-i d\u0103dur\u0103 crezare lui Ivanu\u015fka \u015fi r\u00e2ser\u0103 de el pe s\u0103turate. Numai c\u0103, chiar din noaptea aceea, nimeni nu se mai atinse de gr\u00e2ul lor…
\nNu mult dup\u0103 \u00eent\u00e2mplarea aceasta, \u0163arul trimise soli \u00een toate ora\u015fele, \u00een toate t\u00e2rgurile, \u00een toate satele s\u0103 fac\u0103 \u015ftiut\u0103 tuturor aceast\u0103 chemare:
\n– S\u0103 se-adune boierii \u015fi curtenii, negustorii \u015fi \u0163\u0103ranii de r\u00e2nd, ca s\u0103 se \u00eenf\u0103\u0163i\u015feze Preafrumoasei Elena, fiic\u0103 a \u0163arului! \u0162arevna Elena se va afla \u00eentr-un turn \u00eenalt, \u00een dreptul ferestruicii acestuia. Cel ce va izbuti s\u0103 se salte c\u0103lare, pe calul s\u0103u, p\u00e2n\u0103 la odrasla \u0163arului \u015fi va lua inelul de aur din degetul acesteia, aceluia \u00eei va fi so\u0163ie!
\n\u015ei iat\u0103 c\u0103 \u00een ziua ar\u0103tat\u0103 \u00eencep \u015fi fra\u0163ii mai mari s\u0103 se preg\u0103teasc\u0103 de plecare la palatul \u0163arului \u2014 nu pentru a \u00eencerca s\u0103 se salte p\u00een\u0103 la fereastra turnului, ci doar s\u0103-i priveasc\u0103 pe ceilal\u0163i av\u00e2nt\u00eendu-se. Iar Ivanu\u015fka-prost\u0103nacul prinse s\u0103 se roage de ei:
\n– Scumpii mei fr\u0103tiori, rogu-v\u0103, da\u021bi-mi \u015fi mie un c\u0103lu\u0163 c\u00e2t de mic, s\u0103 merg \u015fi eu s-o v\u0103d pe Preafrumoasa \u0162arevn\u0103.
\n– Cum s\u0103 te duci tu, prost\u0103nacule? Vrei s\u0103 aib\u0103 lumea de cine r\u00e2de? Mai bine \u015fezi colea pe vatr\u0103 \u015fi joac\u0103-te \u00een cenu\u015f\u0103!
\nCei doi fra\u0163i plecar\u0103, iar Ivanu\u015fka le zise so\u0163iilor acestora:
\n– Da\u0163i-mi un panera\u015f, s\u0103 fac \u015fi eu m\u0103car o treab\u0103: s\u0103 m\u0103 duc \u00een p\u0103dure s\u0103 culeg ciuperci!
\nLu\u0103 panera\u015ful \u015fi se duse, chipurile, s\u0103 culeag\u0103 ciuperci.
\nIe\u015fi Ivanu\u015fka \u00een c\u00e2mpia mare, liber\u0103 din zare-n zare, \u015fi arunc\u00e2nd panera\u015ful sub o tuf\u0103, fluier\u0103 de trei ori voinice\u015fte, \u015fi strig\u0103 deslu\u015fit, viteje\u015fte:
\n– Calule-n\u0103zdr\u0103vanule, roibule-viteazule, te-a\u015fterne \u00een fa\u0163\u0103-mi degrab\u0103, ca frunza c\u0103zut\u0103 \u00een iarb\u0103!
\nCalul alerga, p\u0103m\u00e2ntul cutremura, din urechi nouri de fum scotea, din n\u0103ri \u2014 p\u0103l\u0103laie de fl\u0103c\u0103ri \u021b\u00e2\u015fnea.<\/p>\n
Veni \u00eentr-o goan\u0103 \u015fi r\u0103mase \u00eencremenit \u00een fa\u0163a feciorului:
\n– Care \u0163i-e porunca, Ivanu\u015fka?
\n– Vreau s\u0103 merg s-o v\u0103d pe fiica \u0163arului, pe Preafrumoasa Elena! a r\u0103spuns Ivanu\u015fka.
\n– Prea bine, strecoar\u0103-te \u00een urechea mea dreapt\u0103 \u015fi ie\u015fi prin cea st\u00e2ng\u0103!
\nS-a strecurat Ivanu\u015fka \u00een urechea dreapt\u0103, a ie\u015fit prin urechea st\u00e2ng\u0103 a calului \u015fi s-a pref\u0103cut \u00eentr-un voinic falnic \u015fi chipe\u015f, cum n-ai putea nici cu g\u00e2ndul s\u0103 g\u00e2nde\u015fti, nici \u00een vis s\u0103-nchipuie\u015fti, nici \u00een pove\u015fti s\u0103-l g\u0103se\u015fti, nici cu pana s\u0103-l zugr\u0103ve\u015fti!
\nA \u00eenc\u0103lecat Calul-n\u0103zdr\u0103van \u015fi a pornit la galop drept spre ora\u015f.
\n\u200b Pe drum \u00ee\u015fi ajunse din urm\u0103 fra\u0163ii, trecu \u00een goan\u0103 pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 ei \u015fi le-o lu\u0103 \u00eenainte, acoperindu-i cu nori de praf.
\n\u0162in\u00e2nd-o tot \u00eentr-un galop, Ivanu\u015fka ajunse \u00een pia\u0163a ora\u015fului, chiar l\u00e2ng\u0103 palatul \u0163arului. \u015ei ce s\u0103 vad\u0103 \u2014 se adunase acolo lume, c\u00e2t\u0103 frunz\u0103 \u015fi iarb\u0103, iar \u00een turnul cel \u00eenalt, la fereastr\u0103, \u015fedea \u0162arevna \u2014 Preafrumoasa Elena. Inelul din degetul ei str\u0103lucea de-\u0163i lua ochii \u2014 era nepre\u0163uit. Iar \u0162arevna \u2014 frumoas\u0103 ca o z\u00e2n\u0103.
\nCu to\u0163ii o priveau, dar s\u0103 se salte p\u00e2n\u0103 la ea nu se-ncumeta niciunul: n-aveau chef s\u0103-\u015fi fr\u00e2ng\u0103 g\u00e2tul!
\n\u015ei-atunci Ivanu\u015fka \u00eemboldi cu c\u0103lc\u00e2ieie Calul-n\u0103zdr\u0103van..,
\nCalul forn\u0103i, nechez\u0103, se s\u0103lt\u0103 \u2014 \u015fi ajunse sus, doar trei b\u00e2rne mai erau p\u00e2n\u0103 la fereastra \u0162arevnei.
\nMare fu mirarea celor de fa\u0163\u0103, dar Ivanu\u015fka \u00eentoarse calul \u015fi se f\u0103cu nev\u0103zut.
\nOamenii strigau \u00eentr-un glas:
\n– Cine era? Cine era?
\n\u00cens\u0103 pe Ivanu\u015fka parc\u0103-l highi\u0163ise p\u0103m\u00e2ntul. V\u0103zuser\u0103 cu to\u0163ii de unde venise, dar n-a v\u0103zut nimeni \u00eencotro plecase.
\nAcuma, dup\u0103 ce gonise din r\u0103sputeri, Ivanu\u015fka ajunse \u00een c\u00e2mpia mare, cobor\u00ee de pe cal, i se strecur\u0103 \u00een urechea st\u00e2ng\u0103, ie\u015fi prin urechea dreapt\u0103 \u015fi se pref\u0103cu din nou \u00een Ivanu\u015fka-prost\u0103nacul.
\nI-a dat drumul Calului-n\u0103zdr\u0103van, a cules din p\u0103dure un panera\u015f plin cu ciuperci otr\u0103vitoare \u015fi le-a dus acas\u0103.
\n\u2014 Ia uita\u0163i-v\u0103 ce ciuperci bune am adus!
\nSo\u0163iile fra\u0163ilor l-au luat la rost pe Ivan:
\n\u2014 Astea-s ciuperci bune, prost\u0103nacule? S\u0103 le m\u0103n\u00e2nci tu singur!
\nIvanu\u015fka a z\u00e2mbit, s-a suit pe vatr\u0103 \u015fi s-a a\u015fezat acolo.
\n\u00cendat\u0103 ce s-au \u00eentors acas\u0103, fra\u0163ii au pornit s\u0103 le povesteasc\u0103 so\u0163iilor ce v\u0103zuser\u0103 \u00een ora\u015f:
\n– Dac-a\u0163i fi fost acolo, dragele noastre s\u0103 fi v\u0103zut ce m\u00e2ndre\u0163e de voinic i s-a \u00eenf\u0103\u0163i\u015fat \u0163arului! De c\u00e2nd suntem pe lume n-am auzit de unul ca el. \u015ei c\u00e2nd s-a s\u0103ltat odat\u0103 cu calul, a ajuns sus, doar trei b\u00e2rne mai erau p\u00e2n\u0103 la fereastra \u0162arevnei.
\nIvanu\u015fka, cum st\u0103tea culcat pe vatr\u0103 \u015fi z\u00eembea, zise:
\n– Scumpii mei fr\u0103\u0163iori, oare nu eram eu voinicul acela?
\n– Cum era s\u0103 fii tu, prost\u0103nacule! \u015eezi acolo, pe vatr\u0103 \u015fi prinde mu\u015fte!
\nA doua zi fra\u0163ii mai mari au plecat din nou la ora\u015f, iar Ivanu\u015fka a luat panera\u015ful \u015fi s-a dus dup\u0103 ciuperci.
\nIe\u015fi \u00een c\u00e2mpia mare, liber\u0103 din zare-n zare, \u015fi arunc\u00e2nd panera\u015ful, fluier\u0103 de trei ori voinice\u015fte \u015fi strig\u0103 deslu\u015fit, viteje\u015fte:
\n– Calule-n\u0103zdr\u0103vanule, roibule-viteazule, te-a\u015fterne \u00een fa\u0163\u0103-mi degrab\u0103, ca frunza c\u0103zut\u0103 \u00een iarb\u0103!
\nCalul alerga, p\u0103m\u00e2ntul cutremura, din urechi nouri de fum scotea, din n\u0103ri \u2014 p\u0103l\u0103laie de fl\u0103c\u0103ri \u021b\u00e2\u015fnea.
\nVeni \u00eentr-o goan\u0103 \u015fi r\u0103mase \u00eencremenit \u00een fa\u0163a lui Ivanu\u015fka.
\nIvanu\u015fka se strecur\u0103 \u00een urechea dreapt\u0103, ie\u015fi prin urechea st\u00e2ng\u0103 a Calului-n\u0103zdr\u0103van \u015fi se pref\u0103cu \u00een Voinicul-voinicilor. \u00cenc\u0103lec\u0103 \u015fi goni la palat.
\n\u00cen pia\u0163\u0103 \u2014 ce s\u0103 vad\u0103? se adunase \u015fi mai mult\u0103 lume dec\u00e2t prima dat\u0103. Cu to\u0163ii se minunau \u015fi se desf\u0103tau privind-o pe Tarevna, dar s\u0103 se salte p\u00e2n\u0103 la ea nu-i trecea nici unuia prin minte, c\u0103 doar cine ar fi avut chef s\u0103-\u015fi fr\u00e2ng\u0103 g\u00e2tul?!
\n\u015ei-atunci Ivanu\u015fka \u00ee\u015fi \u00eemboldi calul cu c\u0103lc\u00e2iele. Calul-n\u0103zdr\u0103van nechez\u0103 \u015fi ajunse sus, doar dou\u0103 b\u00e2rne mai erau p\u00e2n\u0103 la fereastra \u0162arevnei.
\nIvanu\u015fka \u00ee\u015fi \u00eentoarse Calul-n\u0103zdr\u0103van \u015fi pe dat\u0103 disp\u0103ru. V\u0103zuser\u0103 cu to\u0163ii de unde venise, dar n-a v\u0103zut nimeni \u00eencotro plecase. Iar Ivanu\u015fka se \u015fi afla \u00een c\u00e2mpia mare.
\nI-a dat drumul Calului-n\u0103zdr\u0103van, iar el s-a dus acas\u0103. S-a suit pe vatr\u0103, s-a a\u015fezat acolo \u015fi a \u00eenceput s\u0103-\u015fi a\u015ftepte fra\u0163ii.
\nC\u00e2nd s-au \u00eentors acas\u0103 fra\u0163ii au povestit:
\n– Dragele noastre, iar a venit m\u00e2ndre\u0163ea aceea de voinic! Doar dou\u0103 b\u00e2rne mai avea p\u00e2n\u0103 la fereastra \u0162arevnei!
\nIar Ivanu\u015fka iar zice c\u0103tre ei:
\n– Scumpii mei fr\u0103\u0163iori, oare nu eram eu voinicul acela?
\n– Stai cuminte, prost\u0103nacule, \u015fi nu te b\u0103ga \u00een vorb\u0103!
\nA treia zi fra\u0163ii se preg\u0103teau s\u0103 plece iar, c\u00e2nd Ivanu\u015fka le-a zis:
\n– Da\u0163i-mi m\u0103car un c\u0103lu\u0163 mai prost: s\u0103 merg \u015fi eu cu voi!
\n– Stai acas\u0103, prost\u0103nacule! Numai tu lipse\u015fti acolo!
\nZiser\u0103 asta \u015fi plecar\u0103.
\nIvanu\u015fka ie\u015fi in c\u00e2mpia mare, liber\u0103 din zare-n zare, fluier\u0103 de trei ori voinice\u015fte \u015fi strig\u0103 deslu\u015fit, viteje\u015fte:
\n– Calule-n\u0103zdr\u0103vanule, roibule-viteazule, te-a\u015fterne \u00een fa\u0163\u0103-mi degrab\u0103, ca frunza c\u0103zut\u0103 \u00een iarb\u0103!
\nCalul alerga, p\u0103m\u00e2ntul cutremura, din urechi nouri de fum scotea, din n\u0103ri \u2014 p\u0103l\u0103laie de fl\u0103c\u0103ri \u0163\u00e2\u015fnea. Veni \u00eentr-o goan\u0103 \u015fi r\u0103mase \u00eencremenit \u00een fa\u0163a lui Ivanu\u015fka. Ivanu\u015fka se strecur\u0103 \u00een urechea dreapt\u0103 \u015fi ie\u015fi prin urechea st\u00e2ng\u0103 a calului. Se pref\u0103cu \u00een Voinicul-voinicilor \u015fi goni la palatul \u0163arului.
\nSe n\u0103pusti \u00een galop p\u00e2n\u0103 l\u00e2ng\u0103 turnul cel \u00eenalt, d\u0103du bice calului… Calul-n\u0103zdr\u0103van nechez\u0103 mai tare dec\u00e2t \u00eenainte, izbi p\u0103m\u00e2ntul cu copitele, se s\u0103lt\u0103 \u2014 \u015fi ajunse la fereastr\u0103!
\nIvanu\u015fka s\u0103rut\u0103 buzele ro\u015fii ca s\u00e2ngele ale \u0162arevnei, \u00eei scoase din deget inelul de pre\u0163 \u015fi disp\u0103ru \u00een goana mare.
\nPe loc \u00eencepur\u0103 cu to\u0163ii s\u0103 strige, s\u0103 \u0163ipe \u015fi s\u0103 dea din m\u00e2ini:
\n– Prinde\u0163i-l! Pune\u0163i m\u00e2na pe el!
\nDar pe Ivanu\u015fka parc\u0103-l \u00eenghi\u0163ise p\u0103m\u00e2ntul. Doar c\u00e2t l-au z\u0103rit \u015fi dus a fost!
\nIar el i-a dat drumul calului \u015fi a venit acas\u0103. Avea o m\u00e2n\u0103 legat\u0103 cu o c\u00e2rp\u0103.
\n– Dar ce-ai p\u0103\u0163it, m\u0103 rog? l-au \u00eentrebat cumnatele lui.
\n– P\u0103i, c\u0103utam ciuperci \u015fi m-am \u00een\u0163epat \u00eentr-un ciot.
\n\u015ei se urc\u0103 pe vatr\u0103.
\nC\u00e2nd s-au \u00eentors fra\u0163ii, au \u00eenceput s\u0103 povesteasc\u0103 ce \u015fi cum a fost:
\n– Dragele noastre, de data asta voinicul acela, c\u00e2nd s-a s\u0103ltat odat\u0103, a ajuns p\u00e2n\u0103 la \u0162arevn\u0103, a s\u0103rutat-o pe buze \u015fi i-a scos inelul din deget!
\nIvanu\u015fka, ghemuit pe dup\u0103 horn cum era, o \u0163inea una \u015fi bun\u0103:
\n\u2014 Scumpii mei fr\u0103\u0163iori, oare nu eram eu voinicul acela?
\n\u2014 Stai cuminte, prost\u0103nacule, nu mai tr\u0103nc\u0103ni degeaba!
\nChiar atunci lui Ivanu\u015fka \u00eei trecu prin minte s\u0103 se mai uite o dat\u0103 la inelul cel scump al \u0162arevnei.
\nAbia apuc\u0103 s\u0103-\u015fi scoat\u0103 c\u00e2rpa, c\u0103 toat\u0103 izba fu n\u0103p\u0103dit\u0103 de lumin\u0103!
\n– Ast\u00e2mp\u0103r\u0103-te, prost\u0103nacule, nu te mai juca cu focul! au strigat fra\u0163ii lui. Ce, vrei s\u0103 dai foc izbei?! Cred c\u0103 e timpul s\u0103 te-alung\u0103m de acas\u0103!
\nIvanu\u015fka n-a zis nimic, doar \u015fi-a \u00eenf\u0103\u015furat m\u00e2na cu inelul din nou \u00een c\u00e2rp\u0103.
\nPeste trei zile \u0163arul trimise o nou\u0103 chemare cum c\u0103 trebuie s\u0103 se adune, de la mic la mare, tot poporul \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei la palat, la un osp\u0103\u0163 \u015fi c\u0103 nimeni s\u0103 nu cuteze a r\u0103m\u00e2ne acas\u0103. Cine va nesocoti osp\u0103\u0163ul \u0163arului \u2014 o s\u0103 i se reteze capul! N-au mai avut \u00eencotro cei doi fra\u0163i, au trebuit s\u0103-l ia la osp\u0103\u0163 \u015fi pe Ivanu\u015fka-prost\u0103nacul.
\nVenir\u0103, se a\u015fezar\u0103 la mesele din lemn de stejar acoperite cu fe\u0163e \u00eenflorate, st\u0103tur\u0103 s\u0103 m\u0103n\u00e2nce \u2014 s\u0103 bea \u015fi s\u0103 vorbeasc\u0103 de una, de alta.
\nIar Ivanu\u015fka s-a furi\u015fat pe cuptor \u015fi st\u0103tea acolo \u00eentr-un col\u0163i\u015for.
\nPreafrumoasa Elena trecea pe r\u00e2nd de la un musafir la altul \u015fi-i \u00eembia pe to\u0163i cu vin \u015fi mied, iar \u00een vremea asta \u00eel cerceta cu privirea pe fiecare \u2014 nu cumva are pe deget inelul ei cel scump?
\nNumai c\u0103 nu-\u015fi v\u0103zu inelul la nimeni.
\nTot trec\u00e2nd a\u015fa de la unul la altul ajunse \u015fi la ultimul oaspete \u2014 la Ivanu\u015fka. El \u015fedea ghemuit dup\u0103 sob\u0103, avea pe el o h\u0103inu\u0163\u0103 ponosit\u0103 \u015fi ni\u015fte opinci g\u0103urite, iar o m\u00e2n\u0103 \u015fi-o \u0163inea legat\u0103 cu o c\u00e2rp\u0103.
\nPrivindu-l, fra\u0163ii \u00ee\u015fi ziceau: \u201eIa te uit\u0103, \u0162arevna \u00eel cinste\u015fte cu vin pe Iva\u015fka al nostru!”
\nIar \u0162arevna, dup\u0103 ce \u00eei \u00eentinse lui Ivanu\u015fka paharul, \u00eel \u00eentreb\u0103:
\n– Spune-mi, voinicule, de ce \u0163i-e m\u00e2na legat\u0103?
\n– Am fost la p\u0103dure s\u0103 culeg ciuperci \u015fi m-am \u00een\u0163epat \u00eentr-un ciot.
\n– Ia desf\u0103 leg\u0103tura, s\u0103 v\u0103d \u015fi eu, ce ai?
\nIvanu\u015fka \u00ee\u015fi scoase c\u00e2rpa \u015fi pe degetul lui \u00eencepu s\u0103 str\u0103luceasc\u0103 \u015fi s\u0103 sc\u00e2nteieze inelul \u0162arevnei! \u0162arevna se bucur\u0103 nespus, \u00eel lu\u0103 de m\u00e2n\u0103 pe Ivanu\u015fka, \u00eel duse \u00een fa\u0163a tat\u0103lui s\u0103u \u015fi zise:
\n– Uite, tat\u0103, mi-am g\u0103sit mirele!
\nL-au \u00eemb\u0103iat, l-au piept\u0103nat, l-au \u00eembr\u0103cat pe Ivanu\u015fka, care de-acum \u00eenainte nu mai era Ivanu\u015fka-prost\u0103nacul ci Voinicul-voinicilor, a\u015fa c\u0103 nici nu-l mai puteai recunoa\u015fte!
\nDar cine mai st\u0103tea s\u0103 le l\u0103mureasc\u0103, s\u0103 le t\u0103lm\u0103ceasc\u0103 pe toate? Un lucru e \u015ftiut \u00eens\u0103, c\u0103 odat\u0103 cu osp\u0103\u0163ul plin de veselie, pornir\u0103 s\u0103 s\u0103rb\u0103toreasc\u0103 \u015fi nunta!
\nLa osp\u0103\u0163ul acela \u015fi eu am petrecut, vin \u015fi mied am tot b\u0103ut, pe must\u0103\u0163i mi se prelingea, dar \u00een gur\u0103 nu-mi nimerea.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A fost odat\u0103 ca niciodat\u0103. A fost odat\u0103 un mo\u015f care avea trei feciori: celui mai mic dintre ei, \u00eei spuneau to\u0163i Ivanu\u015fka-prost\u0103nacul. \u015ei mo\u015ful acela a sem\u0103nat \u00eentr-un an … <\/p>\n