Era odat\u0103 o capr\u0103 care avea trei iezi. Iedul cel mare \u015fi cu cel mijlociu dau prin b\u0103\u0163 de obraznici ce erau; iar\u0103 cel mic era harnic \u015fi cuminte. Vorba ceea: “Sunt cinci degete la o m\u00e2n\u0103 \u015fi nu seam\u0103n\u0103 toate unul cu altul”.
\u00centr-o zi, capra cheam\u0103 iezii de pe-afar\u0103 \u015fi le zice:
– Dragii mamei copila\u015fi! Eu m\u0103 duc \u00een p\u0103dure ca s\u0103 mai aduc ceva de-a m\u00e2nc\u0103rii. Dar voi \u00eencuie\u0163i u\u015fa dup\u0103 mine, asculta\u0163i unul de altul, \u015fi s\u0103 nu cumva s\u0103 deschide\u0163i p\u00e2n\u0103 ce nu-\u0163i auzi glasul meu. C\u00e2nd voi veni eu, am s\u0103 v\u0103 dau de \u015ftire, ca s\u0103 m\u0103 cunoa\u015fte\u0163i, \u015fi am s\u0103 v\u0103 spun a\u015fa:
Trei iezi cucuie\u0163i,
U\u015fa mamei descuie\u0163i!
C\u0103 mama v-aduce vou\u0103:
Frunze-n buze,
Lapte-n \u0163\u00e2\u0163e,
Drob de sare
\u00cen spinare,
M\u0103l\u0103ie\u015f
\u00cen c\u0103lc\u0103ie\u015f,
Smoc de flori
Pe subsuori.
Auzit-a\u0163i ce-am spus eu?
– Da, m\u0103muc\u0103, ziser\u0103 iezii.
– Pot s\u0103 am n\u0103dejde \u00een voi?
– S\u0103 n-ai nici o grij\u0103, m\u0103muc\u0103, apucar\u0103 cu gura \u00eenainte cei mai mari. Noi suntem odat\u0103 b\u0103ie\u0163i, \u015fi ce-am vorbit odat\u0103 vorbit r\u0103m\u00e2ne.
– Dac\u0103-i a\u015fa, apoi veni\u0163i s\u0103 v\u0103 s\u0103rute mama! Dumnezeu s\u0103 v\u0103 apere de cele rele, \u015fi mai r\u0103m\u00e2ne\u0163i cu bine!
– Mergi s\u0103n\u0103toas\u0103, m\u0103muc\u0103, zise cel mic, cu lacrimi \u00een ochi, \u015fi Dumnezeu s\u0103-\u0163i ajute ca s\u0103 te \u00eentoarne cu bine \u015fi s\u0103 ne-aduci dem\u00e2ncare.
Apoi capra iese \u015fi se duce \u00een treaba ei. Iar iezii \u00eenchid u\u015fa dup\u0103 d\u00e2nsa \u015fi trag z\u0103vorul. Dar vorba veche: “Pere\u0163ii au urechi \u015fi ferestrele ochi”. Un du\u015fman de lup – \u015f-apoi \u015fti\u0163i care? – chiar cum\u0103trul caprei, care de mult p\u00e2ndea vreme cu prilej ca s\u0103 pape iezii, tr\u0103gea cu urechea la peretele din dosul casei, c\u00e2nd vorbea capra cu d\u00e2n\u015fii.
“Bun! zise el \u00een g\u00e2ndul s\u0103u. Ia, acu mi-e timpul!… De i-ar \u00eempinge p\u0103catul s\u0103-mi deschid\u0103 u\u015fa, halal s\u0103-mi fie! \u015etiu c\u0103 i-a\u015f c\u00e2rnosi \u015fi i-a\u015f jumuli!” Cum zice, \u015fi vine la u\u015f\u0103: \u015fi cum vine, \u015fi \u00eencepe:
Trei iezi cucuie\u0163i,
Mamei u\u015fa descuie\u0163i!
C\u0103 mama v-aduce vou\u0103:
Frunze-n buze,
Lapte-n \u0163\u00e2\u0163e,
Drob de sare
\u00cen spinare,
M\u0103l\u0103ie\u015f
\u00cen c\u0103lc\u0103ie\u015f,
Smoc de flori
Pe subsuori.
– Hai! deschide\u0163i cu fuga, dragii mamei, cu fuga!
– Ia! b\u0103ie\u0163i, zise cel mai mare, s\u0103ri\u0163i \u015fi deschide\u0163i u\u015fa, c\u0103 vine mama cu dem\u00e2ncare.
– S\u0103r\u0103cu\u0163ul de mine! zise cel mic. S\u0103 nu cumva s\u0103 face\u0163i pozna s\u0103 deschide\u0163i, c\u0103-i vai de noi! Asta nu-i m\u0103muca. Eu o cunosc de pe glas; glasul ei nu-i a\u015fa de gros \u015fi r\u0103gu\u015fit, ci-i mai sub\u0163ire \u015fi mai frumos!
Lupul, auzind aceste, se duse la un fierar \u015fi puse s\u0103-i ascu\u0163e limba \u015fi din\u0163ii, pentru a-\u015fi sub\u0163ia glasul, \u015f-apoi, \u00eentorc\u00e2ndu-se, \u00eencepu iar:
Trei iezi cucuie\u0163i,
Mamei u\u015fa descuie\u0163i!…
– Ei, vede\u0163i, zise iar\u0103\u015fi cel mare; dac\u0103 m\u0103 potrivesc eu vou\u0103? Nu-i m\u0103muca, nu-i m\u0103muca! D-apoi cine-i dac\u0103 nu-i ea?! C\u0103 doar \u015fi eu am urechi! M\u0103 duc s\u0103-i deschid.
– B\u0103dic\u0103! b\u0103dic\u0103! zise iar\u0103\u015fi cel mic. Asculta\u0163i-m\u0103 \u015fi pe mine! Poate mai de-apoi a veni cineva \u015f-a zice:
Deschide\u0163i u\u015fa,
C\u0103 vine m\u0103tu\u015fa!
\u015f-atunci voi trebuie numaidec\u00e2t s\u0103 deschide\u0163i?
– D-apoi nu \u015fti\u0163i c\u0103 m\u0103tu\u015fa-i moart\u0103 de c\u00e2nd lupii albi \u015fi s-a f\u0103cut oale \u015fi ulcioare, s\u0103rmana?
– Apoi, d\u0103! nu spun eu bine? zise cel mare. Ia, de-atunci e r\u0103u \u00een lume, de c\u00e2nd a ajuns coada s\u0103 fie cap… Dac\u0103 te-i potrivi tu acestora, \u00eei \u0163inea mult \u015fi bine pe m\u0103muca afar\u0103. Eu, unul, m\u0103 duc s\u0103 deschid.
Atunci mezinul se v\u00e2r\u0103 iute \u00een horn \u015fi, sprijinit cu picioarele de prichici \u015fi cu nasul de funingine, tace ca pe\u015ftele \u015fi tremur\u0103 ca varga de fric\u0103. Dar frica-i din rai, s\u0103rmana! Asemene cel mijlociu, tu\u015fti! iute sub un chersin: se-nghemuie\u015fte amlo cum poate, tace ca p\u0103m\u00e2ntul \u015fi-i tremur\u0103 carnea pe d\u00e2nsul de fric\u0103: Fuga-i ru\u015finoas\u0103, da-i s\u0103n\u0103toas\u0103!… \u00cens\u0103 cel mare se d\u0103 dup\u0103 u\u015f\u0103 \u015fi – s\u0103 trag\u0103, s\u0103 nu trag\u0103? – \u00een sf\u00e2r\u015fit, trage z\u0103vorul… C\u00e2nd iaca!… ce s\u0103 vad\u0103? \u015e-apoi mai are c\u00e2nd vedea?… c\u0103ci lupului \u00eei sc\u0103p\u0103rau ochii \u015fi-i sf\u00e2r\u00e2ia g\u00e2tlejul de fl\u0103m\u00e2nd ce era. \u015ei, nici una, nici dou\u0103, ha\u0163! pe ied de g\u00e2t, \u00eei r\u0103teaz\u0103 capul pe loc \u015fi-l m\u0103n\u00e2nc\u0103 a\u015fa de iute \u015fi cu a\u015fa poft\u0103, de-\u0163i p\u0103rea c\u0103 nici pe-o m\u0103sea n-are ce pune. Apoi se linge frumu\u015fel pe bot \u015fi \u00eencepe a se \u00eenv\u00e2rti prin cas\u0103 cu neast\u00e2mp\u0103r, zic\u00e2nd:
– Nu \u015ftiu, p\u0103rerea m-a am\u0103git, ori am auzit mai multe glasuri? Dar ce Dumnezeu? Parc-au intrat \u00een p\u0103m\u00e2nt… Unde s\u0103 fie, unde s\u0103 fie? Se i\u0163e\u015fte el pe colo, se i\u0163e\u015fte pe dinmlo, dar pace bun\u0103! iezii nu-s nic\u0103ieri!
– M\u0103!… c\u0103 mare minune-i \u015fi astal.. dar nici acas\u0103 n-am de coas\u0103… ia s\u0103 mai odihnesc oleac\u0103 aste b\u0103tr\u00e2ne\u0163e!
Apoi se \u00eendoaie de \u015fele cam cu greu, \u015fi se pune pe chersin. \u015ei c\u00e2nd s-a pus pe chersin, nu \u015ftiu cum s-a f\u0103cut, ori c\u0103 chersinul a cr\u0103pat, ori cum\u0103trul a str\u0103nutat… Atunci iedul de sub chersin, s\u0103 nu tac\u0103? – \u00eel p\u0103\u015ftea p\u0103catul \u015fi-l m\u00e2nca spinarea, s\u0103r\u0103cu\u0163ul!
– S\u0103-\u0163i fie de bine, n\u0103na\u015fule!
– A!… ghidi! ghidi! ghidu\u015fi ce e\u015fti! Aici mi-ai fost? Ia vin\u0103-ncoace la n\u0103n\u0103\u015felul, s\u0103 te pupe el!
Apoi ridic\u0103 chersinul bini\u015for, \u00een\u015ffac\u0103 iedul de urechi \u015fi-l fioc\u0103ie\u015fte \u015fi-l jumule\u015fte \u015fi pe acela de-i merg petecele!… Vorba ceea: “C\u0103 toat\u0103 pas\u0103rea pe limba ei piere”.
Pe urm\u0103 se mai \u00eenv\u00e2rte c\u00e2t se mai \u00eenv\u00e2rte prin cas\u0103, doar a mai g\u0103si ceva, dar nu g\u0103se\u015fte nimic, c\u0103ci iedul cel cuminte t\u0103cea molcum \u00een horn, cum tace pe\u015ftele \u00een bor\u015f la foc. Dac\u0103 vede lupul \u015fi vede c\u0103 nu mai g\u0103se\u015fte nimic, \u00ee\u015fi pune \u00een g\u00e2nd una: a\u015faz\u0103 cele dou\u0103 capete cu din\u0163ii r\u00e2nji\u0163i \u00een fere\u015fti, de \u0163i se p\u0103rea c\u0103 r\u00e2deau; pe urm\u0103 unge to\u0163i pere\u0163ii cu s\u00e2nge, ca s\u0103 fac\u0103 \u015fi mai mult \u00een ciuda caprei, \u015f-apoi iese \u015fi-\u015fi caut\u0103 de drum. Cum a ie\u015fit du\u015fmanul din cas\u0103, iedul cel mic se d\u0103 iute jos din horn \u015fi \u00eencuie u\u015fa bine. Apoi \u00eencepe a se sc\u0103rm\u0103na de cap \u015fi a pl\u00e2nge cu amar dup\u0103 fr\u0103\u0163iorii s\u0103i.
– Dr\u0103gu\u0163ii mei fr\u0103\u0163iori! De nu s-ar fi \u00eenduplecat, lupul nu i-ar fi m\u00e2ncat! \u015ei biata mam\u0103 nu \u015ftie de ast\u0103 mare urgie ce-a venit pe capul ei! \u015ei boce\u015fte el \u015fi boce\u015fte p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00eel apuc\u0103 le\u015fin! Dar ce era s\u0103 le fac\u0103? Vina nu era a lui, \u015fi ce-au c\u0103utat pe nas le-a dat.
C\u00e2nd jelea el a\u015fa, iaca \u015fi capra venea c\u00e2t putea, \u00eenc\u0103rcat\u0103 cu de-a m\u00e2nc\u0103rii \u015fi g\u00e2fuind. \u015ei cum venea, c\u00e2t de colo vede cele dou\u0103 capete, cu din\u0163ii r\u00e2nji\u0163i, \u00een fere\u015fti.
– Dragii m\u0103mucu\u0163ei, dragi! Cum a\u015fteapt\u0103 ei cu bucurie \u015fi-mi r\u00e2d \u00eenainte c\u00e2nd m\u0103 v\u0103d!
B\u0103ie\u0163ii mamei, b\u0103ie\u0163i,
Frumu\u015fei \u015fi cucuie\u0163i!
Bucuria caprei nu era proast\u0103. Dar c\u00e2nd s-apropie bine, ce s\u0103 vad\u0103?
Un fior rece ca ghea\u0163a \u00eei trece prin vine, picioarele i se taie, un tremur o cuprinde \u00een tot trupul, \u015fi ochii i se p\u0103injinesc. \u015ei ce era nu era a bine!… Ea \u00eens\u0103 tot merge p\u00e2n’ la u\u015f\u0103, cum poate, crez\u00e2nd c\u0103 p\u0103rerea o \u00een\u015fal\u0103… \u015fi cum ajunge, \u015fi \u00eencepe:
Trei iezi cucuie\u0163i,
Mamei u\u015fa descuie\u0163i!
C\u0103 mama v-aduce vou\u0103:
Frunze-n buze,
Lapte-n \u0163\u00e2\u0163e,
Drob de sare
\u00cen spinare,
M\u0103l\u0103ie\u015f
\u00cen c\u0103lc\u0103ie\u015f,
Smoc de flori
Pe subsuori.
Atunci iedul mezin – care acum era \u015fi cel dint\u00e2i \u015fi cel de pe urm\u0103 – sare iute \u015fi-i deschide u\u015fa. Apoi s-arunc\u0103 \u00een bra\u0163ele m\u00e2ne-sa \u015fi cu lacrimi de s\u00e2nge \u00eencepe a-i spune:
– M\u0103muc\u0103, m\u0103muc\u0103, uite ce am p\u0103\u0163it noi. Mare foc \u015fi potop au c\u0103zut pe capul nostru!
Capra atunci, holb\u00e2nd ochii lung prin cas\u0103, o cuprinde spaima \u015fi r\u0103m\u00e2ne \u00eencremenit\u0103!… Dar mai pe urm\u0103, \u00eemb\u0103rb\u0103t\u00e2ndu-se, \u015fi-a mai venit pu\u0163in \u00een fire \u015f-a \u00eentrebat:
– Da’ ce-a fost aici, copile?
– Ce s\u0103 fie, m\u0103muc\u0103? Ia, cum te-ai dus d-ta de-acas\u0103, n-a trecut tocmai mult \u015fi iaca cineva s-aude b\u0103t\u00e2nd la u\u015f\u0103 \u015fi spun\u00e2nd:
Trei iezi cucuie\u0163i,
Mamei u\u015fa descuie\u0163i…
– \u015ei frate-meu cel mare, n\u0103t\u00e2ng \u015fi neast\u00e2mp\u0103rat cum \u00eel \u015ftii, fuga la u\u015f\u0103 s\u0103 deschid\u0103.
– \u015e-atunci?…
– Atunci, eu m-am v\u00e2r\u00e2t iute \u00een horn, \u015fi frate-meu cel mijlociu sub chersin, iar\u0103 cel mare, dup\u0103 cum \u00ee\u0163i spun, se d\u0103 cu nep\u0103sare dup\u0103 u\u015f\u0103 \u015fi trage z\u0103vorul!…
– \u015e-atunci?…
– Atunci, groz\u0103vie mare! N\u0103na\u015ful nostru \u015fi prietenul d-tale, cum\u0103trul lup, se \u015fi arat\u0103 \u00een prag!
– Cine? Cum\u0103trul meu? El? Care s-a jurat pe p\u0103rul s\u0103u c\u0103 nu mi-a speria copila\u015fii niciodat\u0103?
– Apoi d\u0103, mam\u0103! Cum vezi, i-a umplut de sp\u0103rie\u0163i!
– Ei las’ c\u0103 l-oi \u00eenv\u0103\u0163a eu! Dac\u0103 m\u0103 vede c\u0103-s o v\u0103duv\u0103 s\u0103rman\u0103, \u015fi c-o cas\u0103 de copii, apoi trebuie s\u0103-\u015fi bat\u0103 joc de casa mea? \u015fi pe voi s\u0103 v\u0103 puie la pastram\u0103? Nici o fapt\u0103 f\u0103r\u0103 plat\u0103… Tic\u0103losul \u015fi mangositul! \u00cenc\u0103 se r\u00e2njea la mine c\u00e2teodat\u0103 \u015fi-mi f\u0103cea cu m\u0103seaua… Apoi doar eu nu-s de-acelea de care crede el: n-am s\u0103rit peste garduri niciodat\u0103 de c\u00e2nd sunt. Ei, taci, cum\u0103tre, c\u0103 te-oi dobz\u0103la eu! Cu mine \u0163i-ai pus boii \u00een plug? Apoi, \u0163ine minte c\u0103 ai s\u0103-i sco\u0163i f\u0103r\u0103 coarne!
– Of, m\u0103muc\u0103, of! Mai bine taci \u015fi las\u0103-l \u00een plata lui Dumnezeu! C\u0103 \u015ftii c\u0103 este o vorb\u0103:”Nici pe dracul s\u0103-l vezi, da’ nici cruce s\u0103-\u0163i faci!”
– Ba nu, dragul mamei! “C\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 la Dumnezeu, sfin\u0163ii \u00ee\u0163i iau sufletul.” \u015e-apoi \u0163ine tu minte, copile, ce-\u0163i spun eu: c\u0103 de i-a mai da lui nasul s\u0103 mai miroase pe-aici, apoi las’!… Numai tu, s\u0103 nu cumva s\u0103 te r\u0103sufii cuiva, ca s\u0103 prind\u0103 el de veste.
\u015ei de-atunci c\u0103uta \u015fi ea vreme cu prilej ca s\u0103 fac\u0103 pe obraz cum\u0103trus\u0103u. Se pune ea pe g\u00e2nduri \u015fi st\u0103 \u00een cumpene, cum s\u0103 dreag\u0103 \u015fi ce s\u0103-i fac\u0103?
“Aha! ia, acu i-am g\u0103sit leacul, zise ea \u00een g\u00e2ndul s\u0103u. Taci! C\u0103 i-oi face eu cum\u0103trului una de \u015fi-a mu\u015fca labele!”
Aproape de casa ei era o groap\u0103 ad\u00e2nc\u0103; acolo-i n\u0103dejdea caprei.
– La cada cu dubala, cum\u0103tre lup, c\u0103 nu-i de chip!… Ia, de-acu s\u0103-ncepe fapta: Hai la treab\u0103, cum\u0103tri\u0163\u0103, c\u0103 lupul \u0163i-a dat de lucru! \u015ei a\u015fa zic\u00e2nd, pune poalele-n br\u00e2u, \u00ee\u015fi suflec\u0103 m\u00e2necile, a\u0163\u00e2\u0163\u0103 focul \u015fi s-apuc\u0103 de f\u0103cut bucate. Face ea sarmale, face plachie, face alivenci, face pasc\u0103 cu sm\u00e2nt\u00e2n\u0103 \u015fi cu ou\u0103 \u015fi fel de fel de bucate. Apoi umple groapa cu j\u0103ratic \u015fi cu lemne putreg\u0103ioase, ca s\u0103 ard\u0103 focul mocnit. Dup\u0103 asta a\u015faz\u0103 o leas\u0103 de nuiele numai \u00een\u0163inat\u0103 \u015fi ni\u015fte frunzari peste d\u00e2nsa; peste frunzari toarn\u0103 \u0163\u0103rna \u015fi peste \u0163\u0103rn\u0103 a\u015fterne o rogojin\u0103. Apoi face un sc\u0103uie\u015f de cear\u0103 anume pentru lup. Pe urm\u0103 las\u0103 bucatele la foc s\u0103 fiarb\u0103 \u015fi se duce prin p\u0103dure s\u0103 caute pe cum\u0103tru-s\u0103u \u015fi s\u0103-l pofteasc\u0103 la praznic. Merge ea c\u00e2t merge prin codru, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce d\u0103 de-o pr\u0103pastie grozav\u0103 \u015fi \u00eentunecoas\u0103 \u015fi pe-o tih\u0103raie d\u0103 cu crucea peste lup.
– Bun\u0103 vremea, cum\u0103tro! Da’ ce v\u00e2nt te-a ab\u0103tut pe-aici?
– Bun\u0103 s\u0103-\u0163i fie inima, cum\u0103tre, cum \u0163i-i c\u0103ut\u0103tura… apoi d\u0103, nu \u015ftii d-ta c\u0103 nevoia te duce pe unde nu \u0163i-i voia? Ia, nu \u015ftiu cine-a fost pe la mine acas\u0103 \u00een lipsa mea, c\u0103 \u015ftiu c\u0103 mi-a f\u0103cut-o bun\u0103!
– Ca ce fel, cum\u0103tri\u0163\u0103 drag\u0103?
– Ia, a g\u0103sit iezii singurei, i-a ucis \u015fi i-a cr\u00e2mpo\u0163it, de le-am pl\u00e2ns de mil\u0103! Numai v\u0103duv\u0103 s\u0103 nu mai fie cineva!
– Da’ nu mai spune, cum\u0103tr\u0103!
– Apoi de-acum, ori s\u0103 spun, ori s\u0103 nu mai spun, c\u0103 totuna mi-e. Ei, mititeii, s-au dus c\u0103tre Domnul, \u015fi datoria ne face s\u0103 le c\u0103ut\u0103m de suflet. De aceea am f\u0103cut \u015fi eu un praznic, dup\u0103 puterea mea, \u015fi am g\u0103sit de cuviin\u0163\u0103 s\u0103 te poftesc \u015fi pe d-ta, cum\u0103tre; ca s\u0103 m\u0103 mai m\u00e2ng\u00e2i…
– Bucuros, drag\u0103 cum\u0103tr\u0103, dar mai bucuros eram c\u00e2nd m-ai fi chemat la nunt\u0103.
– Te cred, cum\u0103tre, d-apoi, d\u0103, nu-i cum vrem noi, ci-i cum vrea Cel-de-sus.
Apoi capra porne\u015fte \u00eenainte pl\u00e2ng\u00e2nd, \u015fi lupul dup\u0103 d\u00e2nsa, pref\u0103c\u00e2ndu-se c\u0103 pl\u00e2nge.
– Doamne, cum\u0103tre, Doamne! zise capra suspin\u00e2nd. De ce \u0163i-e mai drag \u00een lume tocmai de-aceea n-ai parte…
– Apoi d\u0103, cum\u0103tr\u0103, c\u00e2nd ar \u015fti omul ce-ar p\u0103\u0163i, dinainte s-ar p\u0103zi. Nu-\u0163i face \u015fi d-ta at\u00e2ta inim\u0103 rea, c\u0103 odat\u0103 avem s\u0103 mergem cu to\u0163ii acolo.
– A\u015fa este, cum\u0103tre, nu-i vorb\u0103. Dar s\u0103rmanii g\u00e2g\u00e2lici, de cruzi s-au mai dus!
– Apoi d\u0103, cum\u0103tr\u0103, se vede c\u0103 \u015fi lui Dumnezeu \u00eei plac tot pui\u015fori de cei mai tineri.
– Apoi, dac\u0103 i-ar fi luat Dumnezeu, ce \u0163i-ar fi? D-apoi a\u015fa?…
– Doamne, cum\u0103tr\u0103, Doamne! Oi face \u015fi eu ca prostul… Oare nu cumva nenea Martin a dat raita pe la d-ta pe-acas\u0103? C\u0103 mi-aduc aminte ca acu c\u0103 l-am \u00eent\u00e2lnit odat\u0103 prin zmeuri\u015f; \u015fi mi-a spus c\u0103 dac\u0103-ai vrea d-ta s\u0103-i dai un b\u0103iat, s\u0103-l \u00eenve\u0163e cojoc\u0103ria. \u015ei din vorb\u0103-n vorb\u0103, din una-n alta, ajung p\u00e2n-acas\u0103 la cum\u0103tra!
– Ia poftim, cum\u0103tre, zise ea lu\u00e2nd sc\u0103uie\u015ful \u015fi pun\u00e2ndu-l deasupra groapei cu pricina, \u015fezi cole \u015fi s\u0103 osp\u0103tezi oleac\u0103 din ceea ce ne-a dat Dumnezeu!
R\u0103stoarn\u0103 apoi sarmalele \u00een strachin\u0103 \u015fi i le pune dinainte. Atunci lupul nostru \u00eencepe a m\u00e2nca h\u00e2lpov; \u015fi gog\u00e2l\u0163, gog\u00e2l\u0163, gog\u00e2l\u0163, \u00eei mergeau sarmalele \u00eentregi pe g\u00e2t.
– Dumnezeu s\u0103 ierte pe cei r\u0103posa\u0163i, cum\u0103tr\u0103, c\u0103 bune sarmale ai mai f\u0103cut!
\u015ei cum osp\u0103ta el, buf! cade f\u0103r\u0103 sine \u00een groapa cu j\u0103ratic, c\u0103ci sc\u0103uie\u015ful de cear\u0103 s-a topit, \u015fi leasa de pe groap\u0103 nu era bine sprijinit\u0103: nici mai bine, nici mai r\u0103u, ca pentru cum\u0103tru.
– Ei, ei! Acum scoate, lupe, ce-ai m\u00e2ncat! Cu capra \u0163i-ai pus \u00een c\u00e2rd? Capra \u0163i-a venit de hac!
– Valeu, cum\u0103tr\u0103, talpele mele! M\u0103 rog, scoate-m\u0103, c\u0103-mi arde inima-n mine!
– Ba nu, cum\u0103tre; c-a\u015fa mi-a ars \u015fi mie inima dup\u0103 iezi\u015forii mei! Lui Dumnezeu \u00eei plac pui de cei mai tineri; mie \u00eens\u0103-mi plac \u015fi de i\u015fti mai b\u0103tr\u00e2ni, numai s\u0103 fie bine frip\u0163i; \u015ftii, cole, s\u0103 treac\u0103 focul printr-\u00een\u015fii.
– Cum\u0103tr\u0103, m\u0103 p\u00e2rlesc, ard de tot, mor, nu m\u0103 l\u0103sa!
– Arzi, cum\u0103tre, mori, c\u0103 nici viu nu e\u015fti bun! De-abia i-a mai trece b\u0103ie\u0163elului istuia de speriat, c\u0103 mult p\u0103r \u00eemi trebuia de la tine ca s\u0103-l afum! \u0162i-aduci aminte, dihanie r\u0103ut\u0103cioas\u0103 \u015fi spurcat\u0103, c\u00e2nd mi te-ai jurat pe p\u0103rul t\u0103u? \u015ei bine mi-ai m\u00e2ncat iezi\u015forii!
– M\u0103 ustur\u0103 inima-n mine, cum\u0103tr\u0103! m\u0103 rog, scoate-m\u0103 \u015fi nu-\u0163i mai face at\u00e2ta os\u00e2nd\u0103 cu mine!
– Moarte pentru moarte, cum\u0103tre, arsur\u0103 pentru arsur\u0103, c\u0103 bineo mai plesni\u015fi dinioare cu cuvinte din scriptur\u0103!
Dup\u0103 aceasta, capra \u015fi cu iedul au luat o c\u0103pi\u0163\u0103 de f\u00e2n \u015f-au aruncat-o peste d\u00e2nsul, \u00een groap\u0103, ca s\u0103 se mai potoleasc\u0103 focul. Apoi, la urma urmelor, n\u0103p\u0103dir\u0103 asupra lui \u015fi-i mai tr\u00e2ntir\u0103 \u00een cap cu bolovani \u015fi cu ce-au apucat, p\u00e2n\u0103-l omor\u00e2r\u0103 de tot. \u015ei a\u015fa s-a p\u0103gubit s\u0103rmana capr\u0103 \u015fi de cei doi iezi, da’ \u015fi de cum\u0103tru-s\u0103u lupul p\u0103guba\u015f\u0103 a r\u0103mas, \u015fi p\u0103guba\u015f\u0103 s\u0103 fie!
\u015ei auzind caprele din vecin\u0103tate de una ca aceasta, tare le-a mai p\u0103rut bine! \u015ei s-au adunat cu toatele la priveghi \u015fi unde nu s-au a\u015fternut pe m\u00e2ncare \u015fi pe b\u0103ute, veselindu-se \u00eempreun\u0103…
\u015ei eram \u015fi eu acolo de fa\u0163\u0103, \u015fi-ndat\u0103 dup\u0103 aceea am \u00eenc\u0103lecat iute pe-o \u015fa \u015f-am venit de v-am spus povestea a\u015fa, \u015f-am mai \u00eenc\u0103lecat pe-o roat\u0103 \u015fi v-am spus jitia toat\u0103; \u015fi unde n-am mai \u00eenc\u0103lecat \u015fi pe-o c\u0103p\u015fun\u0103 \u015fi v-am spus, oameni buni, o mare \u015fi gogonat\u0103 minciun\u0103!
<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Era odat\u0103 o capr\u0103 care avea trei iezi. Iedul cel mare \u015fi cu cel mijlociu dau prin b\u0103\u0163 de obraznici ce erau; iar\u0103 cel mic era harnic \u015fi cuminte. Vorba … <\/p>\n