A fost odat\u0103 un \u00eemp\u0103rat. Acel \u00eemp\u0103rat mare \u015fi puternic b\u0103tuse pe to\u0163i \u00eemp\u0103ra\u0163ii de prinpregiurul lui \u015fi-i supusese, \u00eenc\u00e2t \u00ee\u015fi \u00eentinsese hotarele \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei sale pe unde a \u00een\u0163\u0103rcat dracul copiii, \u015fi to\u0163i \u00eemp\u0103ra\u0163ii cei b\u0103tu\u0163i era \u00eendatora\u0163i a-i da c\u00e2te un fiu d-ai s\u0103i ca s\u0103-i slujeasc\u0103 c\u00e2te zece ani.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0La marginea \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei lui mai era un alt \u00eemp\u0103rat carele, c\u00e2t a fost t\u00e2n\u0103r, nu se l\u0103sase s\u0103-l bat\u0103; c\u00e2nd c\u0103dea c\u00e2te un p\u00e2rjol asupra \u0163\u0103rei sale, el se f\u0103cea luntre \u015fi punte \u015fi-\u015fi sc\u0103pa \u0163ara de nevoie; iar\u0103 dup\u0103 ce-ajunse la b\u0103tr\u00e2ne\u0163e, se supusese \u015fi el \u00eemp\u0103ratului celui mare \u015fi tare, fiindc\u0103 n-avea \u00eencotro. El nu \u015ftia cum s\u0103 fac\u0103, cum s\u0103 dreag\u0103, ca s\u0103 \u00eemplineasc\u0103 voia acelui \u00eemp\u0103rat de a-i trimite pe unul din fiii s\u0103i, ca s\u0103-i slujeasc\u0103: fiindc\u0103 n-avea b\u0103ie\u0163i, ci numai trei fete. Dintr-aceasta el sta pe g\u00e2nduri. Grija lui cea mare era ca s\u0103 nu creaz\u0103 acel \u00eemp\u0103rat c\u0103 el este zaca\u015f \u015fi se \u00eend\u0103r\u0103tnice\u015fte a-i trimite vreun fiu, din care pricin\u0103 s\u0103 vin\u0103 s\u0103-i ia \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia, iar\u0103 el cu fetele lui s\u0103 moar\u0103 \u00een tic\u0103lo\u015fie, \u00een s\u0103r\u0103cie \u015fi cu ru\u015fine.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0V\u0103z\u00e2nd fetele pe tat\u0103-s\u0103u tot sup\u0103rat, se luaser\u0103 \u015fi ele de g\u00e2nduri \u015fi nu \u015ftiau ce voie s\u0103-i fac\u0103 ca s\u0103-l mai \u00eenveseleasc\u0103. Dac\u0103 v\u0103zur\u0103 \u015fi v\u0103zur\u0103 c\u0103 nimic nu-i este pe plac, fata cea mare \u00ee\u015fi lu\u0103 inima \u00een din\u0163i \u015fi-l \u00eentreb\u0103 \u00eentr-o zi la mas\u0103, c\u0103 de ce este sup\u0103rat:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Au purtarea noastr\u0103 nu-\u0163i place? \u00eei zise ea. Au supu\u015fii m\u0103riei tale sunt r\u0103i \u015fi ar\u0163\u0103go\u015fi de-\u0163i pricinuiesc at\u00e2ta m\u00e2hnire? Spune \u015fi nou\u0103, tat\u0103, cine este vipera aceea care nu-\u0163i d\u0103 pace \u015fi-\u0163i otr\u0103ve\u015fte b\u0103tr\u00e2ne\u0163ele, \u015fi ne f\u0103g\u0103duim chiar a ne jertfi dac\u0103 aceasta va putea s\u0103-\u0163i aline oarecum m\u00e2hnirile: c\u0103ci numai tu, tat\u0103, e\u015fti m\u00e2ng\u00e2ierea noastr\u0103, dup\u0103 cum prea bine \u015ftii; iar\u0103 noi niciodat\u0103 n-am ie\u015fit din cuv\u00e2ntul t\u0103u.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 De asta, a\u015fa este; n-am a m\u0103 pl\u00e2nge de nimic. Nu mi-a\u0163i c\u0103lcat porunca niciodat\u0103. Dar\u0103 voi, dragele mele, nu pute\u0163i s\u0103-mi alina\u0163i durerea care-mi p\u0103trunde sufletul. Voi sunte\u0163i fete, \u015fi numai un b\u0103iat m-ar scoate din nevoia \u00een care m\u0103 aflu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Eu nu \u00een\u0163eleg, zise fata cea mare, de ce ascunzi de noi izvorul m\u00e2hnirilor tale, tat\u0103; spune, c\u0103 eu, iat\u0103, sunt gata a-mi da via\u0163a pentru tine.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce s\u0103 \u015fti\u0163i voi face, dragele mele! De c\u00e2nd sunte\u0163i pe lumea asta alb\u0103, voi a\u0163i \u00eemblat cu furca, cu acul, cu r\u0103zboiul: \u015fti\u0163i toarce, coase, \u0163ese. Numai un viteaz m\u0103 poate m\u00e2ntui, care s\u0103 \u015ftie s\u0103 r\u0103suceasc\u0103 buzduganul, s\u0103 m\u00e2nuiasc\u0103 sabia cu v\u00e2rtute \u015fi s\u0103 c\u0103l\u0103reasc\u0103 ca un zmeu-paraleu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Oricum, tat\u0103, spune-ne \u015fi nou\u0103, c\u0103 doar\u0103 nu s-o face gaur\u0103 \u00een cer, dac\u0103 vom \u015fti \u015fi noi ce lucru te am\u0103ra\u015fte.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dac\u0103 v\u0103zu \u00eemp\u0103ratul c\u0103-l \u00eente\u0163esc fetele cu rug\u0103ciunile, zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Iat\u0103, copilele mele de ce sunt tot trist. Voi \u015fti\u0163i c\u0103 nimeni nu s-a putut atinge de \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia mea, c\u00e2t am fost t\u00e2n\u0103r, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103-\u015fi capete alageaua \u015fi f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 se duc\u0103 ru\u015finat de unde a venit. Acum p\u00e2rdalnicele de b\u0103tr\u00e2ne\u0163e mi-au secat toat\u0103 v\u00e2rtutea; bra\u0163ul meu e sl\u0103b\u0103nogit, nu mai poate s\u0103 \u00eenv\u00e2rteasc\u0103 palo\u015ful de s\u0103 se cutremure vr\u0103jma\u015ful. \u015eoimuleanul meu, pentru care p-aci-p-aci era s\u0103-mi pierz via\u0163a p\u00e2n\u0103 l-am dob\u00e2ndit, a \u00eemb\u0103tr\u00e2nit \u015fi el; este un r\u0103pciugos, abia \u00ee\u015fi t\u00e2r\u00e2ie \u015fi el via\u0163a de azi pe m\u00e2ine. Alt\u0103dat\u0103 abia m\u0103 ar\u0103tam \u00eenaintea vr\u0103jma\u015fului \u015fi, s\u0103 te \u0163ii, p\u00e2rleo! \u00eei sf\u00e2r\u00e2ia c\u0103lc\u00e2iele dinaintea fe\u0163ii mele; dar\u0103 azi, ce s\u0103 v\u0103 mai spui? voi \u015fti\u0163i c\u0103 m-am supus celui mai mare \u015fi mai tare \u00eemp\u0103rat de pe fa\u0163a p\u0103m\u00e2ntului. \u00cens\u0103 la d\u00e2nsul este obiceiul ca to\u0163i supu\u015fii \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei s\u0103-i tr\u0103mit\u0103 c\u00e2te un fiu, s\u0103-i slujeasc\u0103 zece ani, \u015fi eu v\u0103 am numai pe voi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 M\u0103 duc eu, tat\u0103, zise fata cea mare, \u015fi m\u0103 voi sili din toate puterile mele s\u0103 te mul\u0163umesc.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 M\u0103 tem s\u0103 nu te \u00eentorci f\u0103r\u0103 nici o isprav\u0103. Cine \u015ftie ce \u00eencurc\u0103tur\u0103 vei face p-acolo, de s\u0103 nu-i mai dea nimeni de c\u0103p\u0103t\u00e2i, c\u00e2t h\u0103u!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Tot ce \u015ftiu, tat\u0103, \u015fi m\u0103 f\u0103g\u0103duiesc, este c\u0103 nu te-oi da de ru\u015fine.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dac\u0103 este a\u015fa, preg\u0103te\u015fte-te \u015fi te du.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd auzi fata c\u0103 tat\u0103-s\u0103u \u00eei d\u0103 voie s\u0103 mearg\u0103, nu mai putea de bucurie. Punea la cale tot pentru drum; \u015fi se \u00eentorcea numai \u00eentr-un c\u0103lc\u00e2i, c\u00e2nd poruncea \u015fi a\u015feza lucrurile de c\u0103l\u0103torie. \u00ce\u015fi alese calul cel mai de frunte din grajdurile \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103te\u015fti, hainele cele mai m\u00e2ndre \u015fi mai bogate \u015fi merinde ca s\u0103-i ajung\u0103 un an de zile.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce tat\u0103-s\u0103u o v\u0103zu gata de plecare, \u00eei dete pove\u0163ele p\u0103rinte\u015fti de cum s\u0103 se poarte, cum s\u0103 fac\u0103 ca s\u0103 nu se descopere c\u0103 e fat\u0103. O \u00eenv\u0103\u0163\u0103 tot ce trebuia s\u0103 \u015ftie un viteaz care merge la o a\u015fa slujb\u0103 \u00eenalt\u0103, \u015fi cum s\u0103 se fereasc\u0103 de b\u00e2rfeli \u015fi clevete, ca s\u0103 nu fie ur\u00e2t\u0103 \u015fi neb\u0103gat\u0103 \u00een seam\u0103 de ceilal\u0163i fii de \u00eemp\u0103rat. Apoi \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Pas\u0103 cu Dumnezeu, fiica mea, \u015fi adu-\u0163i aminte de \u00eenv\u0103\u0163\u0103turile mele.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata ie\u015fi din curte ca fulgerul; n-o mai \u0163inea p\u0103m\u00e2ntul de bucurie; \u00eentr-o clip\u0103 nu se mai v\u0103zu. \u015ei dac\u0103 n-ar fi stat mai \u00eencolo s\u0103-\u015fi a\u015ftepte boierii \u015fi car\u0103le cu merinde, acestea s-ar fi pierdut, fiindc\u0103 nu puteau s\u0103 se \u0163in\u0103 dup\u0103 d\u00e2nsa.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul \u00eei ie\u015fi pe de alt\u0103 parte \u00eenainte, mai la marginea \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 \u015ftie ea; a\u015fez\u0103 \u00eendat\u0103 un pod de aram\u0103, se f\u0103cu un lup \u015fi se ascunse sub pod. C\u00e2nd era s\u0103 treac\u0103 fiic\u0103-sa, deodat\u0103 ie\u015fi de subt acel pod, cu din\u0163ii r\u00e2nji\u0163i \u015fi cl\u0103n\u0163\u0103nind de te lua groaza; se uita drept la d\u00e2nsa cu ni\u015fte ochi cari str\u0103lucea ca dou\u0103 f\u0103clii, \u015fi se repezi la ea ca s\u0103 o sf\u00e2\u015fie. Fata, care \u00eenghe\u0163ase s\u00e2ngele \u00een ea de fric\u0103, \u00ee\u015fi pierduse cump\u0103tul \u015fi, dac\u0103 calul nu f\u0103cea o s\u0103ritur\u0103 la o parte, lupul \u00eenfigea ghearele \u00eentr-\u00eensa; ea o lu\u0103 la s\u0103n\u0103toasa \u00eenapoi. Tat\u0103-s\u0103u, care se \u00eentorsese \u00eenaintea ei, ie\u015fi s\u0103 o \u00eent\u00e2mpine, \u015fi-i zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu-\u0163i spuneam eu, fata mea, c\u0103 nu toate mu\u015ftele fac miere?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 A\u015fa este, tat\u0103, dar\u0103 eu n-am \u015ftiut c\u0103, duc\u00e2ndu-m\u0103 s\u0103 slujesc unui \u00eemp\u0103rat, am s\u0103 m\u0103 lupt \u015fi cu fiare s\u0103lbatice \u015fi turbate.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dac\u0103 a\u015fa este, zise \u00eemp\u0103ratul, \u015fezi acas\u0103 de-\u0163i vezi de fuse \u015fi mosoare, \u015fi Dumnezeu s\u0103 aib\u0103 mil\u0103 de mine, ca s\u0103 nu m\u0103 lase a muri ru\u015finat.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nu trecu mult \u015fi se ceru \u015fi fata cea mijlocie s\u0103 se duc\u0103 \u015fi d\u00e2nsa; \u015fi se lega c\u0103 ea \u00ee\u015fi va pune puterile cum s\u0103-\u015fi sf\u00e2r\u015feasc\u0103 cu bine slujba ce lua asupr\u0103-\u015fi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 multe rug\u0103ciuni \u015fi f\u0103g\u0103duieli, se \u00eenduplec\u0103 tat\u0103-s\u0103u \u015fi o l\u0103s\u0103 \u015fi pe d\u00e2nsa s\u0103 se duc\u0103; dar\u0103 p\u0103\u0163i \u015fi ea ca soru-sa cea mare, \u015fi \u00eent\u00e2mpin\u00e2nd-o tat\u0103-s\u0103u, c\u00e2nd se \u00eentorcea, \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ei, fata mea, nu \u0163i-am spus eu c\u0103 nu se m\u0103n\u00e2nc\u0103 tot ceea ce zboar\u0103?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Adev\u0103rat este, tat\u0103, a\u015fa mi-ai zis: dar\u0103 prea era grozav acel lup. Unde deschisese o gur\u0103 mare de se m\u0103 \u00eembuce dintr-o dat\u0103, \u015fi unde se uita cu ni\u015fte ochi din cari parc\u0103 ie\u015feau ni\u015fte s\u0103ge\u0163i de m\u0103 s\u0103getau la inim\u0103!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u015eezi acas\u0103 dar, \u00eei r\u0103spunse \u00eemp\u0103ratul, de vezi de coada m\u0103turei \u015fi de zarzavaturile de la buc\u0103t\u0103rie.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mai trecu ce mai trecu, \u015fi iat\u0103 c\u0103 \u015fi fata cea mic\u0103 zise tat\u0103lui s\u0103u, \u00eentr-o zi, c\u00e2nd \u015fedeau la mas\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Tat\u0103, las\u0103-m\u0103 \u015fi pe mine s\u0103 fac o cercare: las\u0103-m\u0103, rogu-te, s\u0103 m\u0103 duc \u015fi eu s\u0103-mi \u00eencerc norocul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Deoarece surorile tale cele mai mari n-au putut-o scoate la c\u0103p\u0103t\u00e2i, m\u0103 mir cum \u00ee\u0163i mai vine s\u0103 vorbe\u015fti de tine, care nu \u015ftii nici cum se m\u0103n\u00e2nc\u0103 m\u0103m\u0103liga.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei se cerca \u00een tot felul s\u0103-i taie pofta de plecare, dar \u00een zadar.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Pentru dragostea ta, tat\u0103, mai zise ea, voi face pe dracul \u00een patru, numai s\u0103 izbutesc; \u00eens\u0103 dac\u0103 Dumnezeu \u00eemi va sta \u00eempotriv\u0103, m\u0103 voi \u00eentoarce iar\u0103\u015fi la tine, \u015fi f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 m\u0103 ru\u015finez.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se mai \u00eempotrivi tat\u0103-s\u0103u, se mai codi; dar\u0103 fiie-sa \u00eel birui cu rug\u0103ciunile. La urm\u0103 de tot, zise \u00eemp\u0103ratul:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dac\u0103 este a\u015fa, iat\u0103 \u00ee\u0163i dau \u015fi \u0163ie voie, s\u0103 vedem ce procopseal\u0103 ai s\u0103-mi faci. Ce-a\u015f mai r\u00e2de s\u0103 te v\u0103z \u00eentorc\u00e2ndu-te cu nasul \u00een jos!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Vei r\u00e2de, tat\u0103, cum ai r\u00e2s \u015fi de surorile mele, f\u0103r\u0103 cu toate astea s\u0103 le scaz\u0103 cinstea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului, dac\u0103 v\u0103zu c\u0103 tat\u0103-s\u0103u \u00eei dete voie, se g\u00e2ndi mai \u00eent\u00e2i pe care din boierii mai b\u0103tr\u00e2ni s\u0103 ia de pov\u0103\u0163uitor. \u015ei p\u00e2n\u0103 una-alta, ea \u00ee\u015fi aduse aminte de vitejiile tat\u0103lui s\u0103u din tinere\u0163e \u015fi de calul s\u0103u. Se duse deci la grajd ca s\u0103-\u015fi aleag\u0103 \u015fi ea un cal. Se uit\u0103 la unul, se uit\u0103 la altul, se uit\u0103 la to\u0163i caii din grajduri, \u015fi de nici unul nu i se prindeau ochii, de\u015fi erau arm\u0103sarii \u015fi caii cei mai buni din toat\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia. \u00cen cele mai de pe urm\u0103 dete \u015fi peste calul tat\u0103lui s\u0103u din tinere\u0163e, r\u0103pciugos, bubos \u015fi z\u0103c\u00e2nd pe coaste. Cum \u00eel v\u0103zu, se uita la el cu mil\u0103 \u015fi parc\u0103 nu se \u00eendura s\u0103 se dep\u0103rteze de d\u00e2nsul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Calul, dac\u0103 v\u0103zu a\u015fa, \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se vede c\u0103 pentru iubirea ce ai c\u0103tre \u00eemp\u0103ratul, st\u0103p\u00e2n\u0103, te ui\u0163i a\u015fa de gale\u015f la mine. Ce pui de voinic era \u00een tinere\u0163ele lui! Multe izb\u00e2nzi am mai f\u0103cut noi am\u00e2ndoi! Dar\u0103 de c\u00e2nd am \u00eemb\u0103tr\u00e2nit, nici pe mine n-a mai \u00eenc\u0103lecat altul. \u015ei dac\u0103 m\u0103 vezi a\u015fa de jig\u0103rit, este c\u0103 n-are cine s\u0103 m\u0103 hr\u0103neasc\u0103 ca el. Ast\u0103zi, uite, de m-ar \u00eengriji cineva cum s\u0103-mi priiasc\u0103 mie, \u00een zece zile m-a\u015f face de nu m-a\u015f da pe zece ca d-alde \u0103\u015ftia.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Atunci, fata zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u015ei cum trebuie s\u0103 te \u00eengrij\u0103asc\u0103?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 S\u0103 m\u0103 spele \u00een toate zilele cu ap\u0103 ne\u00eenceput\u0103, s\u0103-mi dea orzul fiert \u00een lapte dulce ca s\u0103-l pot roade, \u015fi pe fiecare zi o bani\u0163\u0103 de j\u0103ratec.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 C\u00e2nd a\u015f \u015fti c\u0103-mi vei fi de ajutor s\u0103 sf\u00e2r\u015fesc ce am pus de g\u00e2nd, mai-mai c\u0103 a\u015f face a\u015fa precum zici tu!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 St\u0103p\u00e2n\u0103, zise calul, f\u0103 cercarea asta \u015fi nu te vei c\u0103i.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Calul era n\u0103zdr\u0103van.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului \u00eengriji de cal tocmai precum \u00eei zise el.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0La a zecea zi, unde se scutur\u0103 odat\u0103 calul, \u015fi se f\u0103cu frumos, gras ca un pepene \u015fi sprinten ca o c\u0103prioar\u0103. Apoi, uit\u00e2ndu-se vesel la fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului, zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 S\u0103-\u0163i dea Dumnezeu noroc \u015fi izb\u00e2nd\u0103, st\u0103p\u00e2na mea, c\u0103 m-ai \u00eengrijit \u015fi m-ai f\u0103cut s\u0103 mai fiu odat\u0103 pe lume cum doream. Spune-mi tu care este p\u0103sul t\u0103u, \u015fi porunce\u015fte-mi ce trebuie s\u0103 fac.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Eu voi s\u0103 merg la \u00eemp\u0103ratul cel mare \u015fi tare, vecinul nostru, ca s\u0103-i slujesc, \u015fi-mi trebuie pe cineva care s\u0103 m\u0103 pov\u0103\u0163uiasc\u0103. Spune-mi pe care din boieri s\u0103 aleg?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dac\u0103 vei merge cu mine, \u00eei zise calul, habar s\u0103 n-ai; nu-\u0163i trebuie pe nimeni. Te voi sluji, cum am slujit \u015fi pe tat\u0103-t\u0103u. Numai s\u0103 m-ascul\u0163i.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dac\u0103 este a\u015fa, de azi \u00een trei zile plec\u0103m.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u015ei chiar acum dac\u0103 porunce\u015fti, \u00eei r\u0103spunse calul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului, cum auzi aceasta, puse toate alea la cale pentru drum. \u00ce\u015fi lu\u0103 ni\u015fte haine curate, dar\u0103 f\u0103r\u0103 podoabe, ni\u0163ele merinde \u015fi ceva bani de cheltuial\u0103, \u00eenc\u0103lec\u0103 calul \u015fi, venind \u00eenaintea tat\u0103lui s\u0103u, \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 R\u0103m\u00e2i cu Dumnezeu, tat\u0103, \u015fi s\u0103 te g\u0103sesc s\u0103n\u0103tos!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cale bun\u0103, fata mea, \u00eei zise tat\u0103-s\u0103u. Toate ca toate, numai pove\u0163ele ce \u0163i-am dat s\u0103 nu le ui\u0163i niciodat\u0103. \u015ei la orice nevoie mintea ta s\u0103 fie pironit\u0103 la Dumnezeu, de unde ne vine tot binele \u015fi tot ajutorul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce se f\u0103g\u0103dui c\u0103 a\u015fa va face, fata porni.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ca \u015fi celelalte fete, tat\u0103-s\u0103u dete pe de alt\u0103 parte \u015fi-i ie\u015fi \u00eenainte, a\u015fez\u0103 iar\u0103\u015fi podul de aram\u0103 \u015fi a\u015ftepta acolo.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pe drum, calul spuse fetei cu ce tertipuri \u00eembl\u0103 tat\u0103-s\u0103u s\u0103-i \u00eencerce b\u0103rb\u0103\u0163ia, \u015fi o pov\u0103\u0163ui ce s\u0103 fac\u0103 ca s\u0103 scape cu fa\u0163a curat\u0103. Ajung\u00e2nd la pod, unde se n\u0103pusti asupra ei un lup cu ni\u015fte ochi turba\u0163i \u015fi zg\u00e2i\u0163i de b\u0103ga fiori \u00een oase, cu o gur\u0103 mare \u015fi cu o limb\u0103 ca de dihanie turbat\u0103, cu col\u0163ii r\u00e2nji\u0163i \u015fi cl\u0103n\u0163\u0103nind de pare c\u0103 nu m\u00e2ncase de o lun\u0103 de zile; \u015fi c\u00e2nd s\u0103 \u00eenfig\u0103 ghiarele sale cele sf\u00e2\u015fiitoare, fata dete c\u0103lc\u00e2ie calului, \u015fi unde se r\u0103pezi asupra lupului cu palo\u015ful \u00een m\u00e2n\u0103 de s\u0103-l fac\u0103 mici f\u0103r\u00e2mi \u015fi, dac\u0103 nu se da \u00een l\u0103turi lupul, \u00een dou\u0103 \u00eel f\u0103cea cu palo\u015ful; c\u0103ci ea nu glumea, fiindc\u0103-\u015fi pusese credin\u0163a \u00een Dumnezeu, \u015fi dorea ca vr\u00e2nd-nevr\u00e2nd s\u0103 \u00eemplineasc\u0103 slujba ce \u015fi-o luase asupr\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ea trecu podul m\u00e2ndr\u0103 ca un voinic. Tat\u0103-s\u0103u se mir\u0103 de vitejia ei \u015fi, d\u00e2nd pe de alt\u0103 parte, ie\u015fi mult \u00eenaintea ei, a\u015fez\u0103 un pod de argint, se f\u0103cu un leu \u015fi acolo o a\u015ftepta.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Calul spuse fetei peste ce o s\u0103 dea \u015fi o \u00eenv\u0103\u0163\u0103 cum s\u0103 fac\u0103 s\u0103 scape \u015fi de ast\u0103 ispit\u0103. Cum ajunse fata la podul de argint, unde \u00eei ie\u015fi leul \u00eenainte cu gura c\u0103scat\u0103, de s\u0103 o \u00eembuce cu cal cu tot, cu ni\u015fte col\u0163i ca cei de filde\u015f \u015fi cu ni\u015fte ghiare ca secerile \u015fi r\u0103cnea de se cutremurau codrii, \u015fi c\u00e2mpiele vuiau de-\u0163i lua auzul. Numai uit\u00e2nduse cineva la capul lui cel c\u00e2t bani\u0163a \u015fi la coama aia ce sta r\u0103dicat\u0103 \u00een sus \u015fi zb\u00e2rlit\u0103, ar fi \u00eenghe\u0163at de fric\u0103. Dar\u0103 fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului, \u00eemb\u0103rb\u0103tat\u0103 de cal, se n\u0103pusti odat\u0103 \u00eentr\u00eensul cu sabia goal\u0103 \u00een m\u00e2n\u0103, \u00eenc\u00e2t dac\u0103 nu fugea leul sub pod, \u00een patru \u00eel f\u0103cea. Atunci trecu podul, mul\u0163umind lui Dumnezeu \u015fi ne\u015ftiind ce o mai a\u015ftepta.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului, care nu ie\u015fise din cas\u0103 de c\u00e2nd o f\u0103cuse m\u0103-sa, se mira \u015fi sta \u00een loc uimit\u0103, v\u0103z\u00e2nd frumuse\u0163ile c\u00e2mpului. Aci \u00eei venea s\u0103 descalece ca s\u0103 adune c\u00e2te un m\u0103nunchi de flori din mul\u0163imea aia ce acoperea v\u0103ile \u015fi dealurile, flori de cari nu mai v\u0103zuse ea; aci \u00eei venea s\u0103 se dea la umbr\u0103 sub c\u00e2te un copaci nalt \u015fi stufos, \u00een care miile de paseri c\u00e2ntau fel de fel de c\u00e2ntece, a\u015fa de duioase, de erau \u00een stare s\u0103 te adoarm\u0103; \u015fi aci \u00een urm\u0103 s\u0103 se duc\u0103 la c\u00e2te un \u015fipot de ap\u0103 limpede ca lacrima ce izvora din c\u00e2te un col\u0163 de piatr\u0103 din coastele dealurilor; susurul acestor izvoare o f\u0103cea s\u0103 se uite gale\u015f la ele \u015fi-i pl\u0103cea s\u0103 le vaz\u0103 curgerea lor cea \u015ferpuit\u0103 ce aluneca pe p\u0103m\u00e2nt, \u00eencungiurate de mul\u0163ime de floricele \u015fi verdea\u0163\u0103 de prim\u0103var\u0103. Dar\u0103 la toate astea calul o \u00eemb\u0103rb\u0103ta \u015fi-i da ghes s\u0103 mearg\u0103 \u00eenainte \u015fi s\u0103-\u015fi cate de drum. El \u00eei spunea c\u0103 voinicii nu se uit\u0103 la d-alde astea, dec\u00e2t dup\u0103 ce duc trebile la cap\u0103t bun. \u00cei mai spuse c\u0103 are s\u0103 mai dea de o curs\u0103 pe care io \u00eentindea tat\u0103-s\u0103u, \u015fi o \u015fi \u00eenv\u0103\u0163\u0103 cum s\u0103 fac\u0103 s\u0103 ias\u0103 \u015fi de ast\u0103 dat\u0103 biruitoare.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata asculta cu toate urechile \u015fi f\u0103cu precum o \u00eenv\u0103\u0163\u0103 calul, fiindc\u0103 v\u0103zu ea c\u0103 toate \u00eenv\u0103\u0163\u0103turile lui \u00eei iese \u00eende bine, \u015fi din cuv\u00e2ntul lui nu se ab\u0103tea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tat\u0103-s\u0103u, ca \u015fi de la r\u00e2nd, dete pe de alt\u0103 parte \u015fi-i ie\u015fi \u00eenainte, a\u015fez\u0103 un pod de aur, se f\u0103cu un balaur mare cu dou\u0103sprezece capete \u015fi se ascunse sub acel pod.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd fu ca s\u0103 treac\u0103 fata pe acolo, unde \u00eei ie\u015fi \u00eenainte balaurul plesnind din coad\u0103 \u015fi \u00eencol\u0103cindu-se; din gurile lui ie\u015fea v\u0103paie de foc, \u015fi limbile \u00eei jucau ca ni\u015fte s\u0103ge\u0163i arz\u0103toare; cum \u00eel v\u0103zu fata c\u0103 este a\u015fa de grozav, ni\u015fte r\u0103cori o apucar\u0103 \u015fi i se f\u0103cu p\u0103rul m\u0103ciuc\u0103 de fric\u0103. Calul dac\u0103 sim\u0163i c\u0103 fata se pierde cu firea, o \u00eemb\u0103rb\u0103t\u0103 iar\u0103\u015fi \u015fi-i aduse aminte ce o \u00eenv\u0103\u0163ase s\u0103 fac\u0103; iar\u0103 fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului, dup\u0103 ce mai prinse ni\u0163ic\u0103 inim\u0103, str\u00e2nse fr\u00e2ul calului cu m\u00e2na st\u00e2ng\u0103, \u00eei dete c\u0103lc\u00e2ie \u015fi, cu palo\u015ful \u00een dreapta, se repezi asupra acelui balaur.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Un ceas \u0163inu lupta. Calul o potrivea cum s\u0103 vin\u0103 tot cam la o parte ca s\u0103-i reteze vreun cap; dar\u0103 vr\u0103jma\u015ful se p\u0103zea \u015fi el destul de bine. \u00cen cele mai de pe urm\u0103, izbuti fata s\u0103 r\u0103neasc\u0103 pe balaur. Atunci, d\u00e2ndu-se el de trei ori peste cap, se f\u0103cu om.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fetei nu-i venea s\u0103 creaz\u0103 ochilor c\u00e2nd v\u0103zu pe tat\u0103-s\u0103u \u00eenaintea ei; iar\u0103 el, lu\u00e2nd-o \u00een bra\u0163e \u015fi s\u0103rut\u00e2nd-o pe frunte, \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 V\u0103z c\u0103 tu e\u015fti voinic\u0103, fata mea, \u015fi bine ai f\u0103cut de \u0163i-ai luat calul \u0103sta, c\u0103ci f\u0103r\u0103 d\u00e2nsul te-ai fi \u00eentors \u015fi tu ca \u015fi surorile tale. Am bun\u0103 n\u0103dejde s\u0103 ispr\u0103ve\u015fti cu bine slujba cu care te-ai \u00eens\u0103rcinat de bun\u0103voie. Numai adu-\u0163i aminte de pove\u0163ele mele \u015fi s\u0103 nu ie\u015fi din cuv\u00e2ntul calului ce \u0163i-ai ales. S\u0103 ne vedem s\u0103n\u0103to\u015fi!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 S\u0103 te auz\u0103 Dumnezeu, tat\u0103, \u00eei r\u0103spunse fata, \u015fi s\u0103 te g\u0103sesc s\u0103n\u0103tos.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Apoi, s\u0103rut\u00e2nd m\u00e2na tat\u0103lui s\u0103u, se desp\u0103r\u0163ir\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce merse cale lung\u0103, dep\u0103rtat\u0103, ajunse la ni\u015fte mun\u0163i mari \u015fi \u00eenal\u0163i. \u00centre mun\u0163i \u00eent\u00e2lni doi zmei ce se luptau de nou\u0103 ani \u015fi nu puteau s\u0103 se dovedeasc\u0103 unul pe altul. Lupta era pe moarte ori pe via\u0163\u0103. Cum o v\u0103zur\u0103 ei, crez\u00e2nd c\u0103 este un voinic, unul \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 F\u0103t-Frumos, F\u0103t-Frumos, vino de taie pe \u0103st du\u015fman al meu, c\u0103 \u0163i-oi c\u0103dea \u015fi eu vreodat\u0103 bun la ceva.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Iar cellalt zise \u015fi el:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 F\u0103t-Frumos, F\u0103t-Frumos, vino de m\u0103 scap\u0103 pe mine de idolul \u0103sta de vr\u0103jma\u015f, \u015fi-\u0163i voi da un telegar f\u0103r\u0103 splin\u0103, care se nume\u015fte Galben-de-soare.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata \u00eentreb\u0103 pe cal, pe care din am\u00e2ndoi s\u0103 scape; iar\u0103 calul \u00eei zise s\u0103 scape pe cel ce-i f\u0103g\u0103duise s\u0103-i dea pe Galben-de-soare, c\u0103 este un cal mai harnic dec\u00e2t d\u00e2nsul, fiindu-i frate mai t\u00e2n\u0103r. Atunci unde se repezi fata la zmeul cellalt cu palo\u015ful, \u015fi dintr-o lovitur\u0103 \u00eel f\u0103cu \u00een dou\u0103 buc\u0103\u0163i!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Zmeul, dac\u0103 se v\u0103zu sc\u0103pat, \u00eembr\u0103\u0163i\u015f\u0103 pe m\u00e2ntuitorul s\u0103u \u015fi-i mul\u0163umi, apoi merser\u0103 acas\u0103 la d\u00e2nsul ca s\u0103 dea lui F\u0103t-Frumos pe Galben-de-soare, dup\u0103 cum se f\u0103g\u0103duise. Muma zmeului nu mai putea de bucurie c\u00e2nd v\u0103zu pe fiu-s\u0103u teaf\u0103r \u015fi nu mai \u015ftia ce s\u0103 fac\u0103 ca s\u0103 mul\u0163umeasc\u0103 lui F\u0103t-Frumos c\u0103-i sc\u0103pase copilul de la moarte.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului ar\u0103t\u0103 dorin\u0163a ce are de a se odihni de osteneala drumului ce f\u0103cuse. \u00cei dar\u0103 o c\u0103mar\u0103 \u015fi o l\u0103sar\u0103 singur\u0103. Ea, pref\u0103c\u00e2ndu-se c\u0103 voie\u015fte s\u0103 \u00eengrij\u0103asc\u0103 de cal, \u00eel \u00eentreb\u0103 dac\u0103 are s\u0103 i se \u00eent\u00e2mple ceva; \u015fi calul \u00eei spuse ce are s\u0103 fac\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Muma zmeului precepu c\u0103 aci la mijloc se joac\u0103 vreo dr\u0103cie. Ea spuse fiului s\u0103u c\u0103 voinicul ce-l sc\u0103pase de primejdie trebuie s\u0103 fie fat\u0103 \u015fi c\u0103 o asemenea fat\u0103 viteaz\u0103 ar fi numai bun\u0103 s\u0103 o ia el de so\u0163ie. Fiul s\u0103u zicea c\u0103 o dat\u0103 cu capul nu putea el crede una ca asta, fiindc\u0103 nu se putea ca o m\u00e2n\u0103 femeiasc\u0103 s\u0103 r\u0103suceasc\u0103 palo\u015ful a\u015fa de bine cum f\u0103cea F\u0103t-Frumos. Atunci muma zmeului zise c\u0103 are s\u0103 fac\u0103 cercare. Pentru aceasta puse seara la capul fiec\u0103ruia din ei c\u00e2te un m\u0103nunchi de flori: la care se vor ve\u015fteji florile, acela este b\u0103rbat, \u015fi la care va r\u0103m\u00e2nea verzi, este femeie.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului, dup\u0103 pova\u0163a calului, s-a sculat peste noapte cam despre ziu\u0103, c\u00e2nd somnul este mai dulce, \u015fi p\u00e2\u015f, p\u00e2\u015f, \u00een v\u00e2rful degetelor, intr\u0103 \u00een c\u0103mara zmeului, \u00eei puse m\u0103nunchiul s\u0103u de flori, lu\u0103 pe al lui \u015fi, pun\u00e2ndu-l la capul patului s\u0103u, se culc\u0103 \u015fi dormi dus\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Diminea\u0163a, cum se scul\u0103 zmeoaica, se duse \u00eentr-un suflet la fiul s\u0103u \u015fi v\u0103zu florile ve\u015ftede. Dup\u0103 ce se scul\u0103 \u015fi fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului, merse \u015fi la d\u00e2nsa \u015fi, v\u0103z\u00e2nd c\u0103 \u015fi ale ei se vestejise, tot nu crezu c\u0103 este voinic. Ea zicea fiului s\u0103u c\u0103 nu se putea s\u0103 fie b\u0103rbat, fiindc\u0103 vorba \u00eei curgea din gur\u0103 ca mierea, boiul \u00eei era a\u015fa de ginga\u015f, \u00eenc\u00e2t \u00ee\u0163i venea s\u0103 o bei \u00eentr-o b\u0103rd\u0103cu\u0163\u0103 de ap\u0103, peri\u015forul sup\u0163ire \u015fi stufos \u00eei c\u0103dea pe umeri, \u00een unde, fa\u0163a-i are pe vino-ncoace; ochii \u0103ia marii, frumo\u015fi \u015fi vioi de te bag\u0103 \u00een boale, m\u0103nu\u015fi\u0163a aia micu\u0163\u0103 \u015fi picioru\u015ful ca de z\u00e2n\u0103, \u015fi \u00een sf\u00e2r\u015fit totul nu putea s\u0103 fie dec\u00e2t de fat\u0103, m\u0103car c\u0103 se ascundea sub \u0163oalele cele voinice\u015fti. Apoi hot\u0103r\u00e2r\u0103 s\u0103 mai fac\u0103 o \u00eencercare.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce-\u015fi dar\u0103 bun\u0103 diminea\u0163a, dup\u0103 obicei, zmeul lu\u0103 pe fat\u0103 \u015fi merser\u0103 \u00een gr\u0103din\u0103. Aci, zmeul \u00eei ar\u0103t\u0103 toate felurile de flori ce avea, \u015fi o \u00eembia \u015fi pe d\u00e2nsa s\u0103 le miroase. Fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului \u00ee\u015fi aduse aminte de pove\u0163ele calului \u015fi, cunosc\u00e2nd viclenia, zise cam r\u0103stit c\u0103 de ce l-a adus \u00een gr\u0103din\u0103 de diminea\u0163\u0103 ca pe o femeie s\u0103-i laude florile cu ni\u015fte vorbe seci, pe c\u00e2nd ar fi trebuit s\u0103 mearg\u0103 mai \u00eent\u00e2i la grajduri s\u0103 vaz\u0103 cum se \u00eengrij\u0103\u015fte p-acolo de cai.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Auzind acestea, zmeul spuse m\u0103-sei, dar\u0103 ea nici acum nu putea s\u0103 creaz\u0103 c\u0103 este b\u0103iat. \u00cen cele mai de pe urm\u0103, zmeoaica se vorbi cu fiul s\u0103u s\u0103 mai fac\u0103 o-ncercare; zise fiului s\u0103u s\u0103 duc\u0103 pe F\u0103t-Frumos \u00een c\u0103mara cu armele, s\u0103-l \u00eembie s\u0103-\u015fi aleag\u0103 ceva de acolo \u015fi, de va alege vreo arm\u0103 din cele \u00eempodobite cu nestimate, s\u0103 \u015ftie de bun\u0103-seam\u0103 c\u0103 ea este fat\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 pr\u00e2nz, zmeul duse pe F\u0103t-Frumos \u00een c\u0103mara cu armele. Aci erau r\u00e2nduite cu me\u015fte\u015fug tot felul de arme: unele \u00eempodobite cu nestimate, altele numai a\u015fa, f\u0103r\u0103 podoabe. Fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului, dup\u0103 ce se uit\u0103 \u015fi cercet\u0103 mai toate armele, \u00ee\u015fi alese o sabie cam ruginit\u0103, dar\u0103 cu fierul ce se \u00eencovoia de se f\u0103cea covrig. Apoi spuse zmeului \u015fi mumei sale c\u0103 a doua zi vrea s\u0103 plece.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd auzi muma zmeului ce fel de arm\u0103 \u00ee\u015fi alese, se da de ceasul mor\u0163ii c\u0103 nu putea descoperi adev\u0103rul. Ea spuse fiului s\u0103u c\u0103, de\u015fi pare c\u0103 este b\u0103iat dup\u0103 apuc\u0103turile lui, dar\u0103 este fat\u0103, \u015fi \u00eenc\u0103 de cele mai pref\u0103cute.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dac\u0103 v\u0103zu c\u0103 n-are \u00eencotro, merser\u0103 la grajd \u015fi-i deder\u0103 pe Galben-de-soare. \u015ei dup\u0103 ce-\u015fi lu\u0103 r\u0103mas bun, fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului \u00ee\u015fi c\u0103t\u0103 de drum.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cenc\u0103 pe cale fiind \u015fi silind s\u0103 ajung\u0103, calul zise fetei:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 St\u0103p\u00e2n\u0103, p\u00e2n\u0103 acum m-ai ascultat la orice \u0163i-am zis, \u015fi toate \u0163i-au mers bine. Ascult\u0103-m\u0103 \u015fi de ast\u0103 dat\u0103 \u015fi nu vei gre\u015fi. Eu sunt b\u0103tr\u00e2n de aci \u00eenainte; \u015fi mi-e s\u0103 nu poticnesc. Ia pe frate-meu Galben-de-soare \u015fi f\u0103 c\u0103l\u0103toria mai departe cu el. \u00cencredete lui cum te-ai \u00eencrezut \u00een mine \u015fi nu te vei c\u0103i. El este mai t\u00e2n\u0103r dec\u00e2t mine \u015fi mai sprinten, \u015fi te va \u00eenv\u0103\u0163a ca \u015fi mine ce s\u0103 faci la vreme de nevoie.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Este adev\u0103rat c\u0103 am izbutit ori de c\u00e2te ori te-am ascultat. \u015ei dac\u0103 n-a\u015f \u015fti c\u00e2t ai fost de credincios tat\u0103lui meu, de ast\u0103 dat\u0103 nu te-a\u015f asculta. M\u0103 voi \u00eencrede \u00eens\u0103 fratelui t\u0103u ca \u015fi \u0163ie, dup\u0103 ce-mi va dovedi c\u0103-mi vrea binele.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u00cencrede-te, st\u0103p\u00e2n\u0103, zise Galben-de-soare, c\u0103ci voi fi m\u00e2ndru s\u0103 \u00eencalece pe mine o viteaz\u0103 ca tine, \u015fi apoi m\u0103 voi sili ca s\u0103 nu mai sim\u0163i lipsa fratelui meu, fiindc\u0103 voi s\u0103-l scutesc \u015fi pe d\u00e2nsul, s\u0103rmanul, c\u0103 e b\u0103tr\u00e2n, de necazurile \u015fi primejdiile c\u0103l\u0103toriei ce vei s\u0103 faci, pentru c\u0103, trebuie s\u0103 \u015ftii, peste multe nevoi ai s\u0103 dai \u015fi multe primejdii ai s\u0103 \u00eent\u00e2lne\u015fti. Dar\u0103 cu vrerea lui Dumnezeu \u015fi de m\u0103 vei asculta, pe toate ai s\u0103 le biruie\u015fti \u015fi s\u0103 le sco\u0163i la cap\u0103t bun.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului \u00eenc\u0103lec\u0103 apoi pe Galben-de-soare \u015fi se desp\u0103r\u0163i de calul ei, l\u0103crim\u00e2nd. Merser\u0103, merser\u0103, cale lung\u0103, dep\u0103rtat\u0103, c\u00e2nd fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului z\u0103ri o cosi\u0163\u0103 de aur. Opri calul \u015fi-l \u00eentreb\u0103 dac\u0103 este bine s\u0103 o ia, ori s-o lase locului. Calul \u00eei r\u0103spunse:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 De o vei lua, te vei c\u0103i; de nu o vei lua, iar\u0103\u015fi te vei c\u0103i; dar\u0103 mai bine este s\u0103 o iei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata o lu\u0103, o b\u0103g\u0103 \u00een s\u00e2n \u015fi plec\u0103 \u00eenainte.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Trecur\u0103 dealuri, trecur\u0103 mun\u0163i \u015fi v\u0103i, l\u0103sar\u0103 \u00een urm\u0103 p\u0103duri dese \u015fi verzi, c\u00e2mpii cu flori de cari nu mai v\u0103zuse fata, izvoare cu ape limpezi \u015fi reci, \u015fi ajunser\u0103 la curtea \u00eemp\u0103ratului celui mare \u015fi tare.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ceilal\u0163i fii de \u00eemp\u0103ra\u0163i cari slujeau acolo \u00eei ie\u015fir\u0103 \u00eenainte \u015fi o \u00eent\u00e2mpinar\u0103. Ei nu se puteau dezlipi de d\u00e2nsa, c\u0103ci \u015fi vorba-i \u015fi fa\u0163a \u00eei erau cu lipici.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A doua zi se \u00eenf\u0103\u0163i\u015f\u0103 la \u00eemp\u0103ratul \u015fi spuse pentru ce a venit. \u00cemp\u0103ratul nu mai putea de bucurie c\u0103-i sosise a\u015fa voinic chipe\u015f \u015fi dr\u0103g\u0103la\u015f. \u00cei pl\u0103ceau prea mult r\u0103spunsurile ce primea la \u00eentreb\u0103rile lui, se vedea c\u00e2t de colo c\u0103 vorbea cu \u00een\u0163elepciune \u015fi supunere. V\u0103z\u00e2nd \u00eemp\u0103ratul un t\u00e2n\u0103r a\u015fa de cu minte, prinse dragoste de el \u015fi-l lu\u0103 pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 d\u00e2nsul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata de \u00eemp\u0103rat nu se putu \u00eemprieteni cu to\u0163i ceilal\u0163i fii de \u00eemp\u0103ra\u0163i, fiindc\u0103 cei mai mul\u0163i erau n\u0103zuro\u015fi, tembeli \u015fi de\u015fuchea\u0163i; iar\u0103 ei prinseser\u0103 pizm\u0103 pe d\u00e2nsa pentru aceasta; \u015fi, pentru c\u0103 v\u0103zuse c\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103ratul o lua \u00een nume de bine, \u00eei purtau s\u00e2mbetele.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00centr-una din zile ea \u00ee\u015fi g\u0103ti bucate singur\u0103 \u015fi \u015fedea la mas\u0103, c\u00e2nd doi din ceilal\u0163i fii de \u00eemp\u0103ra\u0163i venir\u0103 s\u0103 o vaz\u0103. \u015eezur\u0103 deci cu to\u0163i \u015fi m\u00e2ncar\u0103. At\u00e2t de mult pl\u0103cur\u0103 acestor fii de \u00eemp\u0103ra\u0163i bucatele, \u00eenc\u00e2t \u00ee\u015fi lingeau \u015fi degetele c\u00e2nd m\u00e2ncau. O l\u0103udar\u0103 pentru me\u015fte\u015fugul de a face bucatele \u015fi ziser\u0103 c\u0103 de c\u00e2nd sunt ei, nu mai m\u00e2ncaser\u0103 a\u015fa bucate bune.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum se \u00eent\u00e2lnir\u0103 ace\u015ftia cu ceilal\u0163i fii de \u00eemp\u0103ra\u0163i, le spuser\u0103 c\u0103 au fost la mas\u0103 la fiul de \u00eemp\u0103rat venit de cur\u00e2nd, c\u0103 au m\u00e2ncat cum nici \u00eemp\u0103ratul nu m\u0103n\u00e2nc\u0103 \u015fi c\u0103 bucatele au fost g\u0103tite de d\u00e2nsul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Atunci to\u0163i fiii de \u00eemp\u0103ra\u0163i se alegar\u0103 de d\u00e2nsa s\u0103 le g\u0103teasc\u0103 \u00eentr-o zi ea bucatele. \u015ei iat\u0103 c\u0103 tocmai \u00een ziua aceea buc\u0103tarii cur\u0163ii se \u00eemb\u0103taser\u0103, sau nu \u015ftiu ce f\u0103cuser\u0103, c\u0103 nici focul nu era f\u0103cut pe vatr\u0103. \u015ei a\u015fa, rugat\u0103 fiind cu st\u0103ruin\u0163\u0103, se apuc\u0103 \u015fi ea de g\u0103ti ni\u015fte bucate \u00eenfrico\u015fate. C\u00e2nd le aduse pe mas\u0103 la \u00eemp\u0103ratul, acesta nu se putea s\u0103tura m\u00e2nc\u00e2nd. Iar\u0103 dac\u0103 chem\u0103 pe buc\u0103tar \u015fi-i dede porunc\u0103 c\u0103 tot astfel de bucate s\u0103-i g\u0103teasc\u0103, el spuse cine a g\u0103tit \u00een ziua aceea. \u00cemp\u0103ratul r\u0103mase pe g\u00e2nduri.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Apoi venir\u0103 \u015fi ceilal\u0163i fii de \u00eemp\u0103ra\u0163i \u015fi spuse \u00eemp\u0103ratului c\u0103 fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului de cur\u00e2nd venit s-ar fi l\u0103udat la un chef ce au f\u0103cut cu to\u0163ii, c\u0103 \u015ftie unde este Ileana Simziana, cosi\u0163\u0103 de aur, c\u00e2mpul \u00eenverze\u015fte, florile-nflore\u015fte, \u015fi c\u0103 are o cosi\u0163\u0103 din cosi\u0163a ei. Cum auzi \u00eemp\u0103ratul aceasta, porunci s\u0103-l cheme \u015fi \u00eendat\u0103 \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Tu ai \u015ftiut de Ileana Simziana \u015fi mie nu mi-ai spus nimic, m\u0103car c\u0103 \u0163i-am ar\u0103tat dragoste \u015fi te-am cinstit mai mult dec\u00e2t pe ceilal\u0163i.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce ceru \u015fi v\u0103zu cosi\u0163a de p\u0103r, \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Porunc\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasc\u0103 s\u0103 \u015ftii c\u0103 ai s\u0103-mi aduci pe st\u0103p\u00e2na acestei cosi\u0163e; c\u0103ci de nu, unde-\u0163i stau talpele \u00ee\u0163i va sta \u015fi capul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Biata fat\u0103 de \u00eemp\u0103rat se cerc\u0103 s\u0103 zic\u0103 \u015fi ea ceva, dar\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103ratul \u00eei t\u0103i\u0103 cuv\u00e2ntul. Apoi se duse de spuse calului cele ce se \u00eent\u00e2mplar\u0103. Calul \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu te speria, st\u0103p\u00e2n\u0103. Ast\u0103-noapte chiar frate-meu mi-a adus r\u0103spuns c\u0103 pe st\u0103p\u00e2na cosi\u0163ei a furat-o un zmeu; c\u0103 ea nu voie\u015fte nici \u00een ruptul capului s\u0103-l iubeasc\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 nu-i va aduce herghelia ei de iepe; \u015fi c\u0103 zmeul \u00ee\u015fi bate capul cum s\u0103-i \u00eemplineasc\u0103 dorin\u0163a. Ea este acum \u00een sm\u00e2rcurile m\u0103rilor. Du-te la \u00eemp\u0103ratul s\u0103-\u0163i dea dou\u0103zeci de cor\u0103bii, \u015fi ia marf\u0103 de cea mai frumoas\u0103 de pune \u00eentr-\u00eensele.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata de \u00eemp\u0103rat nu a\u015ftept\u0103 s\u0103-i zic\u0103 de dou\u0103 ori, \u015fi se duse drept la \u00eemp\u0103ratul:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 S\u0103 tr\u0103ie\u015fti, luminate \u00eemp\u0103rate, \u015fi s\u0103-\u0163i fie fa\u0163a cinstit\u0103. Am venit s\u0103-\u0163i spun c\u0103 slujba cu care m-ai \u00eens\u0103rcinat o voi \u00eemplini-o, daca-mi vei da dou\u0103zeci de cor\u0103bii \u015fi bani ca s\u0103 cump\u0103r marfa cea mai frumoas\u0103 \u015fi mai scump\u0103 ca s\u0103 pun \u00eentr-\u00eensele.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 S\u0103 se fac\u0103 a\u015fa precum zici tu, numai s\u0103-mi aduci pe Ileana Simziana, \u00eei r\u0103spunse \u00eemp\u0103ratul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum se g\u0103tir\u0103 cor\u0103biile, le \u00eenc\u0103rcar\u0103 cu marf\u0103 \u015fi fata de \u00eemp\u0103rat \u00eempreun\u0103 cu Galben-de-soare intr\u0103 \u00een cea mai frumoas\u0103 \u015fi plecar\u0103. Nici v\u00e2nturi, nici valurile m\u0103rii nu putur\u0103 s\u0103 le stea \u00eempotriv\u0103 \u015fi, dup\u0103 o c\u0103l\u0103torie de c\u00e2teva s\u0103pt\u0103m\u00e2ni, ajunser\u0103 la sm\u00e2rcurile m\u0103rilor. Acolo st\u0103tur\u0103. Fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului \u015fi cu Galben-de-soare ie\u015fir\u0103 la uscat \u015fi \u00eemblau pe \u0163\u0103rmuri; \u00eens\u0103 c\u00e2nd ie\u015fir\u0103, luar\u0103 din corabie o p\u0103reche de conduri cusu\u0163i numai cu fir \u015fi \u00eempodobi\u0163i cu pietre nestemate. Tot \u00eembl\u00e2nd pe aci, z\u0103rir\u0103 ni\u015fte palaturi cari se \u00eenv\u00e2rteau dup\u0103 soare, \u015fi o luar\u0103 \u00eentr-acolo. \u00cen cale se \u00eent\u00e2lnir\u0103 cu trei roabe de ale zmeului, cari p\u0103zeau pe Ileana Simziana. Cum v\u0103zur\u0103 ele condurii, li se scurgeau ochii dup\u0103 d\u00e2n\u015fii; iar\u0103 fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului le spuse c\u0103 este un negu\u0163\u0103tor care a r\u0103t\u0103cit drumul pe mare.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00centorc\u00e2ndu-se roabele, spuse doamnei lor cele ce v\u0103zuser\u0103; iar\u0103 ea z\u0103rise de pe fereastr\u0103 pe negu\u0163\u0103torul; de cum \u00eel ochi, \u00eencepu s\u0103-i t\u00e2c\u00e2ie inima, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 \u015ftie de ce; \u015fi era bun\u0103 bucuroas\u0103 de a putea s\u0103 scape de zmeu, mai cu seam\u0103 c\u0103 nu era atunci acolo, fiindc\u0103-l tr\u0103misese ca s\u0103-i aduc\u0103 herghelia ei cu iepele.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce ascult\u0103 cele ce-i spuse roabele, se duse la negu\u0163\u0103tor, care a\u015ftepta la poart\u0103, ca s\u0103 vaz\u0103 \u015fi ea condurii; dar\u0103 dup\u0103 ce auzi de la negu\u0163\u0103tor c\u0103 are \u00een corabie marf\u0103 \u015fi mai scump\u0103 \u015fi mai frumoas\u0103, se \u00eenduplec\u0103 de rug\u0103ciunile negu\u0163\u0103torului \u015fi pofti s\u0103 mearg\u0103 s\u0103-i vaz\u0103 marfa; ajung\u00e2nd la corabie \u015fi tot aleg\u00e2nd la marf\u0103, nu b\u0103gase de seam\u0103 c\u0103 lop\u0103tarii dep\u0103rtaser\u0103 corabia de la uscat, \u015fi d\u00e2nd Dumnezeu un v\u00e2nt bun, cor\u0103biile mergeau ca s\u0103geata; c\u00e2nd se pomeni \u00een mijlocul m\u0103rii, Ileana Simziana se pref\u0103cu c\u0103-i pare r\u0103u \u015fi prinse a certa pe negu\u0163\u0103tor c\u0103 o \u00een\u015felase, iar\u0103-n sufletul ei ruga pe Dumnezeu s\u0103-i ajute a sc\u0103pa de iazma de zmeu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ajunser\u0103 cu norocire la \u0163\u0103rm, c\u00e2nd, ce s\u0103 vezi! dr\u0103coaica de muma zmeului, cum auzi de la roabe c\u0103 pe Ileana Simziana o furase un negu\u0163\u0103tor \u015fi fugea cu d\u00e2nsa cu cor\u0103biile, se lu\u0103 dup\u0103 ei; \u015fi ajung\u00e2nd la \u0163\u0103rm, o v\u0103zur\u0103 venind dup\u0103 d\u00e2n\u015fii ca o leoaic\u0103, cu o falc\u0103 \u00een cer \u015fi una \u00een p\u0103m\u00e2nt \u015fi arunc\u00e2nd v\u0103paie din gura ei ca dintr-un cuptor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum o v\u0103zu Ileana Simziana, \u00een\u0163elese c\u0103 e zgrip\u0163uroaica de mum\u0103 a zmeului, spuse negu\u0163\u0103torul, cu care era c\u0103lare pe Galben-de-soare, \u015fi \u00eencepu a pl\u00e2nge cu foc.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului \u00eentreb\u0103 pe Galben-de-soare ce s\u0103 fac\u0103, c\u0103 o dogore\u015fte v\u0103paia ce iese din gura zmeoaicei, iar\u0103 Galben-de-soare \u00eei r\u0103spunse:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Bag\u0103 m\u00e2na \u00een urechea mea cea st\u00e2ng\u0103, de scoate gresia ce este acolo, \u015fi o arunc\u0103 \u00eenapoi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A\u015fa f\u0103cu fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului. Apoi o luar\u0103 iute la picior, pe c\u00e2nd \u00een urma lor se n\u0103l\u0163\u0103 deodat\u0103 un munte de piatr\u0103 care atingea cerul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Muma zmeului f\u0103cu ce f\u0103cu \u015fi trecu muntele, c\u0103\u0163\u0103r\u00e2ndu-se din col\u0163 \u00een col\u0163, \u015fi, s\u0103 te \u0163ii dup\u0103 d\u00e2n\u015fii! V\u0103z\u00e2nd Ileana Simziana c\u0103 iar\u0103 era s\u0103-i ajung\u0103, spuse negu\u0163\u0103torului; iar\u0103 acesta, dup\u0103 ce se \u00een\u0163elese cu calul, scoase din urechea lui cea dreapt\u0103 o perie \u015fi o arunc\u0103 \u00eenapoi. \u00cendat\u0103 se f\u0103cu o p\u0103dure mare \u015fi deas\u0103, de nu putea s\u0103 treac\u0103 prin ea nici pui de fiar\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Muma zmeului roase din copaci, se ag\u0103\u0163\u0103 de ramure, s\u0103ri din v\u00e2rf \u00een v\u00e2rf, se strecur\u0103, \u015fi tot dup\u0103 d\u00e2n\u015fii, alerg\u00e2nd ca un v\u00e2rtej! Dac\u0103 v\u0103zur\u0103 c\u0103 \u015fi de ast\u0103 dat\u0103 \u00eembl\u0103 s\u0103-i ajung\u0103, fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului \u00eentreb\u0103 iar\u0103 pe cal ce s\u0103 fac\u0103, \u015fi acesta \u00eei zise s\u0103 ia inelul de logodn\u0103 ce se afl\u0103 \u00een degetul Ileanei Simzianei \u015fi s\u0103-l arunce \u00eenapoi. Cum arunc\u0103 inelul, se f\u0103cu un zid de cremene p\u00e2n\u0103 la cer.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Muma zmeului, dac\u0103 v\u0103zu c\u0103 nu se poate urca pe d\u00e2nsul \u015fi s\u0103 treac\u0103 dincolo, nici s\u0103 roaz\u0103 din acest zid, nu mai putea de ciud\u0103, \u015fi cum era de c\u0103tr\u0103nit\u0103 \u015fi am\u0103r\u00e2t\u0103, se urc\u0103 \u015fi ajunse cu gura la gaura ce l\u0103sase inelul s\u0103 r\u0103m\u00e2n\u0103, \u015fi sufl\u0103 v\u0103paie din gura ei cea spurcat\u0103 cale de trei ceasuri ca s\u0103-i ajung\u0103 \u015fi s\u0103-i p\u00e2rjoleasc\u0103, dar\u0103 ei se a\u015fezar\u0103 jos la r\u0103d\u0103cina zidului \u015fi nu le p\u0103sa nimic de focul zmeoaicei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Zmeoaica sufl\u0103 ce sufl\u0103 \u015fi dac\u0103 v\u0103zu c\u0103 nu poate s\u0103-i pr\u0103p\u0103deasc\u0103, nici s\u0103 pun\u0103 m\u00e2na pe d\u00e2n\u015fii, plesni fierea \u00eentr-\u00eensa de necaz, c\u0103zu \u015fi cr\u0103p\u0103 ca necuratul; iar\u0103 ei a\u015fteptar\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 s\u0103 moar\u0103 bine, apoi negu\u0163\u0103torul b\u0103g\u0103 degetul \u00een gaura inelului, dup\u0103 cum \u00eel \u00eenv\u0103\u0163ase Galben-de-soare, \u015fi zidul pieri ca \u015fi cum n-ar mai fi fost \u015fi-i r\u0103mase inelul \u00een deget. Dup\u0103 ce se uitar\u0103 la st\u00e2rvul zmeoaicei \u015fi f\u0103cur\u0103 haz de d\u00e2nsul, \u00eel l\u0103sar\u0103 corbilor \u015fi pornir\u0103 mai departe \u015fi merser\u0103 \u015fi merser\u0103, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce ajunse la curtea \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasc\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ajung\u00e2nd, se \u00eenf\u0103\u0163i\u015f\u0103 la \u00eemp\u0103ratul; acesta priimi cu mult\u0103 cinste pe Ileana Simziana. El nu mai putea de bucurie, \u015fi se \u00eendr\u0103gosti de d\u00e2nsa de cum o v\u0103zu. Iar\u0103 Ileana Simziana se c\u0103ina \u015fi se \u00eentrista \u00een sufletul ei c\u0103 n-avea tri\u015fte. Cum se poate, zicea ea, s\u0103 ajung\u0103 pe m\u00e2inile unora \u015fi altora, pe cari nu putea s\u0103-i vaz\u0103 de ur\u00e2\u0163i ce-i erau. Inima \u015fi ochii ei era tot la F\u0103tul-Frumos care o sc\u0103pase din m\u00e2na zmeului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd \u00eens\u0103 o sili \u00eemp\u0103ratul ca s\u0103 se cunune cu el, ea \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Luminate \u00eemp\u0103rate, s\u0103-\u0163i st\u0103p\u00e2ne\u015fti \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia cu norocire; dar\u0103 eu nu m\u0103 pot m\u0103rita p\u00e2n\u0103 nu mi s-o aduce herghelia de iepe, cu arm\u0103sarul ei cu tot.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Auzind astfel \u00eemp\u0103ratul, chem\u0103 \u00eendat\u0103 pe fata de \u00eemp\u0103rat \u015fi-i zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 S\u0103 te duci s\u0103-mi aduci herghelia de iepe, cu arm\u0103sarul ei cu tot, a iubietei mele; c\u0103ci de nu, unde-\u0163i stau picioarele, \u00ee\u0163i va sta \u015fi capul!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Pream\u0103rite \u00eemp\u0103rate! m-ai \u00eens\u0103rcinat cu o slujb\u0103 care abia am s\u0103v\u00e2r\u015fit-o, fiindu-mi capul \u00een joc. Ai la curtea m\u0103riei-tale at\u00e2\u0163i viteji fii de \u00eemp\u0103ra\u0163i; \u015fi fiindc\u0103 to\u0163i te \u0163in de om drept \u015fi cu frica lui Dumnezeu, eu socotesc c\u0103 ar fi cu dreptul ca s\u0103 dai la altul aceast\u0103 slujb\u0103. Ce m\u0103 \u015ftiu eu face, \u015fi de unde s\u0103-\u0163i aduc eu herghelia ce-mi porunce\u015fti?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu \u015ftiu eu. Din p\u0103m\u00e2nt, din iarb\u0103 verde, s\u0103 te duci s\u0103-mi aduci herghelia, \u015fi s\u0103 nu \u00eendr\u0103zne\u015fti a mai zice nici o vorb\u0103 m\u0103car.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Atunci fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului se \u00eenchin\u0103 \u015fi ie\u015fi. Ea se duse de spuse lui Galbendesoare ceea ce i se poruncise. Iar\u0103 calul \u00eei r\u0103spunse:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Du-te de caut\u0103 nou\u0103 piei de bivol, s\u0103 le c\u0103tr\u0103ne\u015fti \u015fi s\u0103 le a\u015fezi bine pe mine. Nu te teme, c\u0103, cu ajutorul lui Dumnezeu, vei scoate-o la c\u0103p\u0103t\u00e2i bun \u015fi slujba cu care te-a \u00eempov\u0103rat \u00eemp\u0103ratul. Dar\u0103 trebuie s\u0103 \u015ftii c\u0103 cu amar are s\u0103-i vin\u0103 \u015fi lui, la urma urmelor, pentru faptele sale.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului f\u0103cu precum \u00eei zisese calul \u015fi pornir\u0103 am\u00e2ndoi. Dup\u0103 o cale lung\u0103 \u015fi grea, ajunser\u0103 pe t\u0103r\u00e2mul unde p\u0103\u015fteau iepele. Acolo se \u00eent\u00e2lni cu zmeul care furase pe Ileana Simziana, r\u0103t\u0103cind ca un bezmetic \u015fi ne\u015ftiind cum s\u0103 fac\u0103 ca s\u0103 aduc\u0103 herghelia. \u00cei spuse c\u0103 Ileana nu mai este a lui \u015fi c\u0103 m\u0103-sa cr\u0103pase de necaz, pentru c\u0103 nu putuse s\u0103-i scape de la r\u0103pitor pe iubita lui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Auzind zmeul aceasta, se f\u0103cu foc \u015fi par\u0103 de m\u00e2nie, se turbur\u0103 de necaz \u015fi nu mai vedea \u00eenaintea ochilor. Apoi, dup\u0103 ce \u00een\u0163elese c\u0103 are a face tocmai cu r\u0103pitorul iubitei sale, \u00ee\u015fi pierdu cump\u0103tul de sup\u0103rare \u015fi am\u0103r\u0103ciune; \u015fi r\u0103cnind ca un leu, se lu\u0103 la lupt\u0103 cu fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului, care \u00ee\u015fi \u0163inea firea \u015fi pe care o \u00eemb\u0103rb\u0103ta calul. Pe fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului o ferea calul de loviturile zmeului; c\u0103ci, c\u00e2nd vedea c\u0103 r\u0103dic\u0103 sabia s\u0103 dea, odat\u0103 se r\u0103dica mai sus dec\u00e2t zmeul, \u015fi el da \u00een v\u00e2nt; iar\u0103 c\u00e2nd aducea fata palo\u015ful, calul se l\u0103sa r\u0103pede asupra calului zmeului \u015fi ea da \u00een carne vie. Dup\u0103 ce se luptar\u0103 de credeai c\u0103 a s\u0103 se scufunde p\u0103m\u00e2ntul subt ei, nu \u015ftiu cum \u00eei veni bine fetei \u00eemp\u0103ratului, aduse palo\u015ful cam piezi\u015f \u015fi-i retez\u0103 capul. Apoi, l\u0103s\u00e2ndu-i st\u00e2rvul ciorilor \u015fi co\u0163ofenilor, se duser\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 ajunser\u0103 la locul unde se afla herghelia.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Aci, calul zise fetei de \u00eemp\u0103rat s\u0103 se urce ea \u00eentr-un pom ce era acolo, \u015fi s\u0103 priveasc\u0103 la lupta lor. Dup\u0103 ce se urc\u0103 fata \u00een pom, nechez\u0103 Galben-de-soare de trei ori \u015fi toat\u0103 herghelia de iepe se adun\u0103 \u00eemprejurul lui. Apoi deodat\u0103 se ar\u0103t\u0103 \u015fi arm\u0103sarul iepelor, plin de spune \u015fi sfor\u0103ind de m\u00e2nie. \u015ei v\u0103z\u00e2nd pe Galben-de-soare \u00een mijlocul iepelor, se r\u0103pezi la d\u00e2nsul cu turbare \u015fi se \u00eencinse o lupt\u0103 s\u0103 te fereasc\u0103 Dumnezeu! C\u00e2nd se da arm\u0103sarul la Galben-de-soare, mu\u015fca din pieile de bivol; iar\u0103 c\u00e2nd se da acesta la arm\u0103sar, mu\u015fca din carne vie, \u015fi se b\u0103tur\u0103, \u015fi se b\u0103tur\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 ce arm\u0103sarul, sf\u00e2\u015fiat, h\u0103rt\u0103nit de sus p\u00e2n\u0103 jos \u015fi plin de s\u00e2nge, fu r\u0103zbit \u015fi biruit; iar\u0103 Galbendesoare sc\u0103pase teaf\u0103r, fiindc\u0103 se h\u0103rt\u0103nise pieile de bivol. Atunci se dete fata jos din pom, \u00eenc\u0103lec\u0103 \u015fi luar\u0103 herghelia, m\u00e2n\u00e2nd-o de dinapoi; iar\u0103 arm\u0103sarul abia se t\u00e2ra dup\u0103 d\u00e2nsa.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce b\u0103g\u0103 herghelia \u00een curtea \u00eemp\u0103ratului, se duse de-l \u00een\u015ftiin\u0163\u0103. Atunci ie\u015fi Ileana Simziana \u015fi le chem\u0103 pe nume. Arm\u0103sarul, cum \u00eei auzi glasul, \u00eendat\u0103 se scutur\u0103 \u015fi se f\u0103cu ca \u00eent\u00e2i, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 se cunoasc\u0103 semn de rane pe el.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ileana Simziana zise \u00eemp\u0103ratului s\u0103 pun\u0103 pe cineva s\u0103-i mulg\u0103 iepele, ca s\u0103 se \u00eemb\u0103ieze am\u00e2ndoi. Dar cine putea s\u0103 se apropie de ele? c\u0103 azv\u00e2rleau din copite dezv\u00e2nta unde loveau. Dac\u0103 nimeni nu putu, \u00eemp\u0103ratul porunci iar\u0103\u015fi fetei de \u00eemp\u0103rat s\u0103 le mulg\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului, cu inima zdrobit\u0103 de m\u00e2hnire \u015fi obid\u0103 c\u0103 tot pe d\u00e2nsa o punea la lucrurile cele mai grele, \u015fi fiind curat\u0103 \u00een cugetul ei, se rug\u0103 lui Dumnezeu cu credin\u0163\u0103 ca s\u0103 o ajute s\u0103 sf\u00e2r\u015feasc\u0103 cu bine \u015fi slujba aceasta. \u015ei unde \u00eencepu o ploaie dalea de p\u0103rea c\u0103 toarn\u0103 cu g\u0103leata, \u015fi \u00eendat\u0103 ajunse apa p\u00e2n\u0103 la genunchile iepelor, apoi dete un \u00eenghe\u0163 de nu se mai puteau mi\u015fca din loc. V\u0103z\u00e2nd minunea aceasta, fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului mai \u00eent\u00e2i mul\u0163umi lui Dumnezeu pentru ajutorul ce-i dete, apoi se puse de mulse iepele.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul se topea de dragoste pentru Ileana Simziana \u015fi se uita la d\u00e2nsa ca la un cire\u015f copt; dar\u0103 ea nici nu-l b\u0103ga \u00een seam\u0103, ci tot da, zi dup\u0103 zi, cu fel de fel de vorbe, a se cununa. \u00cen cele de pe urm\u0103, \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 V\u0103z, luminate \u00eemp\u0103rate, c\u0103 tot ce am cerut mi s-a \u00eemplinit. Un lucru ne mai trebuie, \u015fi apoi s\u0103 \u015ftii c\u0103 ne vom cununa.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Porumbi\u0163a mea, \u00eei r\u0103spunse \u00eemp\u0103ratul, \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia mea \u015fi eu suntem supu\u015fi ascult\u0103tori ai poruncilor tale. Cere ce mai ai de cerut cu un ceas mai cur\u00e2nd, c\u0103 iat\u0103 m\u0103 sf\u00e2r\u015fesc de dragoste pentru tine. Am ajuns ca un n\u0103uc, visez de\u015ftept, nu mai \u015ftiu ce fac, c\u00e2nd m\u0103 uit la ochii t\u0103i cei frumo\u015fi \u015fi t\u00e2njitori.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0-Dac\u0103 este a\u015fa, mai zise Ileana Simziana, s\u0103-mi aduci vasul cu botez care se p\u0103streaz\u0103 \u00eentr-o bisericu\u0163\u0103 de peste apa Iordanului, \u015fi atunci ne vom cununa.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum auzi \u00eemp\u0103ratul aceasta, chem\u0103 iar\u0103\u015fi pe fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului \u015fi-i porunci s\u0103 fac\u0103 ce o face \u015fi cum va \u015fti ea, s\u0103-i aduc\u0103 ceea ce poruncise Ileana Simziana.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata de \u00eemp\u0103rat cum auzi, se duse de spuse lui Galben-de-soare, \u015fi el \u00eei r\u0103spunse:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Aceasta este cea din urm\u0103 \u015fi mai grea slujb\u0103 ce mai ai s\u0103 faci. Aibi \u00eens\u0103 n\u0103dejde \u00een Dumnezeu, st\u0103p\u00e2n\u0103, c\u0103ci \u015fi \u00eemp\u0103ratului i s-a \u00eemplinit.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se g\u0103tir\u0103 \u015fi plecar\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Calul \u015ftia de toate astea, c\u0103ci nu era el n\u0103zdr\u0103van de florile m\u0103rului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0El spuse fetei \u00eemp\u0103ratului zic\u00e2nd:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Acel vas cu botez se afl\u0103 pe o mas\u0103 \u00een mijlocul unei bisericu\u0163e \u015fi-l p\u0103zesc ni\u015fte c\u0103lug\u0103ri\u0163e. Ele nu dorm nici zi, nici noapte. Din c\u00e2nd \u00een c\u00e2nd \u00eens\u0103 un pustnic vine pe la ele de le pov\u0103\u0163uie\u015fte cele sfinte pentru Domnul. C\u00e2nd sunt la ascultare de le \u00eenva\u0163\u0103 pustnicul, r\u0103m\u00e2ne numai una de p\u00e2nd\u0103. De am putea nemeri la vremea aceea, tocmai bine ar fi; de nu, cine \u015ftie c\u00e2t avem a z\u0103b\u0103vi, c\u0103ci altfel nu e chip.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se duser\u0103 deci, trecur\u0103 apa Iordanului \u015fi ajunser\u0103 la acea bisericu\u0163\u0103. Noroc c\u0103 tocmai atunci sosise pustnicul \u015fi chemase pe toate c\u0103lug\u0103ri\u0163ele la ascultare. Numai una r\u0103m\u0103sese de paz\u0103; \u015fi aceasta, obosit\u0103 fiind de \u015federea \u00eendelungat\u0103, o prinse somnul. Ca s\u0103 nu se \u00eent\u00e2mple \u00eens\u0103 cine \u015ftie ce, ea se culc\u0103 pe pragul u\u015fei, cu g\u00e2nd c\u0103 n-o s\u0103 poat\u0103 nimeni intra f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 sim\u0163\u0103 ea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Galben-de-soare pov\u0103\u0163ui pe fata de \u00eemp\u0103rat cum s\u0103 fac\u0103 s\u0103 pun\u0103 m\u00e2na pe vasul cu botez. Fata se duse bini\u015for, se strecur\u0103 pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 zid \u015fi, p\u00e2\u015f-p\u00e2\u015f, \u00een v\u00e2rful degetelor, p\u00e2n\u0103 la u\u015f\u0103. Aci odat\u0103 s\u0103ri ca o pisic\u0103 de u\u015fure peste prag, de nici nu atinse pe c\u0103lug\u0103ri\u0163a pe care o furase somnul; \u015fi, pun\u00e2nd m\u00e2na pe vas, ie\u015fi cum a intrat, \u00eenc\u0103lec\u0103 pe cal \u015fi pe ici \u0163i-e drumul!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u0103lug\u0103ri\u0163a sim\u0163i, s\u0103ri \u00een sus \u015fi, v\u0103z\u00e2nd c\u0103 lipse\u015fte vasul, \u00eencepu a se boci de \u0163i se rupea r\u0103runchii de mil\u0103. \u00cendat\u0103 se adunar\u0103 c\u0103lug\u0103ri\u0163ele \u015fi se v\u0103ic\u0103reau de focul ce le ajunsese. Pustnicul, dac\u0103 v\u0103zu c\u0103 s-a sp\u0103lat pe m\u00e2ini de vasul cu botez, c\u0103t\u0103 c\u0103tre fata de \u00eemp\u0103rat cum zbura cu Galben-de-soare \u015fi, r\u0103dic\u00e2nd m\u00e2inile \u00een sus \u015fi \u00eengenunchind, o blestem\u0103 zic\u00e2nd:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Doamne, Doamne sfinte! f\u0103 ca nelegiuitul care a cutezat s\u0103 pun\u0103 m\u00e2na lui p\u00e2ng\u0103rit\u0103 pe sf\u00e2ntul vas cu botez s\u0103 se fac\u0103 muiere, de va fi b\u0103rbat; iar\u0103 de va fi muiere, s\u0103 se fac\u0103 b\u0103rbat!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei \u00eendat\u0103 rug\u0103ciunea pustnicului se ascult\u0103. Fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului se f\u0103cu un fl\u0103c\u0103u de\u0163i era drag\u0103 lumea s\u0103 te ui\u0163i la el.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum ajunse la \u00eemp\u0103ratul, se mir\u0103 \u015fi nu \u015ftia ce s\u0103 creaz\u0103 ochilor s\u0103i, b\u0103g\u00e2nd de seam\u0103 c\u0103 se schimbase; lui i se p\u0103rea c\u0103 nu mai este cum era la plecare, ci c\u0103 acum e mai chipos \u015fi mai seme\u0163. Cum dete vasul, zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 M\u0103rite \u00eemp\u0103rate, \u0163i-am f\u0103cu slujbele cu cari m-ai \u00eens\u0103rcinat. Socotesc c\u0103 acum am sf\u00e2r\u015fit. Fii fericit \u015fi domne\u015fte cu pace c\u00e2t mila Domnului va voi!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Sunt mul\u0163umit de slujbele tale, zise \u00eemp\u0103ratul; s\u0103 \u015ftii c\u0103 dup\u0103 moartea mea tu ai s\u0103 te urci pe scaunul \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei mele, fiindc\u0103 eu n-am mo\u015ftenitor p\u00e2n\u0103 acum. Iar\u0103 dac\u0103 Dumnezeu \u00eemi va da un fiu, tu vei fi m\u00e2na lui cea dreapt\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0To\u0163i sfetnicii \u015fi fiii de \u00eemp\u0103rat erau de fa\u0163\u0103 c\u00e2nd a zis \u00eemp\u0103ratul vorbele acestea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ileana Simziana, dac\u0103 v\u0103zu c\u0103 i se \u00eemplini \u015fi ast\u0103 voin\u0163\u0103, se hot\u0103r\u00ee s\u0103-\u015fi r\u0103zbune asupra \u00eemp\u0103ratului, pentru c\u0103 trimise tot pe F\u0103tul ei Frumos la toate slujbele cele grele, cari puteau s\u0103-l r\u0103pun\u0103; c\u0103ci ea credea c\u0103 \u00eensu\u015fi \u00eemp\u0103ratul se va duce s\u0103-i aduc\u0103 vasul cu botez, fiindc\u0103 el putea mai lesne s-o fac\u0103, de vreme ce to\u0163i se supuneau la porunca lui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ea porunci s\u0103 \u00eenc\u0103lzeasc\u0103 baia \u015fi \u00eempreun\u0103 cu \u00eemp\u0103ratul s\u0103 se \u00eemb\u0103ieze \u00een laptele iepelor ei. Dup\u0103 ce intr\u0103 \u00een baie, porunci s\u0103-i aduc\u0103 arm\u0103sarul ca s\u0103 sufle aer r\u0103coros. \u015ei dac\u0103 veni, arm\u0103sarul sufl\u0103 cu o nar\u0103 \u00eenspre d\u00e2nsa r\u0103coare, iar\u0103 cu alt\u0103 nar\u0103 \u00eenspre \u00eemp\u0103ratul aer \u00eenfocat, \u00eenc\u00e2t fierse \u015fi ma\u0163ele dintr-\u00eensul, \u015fi r\u0103mase mort pe loc.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mare v\u00e2lv\u0103 se f\u0103cu \u00een \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ie c\u00e2nd se auzi de moartea \u00eemp\u0103ratului celui mare \u015fi tare; to\u0163i din toate p\u0103r\u0163ile se adunar\u0103 \u015fi-i f\u0103cur\u0103 o \u00eenmorm\u00e2ntare d-ale \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103te\u015ftile.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 acestea, zise Ileana Simziana F\u0103tului-Frumos:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Tu m-ai adus aici, tu mi-ai adus herghelia, tu ai omor\u00e2t pe zmeul care m\u0103 furase, tu mi-ai adus vasul cu botez, tu s\u0103-mi fii b\u0103rbat. Aidem s\u0103 ne \u00eemb\u0103iem \u015fi s\u0103 ne cunun\u0103m.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Eu te voi lua, dac\u0103 tu m\u0103 alegi, r\u0103spunse F\u0103t-Frumos; dar\u0103 s\u0103 \u015ftii c\u0103 \u00een casa noastr\u0103 voi ca s\u0103 c\u00e2nte coco\u015ful, iar\u0103 nu g\u0103ina.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se \u00eenvoir\u0103 \u015fi intrar\u0103 \u00een baie. Ileana chem\u0103 arm\u0103sarul ei ca s\u0103 \u00eencropeasc\u0103 laptele \u00een care se vor \u00eemb\u0103ia. Chem\u0103 \u015fi \u00eemp\u0103ratul cel nou pe Galben-de-soare. \u015ei astfel am\u00e2ndoi caii se \u00eentreceau care de care s\u0103 fac\u0103 baia mai potrivit\u0103 de cald\u0103 st\u0103p\u00e2nului s\u0103u, \u015fi mai nimerit de \u00eencropit\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce s-au \u00eemb\u0103iat, a doua zi s-au \u015fi cununat. Apoi s-au urcat \u00een scaunul \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei. Trei s\u0103pt\u0103m\u00e2ni \u0163inur\u0103 veseliile, \u015fi toat\u0103 lumea se bucura c\u0103 le-a dat Dumnezeu un \u00eemp\u0103rat a\u015fa de viteaz, care f\u0103cuse at\u00e2tea ispr\u0103vi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Iar\u0103 el domni cu dreptate \u015fi cu frica lui Dumnezeu, ocrotind pe s\u0103raci \u015fi neasuprind pe nimeni, \u015fi domnesc \u015fi \u00een ziua de ast\u0103zi de n-or fi murit.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Eram \u015fi eu p-acolo \u015fi c\u0103scam gura pe dinafar\u0103, pe la toate s\u0103rb\u0103rile, c\u0103ci nici pomeneal\u0103 nu era s\u0103 fiu \u015fi eu poftit, \u015fi apoi se \u015ftie c\u0103 nepoftitul scaun n-are.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cenc\u0103lecai p-o \u015fea \u015fi v-o spusei d-voastr\u0103 a\u015fa.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A fost odat\u0103 un \u00eemp\u0103rat. Acel \u00eemp\u0103rat mare \u015fi puternic b\u0103tuse pe to\u0163i \u00eemp\u0103ra\u0163ii de prinpregiurul lui \u015fi-i supusese, \u00eenc\u00e2t \u00ee\u015fi \u00eentinsese hotarele \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei sale pe unde a \u00een\u0163\u0103rcat dracul … <\/p>\n