A fost odat\u0103 ca niciodat\u0103; c\u0103 de n-ar fi, nu s-ar mai povesti; de c\u00e2nd f\u0103cea plop\u015forul pere \u015fi r\u0103chita mic\u015funele; de c\u00e2nd se b\u0103teau ur\u015fii \u00een coade; de c\u00e2nd se luau de g\u00e2t lupii cu mieii de se s\u0103rutau, \u00eenfr\u0103\u0163indu-se; de c\u00e2nd se potcovea puricele la un picior cu nou\u0103zeci \u015fi nou\u0103 de oca de fier \u015fi s-arunca \u00een slava cerului de ne aducea pove\u015fti;<\/p>\n
De c\u00e2nd se scria musca pe p\u0103rete,<\/p>\n
Mai mincinos cine nu crede.<\/p>\n
A fost odat\u0103 un \u00eemp\u0103rat mare \u015fi o \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teas\u0103, am\u00e2ndoi tineri \u015fi frumo\u015fi, \u015fi, voind s\u0103 aib\u0103 copii, a f\u0103cut de mai multe ori tot ce trebuia s\u0103 fac\u0103 pentru aceasta; a \u00eemblat pe la vraci \u015fi filosofi, ca s\u0103 caute la stele \u015fi s\u0103 le ghiceasc\u0103 dac\u0103 or s\u0103 fac\u0103 copii; dar \u00een zadar. \u00cen sf\u00e2r\u015fit, auzind \u00eemp\u0103ratul c\u0103 este la un sat, aproape, un unchia\u015f dibaci, a trimis s\u0103-l cheme; dar el r\u0103spunse trimi\u015filor c\u0103: cine are trebuin\u0163\u0103, s\u0103 vie la d\u00e2nsul. S-au sculat deci \u00eemp\u0103ratul \u015fi \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa \u015fi, lu\u00e2nd cu d\u00e2n\u015fii vro c\u00e2\u0163iva boieri mari, osta\u015fi \u015fi slujitori, s-au dus la unchia\u015f acas\u0103. Unchia\u015ful, cum i-a v\u0103zut de departe, a ie\u015fit s\u0103-i \u00eent\u00e2mpine \u015fi totodat\u0103 le-a zis:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Bine a\u0163i venit s\u0103n\u0103to\u015fi; dar ce \u00eembli, \u00eemp\u0103rate, s\u0103 afli? Dorin\u0163a ce ai o s\u0103-\u0163i aduc\u0103 \u00eentristare.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Eu nu am venit s\u0103 te \u00eentreb asta, zise \u00eemp\u0103ratul, ci, dac\u0103 ai ceva leacuri care s\u0103 ne fac\u0103 s\u0103 avem copii, s\u0103-mi dai.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Am, r\u0103spunse unchia\u015ful; dar numai un copil o s\u0103 face\u0163i. El o s\u0103 fie F\u0103t-Frumos \u015fi dr\u0103g\u0103stos, \u015fi parte n-o s\u0103 ave\u0163i de el. Lu\u00e2nd \u00eemp\u0103ratul \u015fi \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa leacurile, s-au \u00eentors veseli la palat \u015fi peste c\u00e2teva zile \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa s-a sim\u0163it \u00eens\u0103rcinat\u0103. Toat\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia \u015fi toat\u0103 curtea \u015fi to\u0163i slujitorii s-au veselit de aceast\u0103 \u00eent\u00e2mplare.<\/p>\n
Mai-nainte de a veni ceasul na\u015fterii, copilul se puse pe un pl\u00e2ns, de n-a putut nici un vraci s\u0103-l \u00eempace. Atunci \u00eemp\u0103ratul a \u00eenceput s\u0103-i f\u0103g\u0103duiasc\u0103 toate bunurile din lume, dar nici a\u015fa n-a fost cu putin\u0163\u0103 s\u0103-l fac\u0103 s\u0103 tac\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Taci, dragul tatei, zice \u00eemp\u0103ratul, c\u0103 \u0163i-oi da \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia cutare sau cutare; taci, fiule, c\u0103 \u0163i-oi da so\u0163ie pe cutare sau cutare fat\u0103 de \u00eemp\u0103rat, \u015fi alte multe d-alde astea; \u00een sf\u00e2r\u015fit, dac\u0103 v\u0103zu \u015fi v\u0103zu c\u0103 nu tace, \u00eei mai zise: taci, f\u0103tul meu, c\u0103 \u0163i-oi da Tinere\u0163e f\u0103r\u0103 b\u0103tr\u00e2ne\u0163e \u015fi via\u0163\u0103 f\u0103r\u0103 de moarte.<\/p>\n
Atunci, copilul t\u0103cu \u015fi se n\u0103scu; iar slujitorii deter\u0103 \u00een timpine \u015fi \u00een surle \u015fi \u00een toat\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia se \u0163inu veselie mare o s\u0103pt\u0103m\u00e2n\u0103 \u00eentreag\u0103.<\/p>\n
De ce cre\u015ftea copilul, d-aceea se f\u0103cea mai iste\u0163 \u015fi mai \u00eendr\u0103zne\u0163. \u00cel deter\u0103 pe la \u015fcoli \u015fi filosofi, \u015fi toate \u00eenv\u0103\u0163\u0103turile pe care al\u0163i copii le \u00eenv\u0103\u0163a \u00eentr-un an, el le \u00eenv\u0103\u0163a \u00eentr-o lun\u0103, astfel \u00eenc\u00e2t \u00eemp\u0103ratul murea \u015fi \u00eenvia de bucurie. Toat\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia se f\u0103lea c\u0103 o s\u0103 aib\u0103 un \u00eemp\u0103rat \u00een\u0163elept \u015fi procopsit ca Solomon \u00eemp\u0103rat. De la o vreme \u00eencoace \u00eens\u0103, nu \u015ftiu ce avea, c\u0103 era tot gale\u015f, trist \u015fi dus pe g\u00e2nduri. Iar c\u00e2nd fuse \u00eentr-o zi, tocmai c\u00e2nd copilul \u00eemplinea cincisprezece ani \u015fi \u00eemp\u0103ratul se afla la mas\u0103 cu to\u0163i boierii \u015fi slujba\u015fii \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei \u015fi se chefuiau, se scul\u0103 F\u0103t-Frumos \u015fi zise:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Tat\u0103, a venit vremea s\u0103-mi dai ceea ce mi-ai f\u0103g\u0103duit la na\u015ftere.<\/p>\n
Auzind aceasta, \u00eemp\u0103ratul s-a \u00eentristat foarte \u015fi i-a zis:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Dar bine, fiule, de unde pot eu s\u0103-\u0163i dau un astfel de lucru nemaiauzit? \u015ei dac\u0103 \u0163i-am f\u0103g\u0103duit atunci, a fost numai ca s\u0103 te \u00eempac.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Dac\u0103 tu, tat\u0103, nu po\u0163i s\u0103-mi dai, apoi sunt nevoit s\u0103 cutreier toat\u0103 lumea p\u00e2n\u0103 ce voi g\u0103si f\u0103g\u0103duin\u0163a pentru care m-am n\u0103scut.<\/p>\n
Atunci to\u0163i boierii \u015fi \u00eemp\u0103ratul deter\u0103 \u00een genunchi, cu rug\u0103ciune s\u0103 nu p\u0103r\u0103seasc\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia; fiindc\u0103, ziceau boierii:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Tat\u0103l t\u0103u de aci \u00eenainte e b\u0103tr\u00e2n, \u015fi o s\u0103 te ridic\u0103m pe tine \u00een scaun, \u015fi avem s\u0103-\u0163i aducem cea mai frumoas\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teas\u0103 de sub soare de so\u0163ie.<\/p>\n
Dar n-a fost putin\u0163\u0103 s\u0103-l \u00eentoarc\u0103 din hot\u0103r\u00e2rea sa, r\u0103m\u00e2n\u00e2nd statornic ca o piatr\u0103 \u00een vorbele lui; iar tat\u0103-s\u0103u, dac\u0103 v\u0103zu \u015fi v\u0103zu, \u00eei dete voie \u015fi puse la cale s\u0103-i g\u0103teasc\u0103 de drum merinde \u015fi tot ce-i trebuia.<\/p>\n
Apoi, F\u0103t-Frumos se duse \u00een grajdurile \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103te\u015fti unde erau cei mai frumo\u015fi arm\u0103sari din toat\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia, ca s\u0103-\u015fi aleag\u0103 unul; dar, cum punea m\u00e2na \u015fi apuca pe c\u00e2te unul de coad\u0103, \u00eel tr\u00e2ntea, \u015fi astfel to\u0163i caii c\u0103zur\u0103. \u00cen sf\u00e2r\u015fit, tocmai c\u00e2nd era s\u0103 ias\u0103, \u00ee\u015fi mai arunc\u0103 ochii o dat\u0103 prin grajd \u015fi, z\u0103rind \u00eentr-un col\u0163 un cal r\u0103pciugos \u015fi bubos \u015fi slab, se duse \u015fi la d\u00e2nsul; iar c\u00e2nd puse m\u00e2na pe coada lui, el \u00ee\u015fi \u00eentoarse capul \u015fi zise:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ce porunce\u015fti, st\u0103p\u00e2ne? Mul\u0163umesc lui Dumnezeu c\u0103 mi-a ajutat s\u0103 ajung ca s\u0103 mai puie m\u00e2na pe mine un voinic.<\/p>\n
\u015ei \u00een\u0163epenindu-\u015fi picioarele, r\u0103mase drept ca lum\u00e2narea. Atunci F\u0103t-Frumos \u00eei spuse ce avea de g\u00e2nd s\u0103 fac\u0103 \u015fi calul \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ca s\u0103 ajungi la dorin\u0163a ta, trebuie s\u0103 ceri de la tat\u0103-t\u0103u palo\u015ful, suli\u0163a, arcul, tolba cu s\u0103ge\u0163ile \u015fi hainele ce le purta el c\u00e2nd era fl\u0103c\u0103u; iar pe mine s\u0103 m\u0103 \u00eengrij\u0103\u015fti cu \u00eensu\u0163i m\u00e2na ta \u015fase s\u0103pt\u0103m\u00e2ni \u015fi orzul s\u0103 mi-l dai fiert \u00een lapte.<\/p>\n
Cer\u00e2nd \u00eemp\u0103ratului lucrurile ce-l pov\u0103\u0163uise calul, el a chemat pre v\u0103taful cur\u0163ii \u015fi i-a dat porunc\u0103 ca s\u0103-i deschiz\u0103 toate tronurile cu haine spre a-\u015fi alege fiul s\u0103u pe acelea care \u00eei va pl\u0103cea. F\u0103t-Frumos, dup\u0103 ce r\u0103scoli trei zile \u015fi trei nop\u0163i, g\u0103si \u00een sf\u00e2r\u015fit, \u00een fundul unui tron vechi, armele \u015fi hainele tat\u00e2ne-s\u0103u de c\u00e2nd era fl\u0103c\u0103u, dar foarte ruginite. Se apuc\u0103 \u00eensu\u015fi cu m\u00e2na lui s\u0103 le cure\u0163e de rugin\u0103 \u015fi, dup\u0103 \u015fase s\u0103pt\u0103m\u00e2ni, izbuti a face s\u0103 luceasc\u0103 armele ca oglinda. Totodat\u0103 \u00eengriji \u015fi de cal, precum \u00eei zisese el. Destul\u0103 munc\u0103 avu; dar fie, c\u0103 izbuti.<\/p>\n
C\u00e2nd auzi calul de la F\u0103t-Frumos c\u0103 hainele \u015fi armele sunt bine cur\u0103\u0163ate \u015fi preg\u0103tite, odat\u0103 se scutur\u0103 \u015fi el, \u015fi toate bubele \u015fi r\u0103pciuga c\u0103zur\u0103 de pe d\u00e2nsul \u015fi r\u0103mase \u00eentocmai cum \u00eel f\u0103tase m\u0103-sa, un cal gras, trupe\u015f \u015fi cu patru aripi; v\u0103z\u00e2ndu-l F\u0103t-Frumos astfel, \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u2013 De azi \u00een trei zile plec\u0103m.<\/p>\n
\u2013 S\u0103 tr\u0103ie\u015fti, st\u0103p\u00e2ne; sunt gata chiar azi, de porunce\u015fti, \u00eei r\u0103spunse calul.<\/p>\n
A treia zi de diminea\u0163\u0103, toat\u0103 curtea \u015fi toat\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia era plin\u0103 de jale. F\u0103t-Frumos, \u00eembr\u0103cat ca un viteaz, cu palo\u015ful \u00een m\u00e2n\u0103, c\u0103lare pe calul ce-\u015fi alesese, \u00ee\u015fi lu\u0103 ziua bun\u0103 de la \u00eemp\u0103ratul, de la \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa, de la to\u0163i boierii cei mari \u015fi cei mici, de la osta\u015fi \u015fi de la to\u0163i slujitorii cur\u0163ii, carii, cu lacr\u0103mile \u00een ochi, \u00eel rugau s\u0103 se lase de a face c\u0103l\u0103toria aceasta, ca nu care cumva s\u0103 mearg\u0103 la pieirea capului s\u0103u; dar el, d\u00e2nd pinteni calului, ie\u015fi pe poart\u0103 ca v\u00e2ntul, \u015fi dup\u0103 d\u00e2nsul car\u0103le cu merinde, cu bani \u015fi vreo dou\u0103 sute de osta\u015fi, pe care-i or\u00e2nduise \u00eemp\u0103ratul ca s\u0103-l \u00eenso\u0163easc\u0103.<\/p>\n
Dup\u0103 ce trecu afar\u0103 de \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia tat\u0103lui s\u0103u \u015fi ajunse \u00een pustietate, F\u0103t-Frumos \u00ee\u015fi \u00eemp\u0103r\u0163i toat\u0103 avu\u0163ia pe la osta\u015fi \u015fi, lu\u00e2ndu-\u015fi ziua bun\u0103, \u00eei trimise \u00eenapoi, oprindu-\u015fi pentru d\u00e2nsul merinde numai c\u00e2t a putut duce calul. \u015ei apuc\u00e2nd calea c\u0103tre r\u0103s\u0103rit, s-a dus, s-a dus, s-a dus, trei zile \u015fi trei nop\u0163i, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce ajunse la o c\u00e2mpie \u00eentins\u0103, unde era o mul\u0163ime de oase de oameni.<\/p>\n
St\u00e2nd s\u0103 se odihneasc\u0103, \u00eei zise calul:<\/p>\n
\u2013 S\u0103 \u015ftii, st\u0103p\u00e2ne, c\u0103 aici suntem pe mo\u015fia unei Gheonoaie, care e at\u00e2t de rea, \u00eenc\u00e2t nimeni nu calc\u0103 pe mo\u015fia ei, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 fie omor\u00e2t. A fost \u015fi ea femeie ca toate femeile, dar blestemul p\u0103rin\u0163ilor pe care nu-i asculta, ci \u00eei tot nec\u0103jea, a f\u0103cut-o s\u0103 fie Gheonoaie; \u00een clipa aceasta este cu copiii ei, dar m\u00e2ine, \u00een p\u0103durea ce o vezi, o s-o \u00eent\u00e2lnim venind s\u0103 te pr\u0103p\u0103deasc\u0103; e grozav\u0103 de mare; dar\u0103 s\u0103 nu te sperii, ci s\u0103 fii gata cu arcul ca s\u0103 o s\u0103getezi, iar palo\u015ful \u015fi suli\u0163a s\u0103 le \u0163ii la \u00eendem\u00e2n\u0103, ca s\u0103 te sluje\u015fti cu d\u00e2nsele c\u00e2nd va fi de trebuin\u0163\u0103.<\/p>\n
Se deter\u0103 spre odihn\u0103; dar p\u00e2ndea c\u00e2nd unul, c\u00e2nd altul.<\/p>\n
A doua zi, c\u00e2nd se rev\u0103rsa ziorile, ei se preg\u0103teau s\u0103 treac\u0103 p\u0103durea. F\u0103t-Frumos \u00een\u015fel\u0103 \u015fi \u00eenfr\u00e2n\u0103 calul, \u015fi chinga o str\u00e2nse mai mult dec\u00e2t alt\u0103 dat\u0103, \u015fi porni; c\u00e2nd, auzi o cioc\u0103nitur\u0103 groaznic\u0103. Atunci calul \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u2013 \u0162ine-te, st\u0103p\u00e2ne, gata, c\u0103 iat\u0103 se apropie Gheonoaia.<\/p>\n
\u015ei c\u00e2nd venea ea, nene, dobora copacii: a\u015fa de iute mergea; iar calul se urc\u0103 ca v\u00e2ntul p\u00e2n\u0103 cam deasupra ei \u015fi F\u0103t-Frumos \u00eei lu\u0103 un picior cu s\u0103geata \u015fi, c\u00e2nd era gata a o lovi cu a doua s\u0103geat\u0103, strig\u0103 ea:<\/p>\n
\u2013 St\u0103i, F\u0103t-Frumos, c\u0103 nu-\u0163i fac nimic!<\/p>\n
\u015ei v\u0103z\u00e2nd c\u0103 nu o crede, \u00eei dete \u00eenscris cu s\u00e2ngele s\u0103u.<\/p>\n
\u2013 S\u0103-\u0163i tr\u0103iasc\u0103 calul, F\u0103t-Frumos, \u00eei mai zise ea, ca un n\u0103zdr\u0103van ce este, c\u0103ci de nu era el, te m\u00e2ncam fript; acum \u00eens\u0103 m-ai m\u00e2ncat tu pe mine; s\u0103 \u015ftii c\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 azi nici un muritor n-a cutezat s\u0103 calce hotarele mele p\u00e2n\u0103 aicea; c\u00e2\u0163iva nebuni carii s-au \u00eencumes a o face d-abia au ajuns p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00een c\u00e2mpia unde ai v\u0103zut oasele cele multe.<\/p>\n
Se duser\u0103 acas\u0103 la d\u00e2nsa, unde Gheonoaia osp\u0103t\u0103 pe F\u0103t-Frumos \u015fi-l omeni ca pe un c\u0103l\u0103tor. Dar pe c\u00e2nd se aflau la mas\u0103 \u015fi se chefuiau, iar\u0103 Gheonoaia gemea de durere, deodat\u0103 el \u00eei scoase piciorul pe care \u00eel p\u0103stra \u00een traist\u0103, i-l puse la loc \u015fi \u00eendat\u0103 se vindec\u0103. Gheonoaia, de bucurie, \u0163inu mas\u0103 trei zile d-a r\u00e2ndul \u015fi rug\u0103 pe F\u0103t-Frumos s\u0103-\u015fi aleag\u0103 de so\u0163ie pe una din cele trei fete ce avea, frumoase ca ni\u015fte z\u00e2ne; el \u00eens\u0103 nu voi, ci \u00eei spuse curat ce c\u0103uta; atunci ea \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Cu calul care \u00eel ai \u015fi cu vitejia ta, crez c\u0103 ai s\u0103 izbute\u015fti.<\/p>\n
Dup\u0103 trei zile, se preg\u0103tir\u0103 de drum \u015fi porni. Merse F\u0103t-Frumos, merse \u015fi iar merse, cale lung\u0103 \u015fi mai lung\u0103; dar\u0103 c\u00e2nd fu de trecu peste hotarele Gheonoaiei, dete de o c\u00e2mpie frumoas\u0103, pe de o parte cu iarba \u00eenflorit\u0103, iar pe de alt\u0103 parte p\u00e2rlit\u0103. Atunci el \u00eentreb\u0103 pe cal:<\/p>\n
\u2013 De ce este iarba p\u00e2rlit\u0103?<\/p>\n
\u015ei calul \u00eei r\u0103spunse:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Aici suntem pe mo\u015fia unei Scorpii, sor\u0103 cu Gheonoaia; de rele ce sunt, nu pot s\u0103 tr\u0103iasc\u0103 la un loc; blestemul p\u0103rin\u0163ilor le-a ajuns, \u015fi d-aia s-au f\u0103cut lighioi, a\u015fa precum le vezi; vr\u0103jm\u0103\u015fia lor e groaznic\u0103, nevoie de cap, vor s\u0103-\u015fi r\u0103peasc\u0103 una de la alta p\u0103m\u00e2nt; c\u00e2nd Scorpia este nec\u0103jit\u0103 r\u0103u, vars\u0103 foc \u015fi smoal\u0103; se vede c\u0103 a avut vreo ceart\u0103 cu sor\u0103-sa \u015fi, viind s-o goneasc\u0103 de pe t\u0103r\u00e2mul ei, a p\u00e2rlit iarba pe unde a trecut; ea este mai rea dec\u00e2t sor\u0103-sa \u015fi are trei capete. S\u0103 ne odihnim pu\u0163in, st\u0103p\u00e2ne, \u015fi m\u00e2ine dis-de-diminea\u0163\u0103 s\u0103 fim gata.<\/p>\n
A doua zi se preg\u0103tir\u0103, ca \u015fi c\u00e2nd ajunsese la Gheonoaia, \u015fi pornir\u0103. C\u00e2nd, auzir\u0103 un urlet \u015fi o v\u00e2jietur\u0103, cum nu mai auziser\u0103 ei p\u00e2n\u0103 atunci!<\/p>\n
\u2013 Fii gata, st\u0103p\u00e2ne, c\u0103 iat\u0103 se apropie zgripsoroaica de Scorpie.<\/p>\n
Scorpia, cu o falc\u0103 \u00een cer \u015fi cu alta \u00een p\u0103m\u00e2nt \u015fi v\u0103rs\u00e2nd fl\u0103c\u0103ri, se apropia ca v\u00e2ntul de iute; iar\u0103 calul se urc\u0103 repede ca s\u0103geata p\u00e2n\u0103 cam deasupra \u015fi se l\u0103s\u0103 asupra ei cam pe deoparte. F\u0103t-Frumos o s\u0103get\u0103 \u015fi \u00eei zbur\u0103 un cap; c\u00e2nd era s\u0103-i mai ia un cap, Scorpia se rug\u0103 cu lacr\u0103mi ca s\u0103 o ierte, c\u0103 nu-i face nimic \u015fi, ca s\u0103-l \u00eencredin\u0163eze, \u00eei dete \u00eenscris cu s\u00e2ngele ei. Scorpia osp\u0103t\u0103 pe F\u0103t-Frumos \u015fi mai \u015fi dec\u00e2t Gheonoaia; iar\u0103 el \u00eei dete \u015fi d\u00e2nsei \u00eenapoi capul ce i-l luase cu s\u0103geata, carele se lipi \u00eendat\u0103 cum \u00eel puse la loc, \u015fi dup\u0103 trei zile plecar\u0103 mai departe.<\/p>\n
Trec\u00e2nd \u015fi peste hotarele Scorpiei, se duser\u0103, se duser\u0103 \u015fi iar\u0103 se mai duser\u0103, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce ajunser\u0103 la un c\u00e2mp numai de flori \u015fi unde era numai prim\u0103var\u0103; fiecare floare era cu deosebire de m\u00e2ndr\u0103 \u015fi cu un miros dulce, de te \u00eemb\u0103ta; tr\u0103gea un v\u00e2nti\u015for care abia adia. Aicea st\u0103tur\u0103 ei s\u0103 se odihneasc\u0103, iar\u0103 calul \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Trecur\u0103m cum trecur\u0103m p\u00e2n\u0103 aci, st\u0103p\u00e2ne; mai avem un hop: avem s\u0103 d\u0103m peste o primejdie mare; \u015fi dac\u0103 ne-o ajuta Dumnezeu s\u0103 sc\u0103p\u0103m \u015fi de d\u00e2nsa, apoi suntem voinici. Mai-nainte de aci este palatul unde locuie\u015fte Tinere\u0163e f\u0103r\u0103 b\u0103tr\u00e2ne\u0163e \u015fi via\u0163\u0103 f\u0103r\u0103 de moarte. Aceast\u0103 cas\u0103 este \u00eencongiurat\u0103 cu o p\u0103dure deas\u0103 \u015fi \u00eenalt\u0103, unde stau toate fiarele cele mai s\u0103lbatice din lume; ziua \u015fi noaptea p\u0103zesc cu neadormire \u015fi sunt multe foarte; cu d\u00e2nsele nu este chip de a te bate; \u015fi ca s\u0103 trecem prin p\u0103dure e peste poate; noi \u00eens\u0103 s\u0103 ne silim, dac-om putea, s\u0103 s\u0103rim pe dasupra.<\/p>\n
Dup\u0103 ce se odihnir\u0103 vreo dou\u0103 zile, se preg\u0103tir\u0103 iar\u0103\u015fi; atunci calul, \u0163in\u00e2ndu-\u015fi r\u0103suflarea, zise:<\/p>\n
\u2013 St\u0103p\u00e2ne, str\u00e2nge chinga c\u00e2t po\u0163i de mult, \u015fi \u00eenc\u0103lec\u00e2nd, s\u0103 te \u0163ii bine \u015fi \u00een sc\u0103ri, \u015fi de coama mea; picioarele s\u0103 le \u0163ii lipite pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 sup\u0163ioara mea, ca s\u0103 nu m\u0103 z\u0103ticne\u015fti \u00een zborul meu.<\/p>\n
Se urc\u0103, f\u0103cu prob\u0103, \u015fi \u00eentr-un minut fu aproape de p\u0103dure.<\/p>\n
\u2013 St\u0103p\u00e2ne, mai zise calul, acum e timpul c\u00e2nd se d\u0103 de m\u00e2ncare fiar\u0103lor p\u0103durei \u015fi sunt adunte toate \u00een curte; s\u0103 trecem.<\/p>\n
\u2013 S\u0103 trecem, r\u0103spunse F\u0103t-Frumos, \u015fi Dumnezeu s\u0103 se \u00eendure de noi.<\/p>\n
Se urcar\u0103 \u00een sus \u015fi v\u0103zur\u0103 palatul str\u0103lucind astfel, de la soare te puteai uita, dar la d\u00e2nsul ba. Trecur\u0103 pe deasupra p\u0103durii \u015fi, tocmai c\u00e2nd erau s\u0103 se lase \u00een jos la scara palatului, d-abia, d-abia atinse cu piciorul v\u00e2rful unui copaci \u015fi dodat\u0103 toat\u0103 p\u0103durea se puse \u00een mi\u015fcare; urlau dobitoacele, de \u0163i se f\u0103cea p\u0103rul m\u0103ciuc\u0103 pe cap. Se gr\u0103bir\u0103 de se l\u0103sar\u0103 \u00een jos; \u015fi de nu era doamna palatului afar\u0103, d\u00e2nd de m\u00e2ncare puilor ei (c\u0103ci a\u015fa numea ea lighionile din p\u0103dure), \u00eei pr\u0103p\u0103dea negre\u015fit.<\/p>\n
Mai mult de bucurie c\u0103 au venit, \u00eei sc\u0103p\u0103 ea; c\u0103ci nu mai v\u0103zuse p\u00e2n\u0103 atunci suflet de om pe la d\u00e2nsa. Opri pe dobitoace, le \u00eembl\u00e2nzi \u015fi le trimise la locul lor. St\u0103p\u00e2na era o z\u00e2n\u0103 nalt\u0103, sup\u0163iric\u0103 \u015fi dr\u0103g\u0103la\u015f\u0103 \u015fi frumoas\u0103, nevoie mare! Cum o v\u0103zu F\u0103t-Frumos, r\u0103mase \u00eencremenit. Dar\u0103 ea, uit\u00e2ndu-se cu mil\u0103 la d\u00e2nsul, \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Bine ai venit, F\u0103t-Frumos! Ce cau\u0163i pe aici?<\/p>\n
\u2013 C\u0103ut\u0103m, zise el, Tinere\u0163e f\u0103r\u0103 b\u0103tr\u00e2ne\u0163e \u015fi via\u0163\u0103 f\u0103r\u0103 de moarte.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Dac\u0103 c\u0103uta\u0163i ceea ce zise\u015fi, aci este.<\/p>\n
Atunci desc\u0103lic\u0103 \u015fi intr\u0103 \u00een palat. Acolo g\u0103si \u00eenc\u0103 dou\u0103 femei, una ca alta de tinere; erau surorile cele mai mari. El \u00eencepu s\u0103 mul\u0163umeasc\u0103 z\u00e2nei pentru c\u0103 l-a sc\u0103pat de primejdie; iar\u0103 ele, de bucurie, g\u0103tir\u0103 o cin\u0103 pl\u0103cut\u0103 \u015fi numai \u00een vase de aur. Calului \u00eei dete drumul s\u0103 pasc\u0103 pe unde va voi d\u00e2nsul; pe urm\u0103 \u00eei f\u0103cur\u0103 cunoscu\u0163i tuturor lighioanelor, de puteau \u00eembla \u00een tihn\u0103 prin p\u0103dure.<\/p>\n
Femeile \u00eel rugar\u0103 s\u0103 locuiasc\u0103 de aci \u00eenainte cu d\u00e2nsele, c\u0103ci ziceau c\u0103 li se ur\u00e2se, \u015fez\u00e2nd tot singurele; iar\u0103 el nu a\u015ftept\u0103 s\u0103-i mai zic\u0103 o dat\u0103, ci priimi cu toat\u0103 mul\u0163umirea, ca unul ce aceea \u015fi c\u0103uta.<\/p>\n
\u00cencet, \u00eencet, se deprinser\u0103 unii cu al\u0163ii, \u00ee\u015fi spuse istoria \u015fi ce p\u0103\u0163i p\u00e2n\u0103 s\u0103 ajung\u0103 la d\u00e2nsele, \u015fi nu dup\u0103 mult\u0103 vreme se \u015fi \u00eenso\u0163i cu fata cea mai mic\u0103. La \u00eenso\u0163irea lor, st\u0103p\u00e2nele casei \u00eei deter\u0103 voie s\u0103 mearg\u0103 prin toate locurile de primprejur, pe unde va voi; numai pe o vale, pe care i-o \u015fi ar\u0103tar\u0103, \u00eei ziser\u0103 s\u0103 nu mearg\u0103, c\u0103ci nu va vi bine de el; \u015fi-i \u015fi spuser\u0103 c\u0103 acea vale se numea Valea Pl\u00e2ngerii.<\/p>\n
Petrecu acolo vreme uitat\u0103, f\u0103r\u0103 a prinde de veste, fiindc\u0103 r\u0103m\u0103sese tot a\u015fa de t\u00e2n\u0103r, ca \u015fi c\u00e2nd venise. Trecea prin p\u0103dure, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103-l doar\u0103 m\u0103car capul. Se desf\u0103ta \u00een palaturile cele aurite, tr\u0103ia \u00een pace \u015fi \u00een lini\u015fte cu so\u0163ia \u015fi cumnatele sale, se bucura de frumuse\u0163ea florilor \u015fi de dulcea\u0163a \u015fi cur\u0103\u0163enia aerului, ca un fericit. Ie\u015fea adesea la v\u00e2n\u0103toare; dar, \u00eentr-o zi, se lu\u0103 dup\u0103 un iepure, dete o s\u0103geat\u0103, dete dou\u0103 \u015fi nu-l nimeri; sup\u0103rat, alerg\u0103 dup\u0103 el \u015fi dete \u015fi cu a treia s\u0103geat\u0103, cu care \u00eel nemeri; dar\u0103 nefericitul, \u00een \u00eenv\u0103lm\u0103\u015feal\u0103, nu b\u0103gase de seam\u0103 c\u0103, alerg\u00e2nd dup\u0103 iepure, trecuse \u00een Valea Pl\u00e2ngerii.<\/p>\n
Lu\u00e2nd iepurile, se \u00eentorcea acas\u0103; c\u00e2nd, ce s\u0103 vezi d-ta? deodat\u0103 \u00eel apuc\u0103 un dor de tat\u0103-s\u0103u \u015fi de mum\u0103-sa. Nu cutez\u0103 s\u0103 spuie femeilor m\u0103iestre; dar\u0103 ele \u00eel cunoscur\u0103 dup\u0103 \u00eentristarea \u015fi neodihna ce vedea \u00eentr-\u00eensul.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ai trecut, nefericitule, \u00een Valea Pl\u00e2ngerii! \u00eei ziser\u0103 ele, cu totul speriate.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Am trecut, dragele mele, f\u0103r\u0103 ca s\u0103 fi voit s\u0103 fac ast\u0103 neghiobie; \u015fi acum m\u0103 topesc d-a-n picioarele de dorul p\u0103rin\u0163ilor mei, \u00eens\u0103 \u015fi de voi nu m\u0103 \u00eendur ca s\u0103 v\u0103 p\u0103r\u0103sesc. Sunt de mai multe zile cu voi \u015fi n-am s\u0103 m\u0103 pl\u00e2ng de nici o m\u00e2hnire. M\u0103 voi duce dar\u0103 s\u0103-mi mai v\u0103z o dat\u0103 p\u0103rin\u0163ii \u015fi apoi m-oi \u00eentoarce, ca s\u0103 nu m\u0103 mai duc niciodat\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Nu ne p\u0103r\u0103si, iubitule; p\u0103rin\u0163ii t\u0103i nu mai tr\u0103iesc de sute de ani, \u015fi chiar tu, duc\u00e2ndu-te, ne temem c\u0103 nu te vei mai \u00eentoarce; r\u0103m\u00e2i cu noi; c\u0103ci ne zice g\u00e2ndul c\u0103 vei pieri.<\/p>\n
Toate rug\u0103ciunile celor trei femei, precum \u015fi ale calului, n-a fost \u00een stare s\u0103-i potoleasc\u0103 dorul p\u0103rin\u0163ilor, care-l usca pe d-a-ntregul. \u00cen cele mai de pe urm\u0103, calul \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Dac\u0103 nu vrei s\u0103 m\u0103 ascul\u0163i, st\u0103p\u00e2ne, orice \u0163i se va \u00eent\u00e2mpla, s\u0103 \u015ftii c\u0103 numai tu e\u015fti de vin\u0103. Am s\u0103-\u0163i spui o vorb\u0103, \u015fi dac\u0103 vei priimi tocmeala mea, te duc \u00eenapoi.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Primesc, zise el cu toat\u0103 mul\u0163umirea, spune-o!<\/p>\n
\u2013 Cum vom ajunge la palatul tat\u0103lui t\u0103u, s\u0103 te las jos \u015fi eu s\u0103 m\u0103 \u00eentorc, de vei voi s\u0103 r\u0103m\u00e2i m\u0103car un ceas.<\/p>\n
\u2013 A\u015fa s\u0103 fie, zise el.<\/p>\n
Se preg\u0103tir\u0103 de plecare, se \u00eembr\u0103\u0163i\u015far\u0103 cu femeiele \u015fi, dup\u0103 ce-\u015fi luar\u0103 ziua bun\u0103 unul de la altul, porni, l\u0103s\u00e2ndu-le suspin\u00e2nd \u015fi cu lacr\u0103mile \u00een ochi. Ajunser\u0103 \u00een locurile unde era mo\u015fia Scorpiei; acolo g\u0103sir\u0103 ora\u015fe; p\u0103durile se schimbaser\u0103 \u00een c\u00e2mpii; \u00eentreb\u0103 pre unii \u015fi pre al\u0163ii despre Scorpie \u015fi locuin\u0163a ei; dar \u00eei r\u0103spunser\u0103 c\u0103 bunii lor auziser\u0103 de la str\u0103bunii lor povestindu-se de asemenea fleacuri.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Cum se poate una ca asta? le zicea F\u0103t-Frumos, mai alalt\u0103ieri am trecut pe aici; \u015fi spunea tot ce \u015ftia.<\/p>\n
Locuitorii r\u00e2dea de d\u00e2nsul, ca de unul ce aiureaz\u0103 sau viseaz\u0103 de\u015ftept, iar\u0103 el, sup\u0103rat, plec\u0103 \u00eenainte, f\u0103r\u0103 a b\u0103ga de seam\u0103 c\u0103 barba \u015fi p\u0103rul \u00eei albise.<\/p>\n
Ajung\u00e2nd la mo\u015fia Gheonoaiei, f\u0103cu \u00eentreb\u0103ri ca \u015fi la mo\u015fia Scorpiei, \u015fi primi asemenea r\u0103spunsuri. Nu se putea domiri el: cum de \u00een c\u00e2teva zile s-au schimbat astfel locurile? \u015ei iar\u0103\u015fi sup\u0103rat, plec\u0103 cu barba alb\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 la br\u00e2u, sim\u0163ind c\u0103 \u00eei cam tremurau picioarele, \u015fi ajunse la \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia t\u0103t\u00e2ne-s\u0103u. Aici al\u0163i oameni, alte ora\u015fe, \u015fi cele vechi erau schimbate de nu le mai cuno\u015ftea. \u00cen cele mai de pe urm\u0103, ajunse la palaturile \u00een cari se n\u0103scuse. Cum se dete jos, calul \u00eei s\u0103rut\u0103 m\u00e2na \u015fi \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u2013 R\u0103m\u00e2i s\u0103n\u0103tos, c\u0103 eu m\u0103 \u00eentorc de unde am plecat. Dac\u0103 pofte\u015fti s\u0103 mergi \u015fi d-ta, \u00eencalec\u0103 \u00eendat\u0103 \u015fi aidem!<\/p>\n
\u2013 Du-te s\u0103n\u0103tos, c\u0103 \u015fi eu n\u0103d\u0103jduiesc s\u0103 m\u0103 \u00eentorc peste cur\u00e2nd.<\/p>\n
Calul plec\u0103 ca s\u0103geata de iute.<\/p>\n
V\u0103z\u00e2nd palaturile d\u0103r\u0103mate \u015fi cu buruieni crescute pe d\u00e2nsele, ofta \u015fi, cu lacr\u0103mi \u00een ochi, c\u0103ta s\u0103-\u015fi aduc\u0103 aminte c\u00e2t era odat\u0103 de luminate aste palaturi \u015fi cum \u015fi-a petrecut copil\u0103ria \u00een ele; ocoli de vreo dou\u0103-tei ori, cercet\u00e2nd fiecare c\u0103mar\u0103, fiecare col\u0163ule\u0163 ce-i aducea aminte cele trecute; grajdul \u00een care g\u0103sise calul; se pogor\u00ee apoi \u00een pivni\u0163\u0103, g\u00e2rliciul c\u0103reia se astupase de d\u0103r\u0103m\u0103turile c\u0103zute.<\/p>\n
C\u0103ut\u00e2nd \u00eentr-o parte \u015fi \u00een alta, cu barba alb\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 la genunchi, ridic\u00e2ndu-\u015fi pleoapele ochilor cu m\u00e2inile \u015fi abia umbl\u00e2nd, nu g\u0103si dec\u00e2t un tron odorogit; \u00eel deschise, dar\u0103 \u00een el nimic nu g\u0103si; ridic\u0103 capacul chichi\u0163ei, \u015fi un glas sl\u0103b\u0103nogit \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Bine ai venit, c\u0103 de mai \u00eent\u00e2rziai, \u015fi eu m\u0103 pr\u0103p\u0103deam.<\/p>\n
O palm\u0103 \u00eei trase Moartea lui, care se uscase de se f\u0103cuse c\u00e2rlig \u00een chichi\u0163\u0103, \u015fi c\u0103zu mort, \u015fi \u00eendat\u0103 se \u015fi f\u0103cu \u0163\u0103r\u00e2n\u0103.<\/p>\n
Iar eu \u00eenc\u0103lecai p-o \u015fea \u015fi v\u0103 spusei dumneavoastr\u0103 a\u015fa.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A fost odat\u0103 ca niciodat\u0103; c\u0103 de n-ar fi, nu s-ar mai povesti; de c\u00e2nd f\u0103cea plop\u015forul pere \u015fi r\u0103chita mic\u015funele; de c\u00e2nd se b\u0103teau ur\u015fii \u00een coade; de c\u00e2nd … <\/p>\n