\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A fost odat\u0103 un \u00eemp\u0103rat. Acest \u00eemp\u0103rat avea trei fete. R\u0103m\u00e2n\u00e2nd v\u0103duv, toat\u0103 dragostea lui el \u015fi-o aruncase asupra fetelor. Ele m\u0103rindu-se \u015fi v\u0103z\u00e2nd s\u00e2rguin\u0163a ce punea p\u0103rintele lor ca s\u0103 le creasc\u0103 pre ele, s\u0103 le \u00eenve\u0163e \u015fi s\u0103 le p\u0103zeasc\u0103 de orice r\u0103ut\u0103\u0163i \u015fi b\u00e2ntuieli, se sileau \u015fi ele din toat\u0103 puterea lor ca s\u0103-l fac\u0103 s\u0103 uite m\u00e2hnirea ce-l cuprinsese pentru moartea mumei lor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00centr-una din zile, ce-i vine \u00eemp\u0103ratului, c\u0103 numai \u00eentreab\u0103 pe fata cea mai mare: \u2013 Fata mea, cum m\u0103 iube\u015fti tu pe mine? \u2013 Cum s\u0103 te iubesc, tat\u0103? Iaca eu te iubesc ca mierea, r\u0103spunse ea, dup\u0103 ce se g\u00e2ndi c\u0103 ce lucru poate fi mai dulce pe lume. At\u00e2ta o t\u0103ie capul pe d\u00e2nsa, at\u00e2ta \u015fi vorbi. -S\u0103-mi tr\u0103ie\u015fti, fata mea; s\u0103-mi fac\u0103 Dumnezeu parte de tine.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei \u00eentreb\u00e2nd \u015fi pe fata cea mijlocie: \u2013 Dar tu, cum m\u0103 iube\u015fti pe mine, fata mea? \u2013 Ca zah\u0103rul, tat\u0103. At\u00e2ta o t\u0103ie \u015fi pe d\u00e2nsa capul \u015fi at\u00e2ta r\u0103spunse. \u2013 S\u0103-\u0163i dea Dumnezeu bine, fata mea. S\u0103 m\u0103 bucur de tine.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pas\u0103mite, fetele acestea erau lingu\u015fitoare \u015fi \u015ftiau s\u0103-\u015fi arate iubirea c\u0103tre p\u0103rintele lor mai mult dec\u00e2t o aveau.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul se bucur\u0103 c\u00e2t un lucru mare c\u00e2nd auzi de la fetele lui cele mai mari c\u00e2t \u00eel iubesc. El socoti c\u0103 altfel de iubire nu poate s\u0103 fie dec\u00e2t cea dulce ca mierea \u015fi ca zah\u0103rul. \u015ei uit\u00e2ndu-se \u015fi la fata cea mai mic\u0103, ce sta mai deoparte \u015fi cu sfial\u0103, o \u00eentreab\u0103 \u015fi pe d\u00e2nsa: \u2013 Cum m\u0103 iube\u015fti tu, fata mea? \u2013 Ca sarea \u00een bucate, tat\u0103! r\u0103spunse \u015fi ea cu fa\u0163a senin\u0103, z\u00e2mbind cu dragoste fireasc\u0103 \u015fi l\u0103s\u00e2ndu-\u015fi ochii \u00een jos, de ru\u015fine c\u0103 vorbi \u015fi ea. Ea se ru\u015fina, biet, v\u0103z\u00e2nd c\u0103 tat\u0103-s\u0103u o b\u0103gase \u015fi pe ea \u00een seam\u0103, ca o mai mic\u0103 ce era.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd auzir\u0103 surorile ei r\u0103spunsul ce dete ea tat\u0103lui lor, pufnir\u0103 \u00een r\u00e2s \u015fi-\u015fi \u00eentoarser\u0103 fe\u0163ele de c\u0103tre d\u00e2nsa. Iar tat\u0103l lor se \u00eencrunt\u0103 \u015fi, plin de sup\u0103rare, zise: \u2013 Ia f\u0103-te mai \u00eencoace, nesocotito, s\u0103 ne \u00een\u0163elegem la cuvinte. N-auzi\u015fi tu pe surorile tale cele mai mari cu ce fel de dragoste m\u0103 iubesc ele? Cum de nu te-ai luat dup\u0103 d\u00e2nsele ca s\u0103-mi spui c\u00e2t\u0103 dragoste dulce ai \u015fi tu c\u0103tre tat\u0103l t\u0103u? Pentru asta oare m\u0103 trudesc eu ca s\u0103 v\u0103 cresc \u015fi s\u0103 v\u0103 dau \u00eenv\u0103\u0163\u0103tur\u0103 cum altele s\u0103 nu fie \u00een lume ca voi? S\u0103 te duci de la mine cu sarea ta cu tot!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd auzi fata cea mic\u0103 a \u00eemp\u0103ratului urgia tat\u0103lui s\u0103u, ce c\u0103dea pe capul ei, intr\u0103 \u00een fundul p\u0103m\u00e2ntului de m\u00e2hnire c\u0103ci se sup\u0103rase tat\u0103-s\u0103u \u015fi, \u00eencumet\u00e2ndu-se, zise: \u2013 S\u0103 m\u0103 ier\u0163i, tat\u0103, c\u0103 eu n-am vrut s\u0103 te sup\u0103r. Eu am socotit cu mintea mea c\u0103 dragostea ce am c\u0103tre tine este, dac\u0103 nu mai presus dec\u00e2t a surorilor mele, dar nici mai prejos dec\u00e2t mierea \u015fi zah\u0103rul\u2026 \u2013 Auzi, auzi, o \u00eentrerupse tat\u0103-s\u0103u; \u015fi mai ai obraz s\u0103 te atingi de surorile tale cele mai mari? S\u0103 te duci de la mine, fat\u0103 neru\u015finat\u0103 ce e\u015fti, s\u0103 nu-\u0163i mai auz de nume! \u00cei \u00eenchise gura \u015fi o l\u0103s\u0103 pl\u00e2ng\u00e2nd.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Surorile vrur\u0103 s\u0103 o m\u00e2ng\u00e2ie, dar cu ni\u015fte cuvinte ating\u0103toare, care \u00eei f\u0103ceau mai mult r\u0103u dec\u00e2t bine.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata cea mic\u0103 a \u00eemp\u0103ratului, dac\u0103 v\u0103zu c\u0103 nici surorile nu o cru\u0163\u0103, \u00ee\u015fi puse n\u0103dejdea \u00een Dumnezeu \u015fi se hot\u0103r\u00ee s\u0103 plece unde mila domnului o va duce. \u00ce\u015fi lu\u0103 deci din casa p\u0103rinteasc\u0103 un r\u00e2nd de haine proaste \u015fi vechi \u015fi pribegi din sat \u00een sat, p\u00e2n\u0103 la curtea unui alt \u00eemp\u0103rat. Ajung\u00e2nd acolo, st\u0103tu la poart\u0103. Chel\u0103reasa o v\u0103zu \u015fi dac\u0103 veni la d\u00e2nsa o \u00eentreb\u0103 ce vrea; ea r\u0103spunse c\u0103 este o fat\u0103 s\u0103rac\u0103 \u015fi f\u0103r\u0103 de p\u0103rin\u0163i, \u015fi ar vrea s\u0103 se bage la st\u0103p\u00e2n dac\u0103 ar g\u0103si vreun loc.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tocmai atunci ie\u015fise ajutoarea chel\u0103resei \u015fi ar fi voit s\u0103 bage pe alta. Se uit\u0103 la d\u00e2nsa chel\u0103reasa, cu ochii p\u0103trunz\u0103tori, \u015fi i se p\u0103ru a fi bun\u0103 s\u0103 o ia pe d\u00e2nsa \u00een slujb\u0103. Fata de \u00eemp\u0103rat mai fu \u00eentrebat\u0103 c\u0103 ce simbrie cere, \u015fi ea r\u0103spunse c\u0103 nu cere nicio simbrie, f\u0103r\u0103 dec\u00e2t s\u0103 slujeasc\u0103 o bucat\u0103 de vreme \u015fi dac\u0103 slujba ei va fi vrednic\u0103 de vreo simbrie, s\u0103-i dea at\u00e2t c\u00e2t va face.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Chel\u0103reasa se bucur\u0103 v\u0103z\u00e2nd-o c\u0103 r\u0103spunde a\u015fa de cuminte, \u015fi o lu\u0103 s\u0103-i fie ajutoare. \u00eei spuse ce are s\u0103 fac\u0103 \u015fi ii dete pe m\u00e2n\u0103 un vraf de chei din mai multe ce avea. Fata era cuminte \u015fi de\u015fteapt\u0103. Ea \u00eencepu s\u0103 deretice prin c\u0103mar\u0103 \u015fi prin dulapurile de la care avea cheile \u015fi s\u0103 puie fiecare lucru\u015for la r\u00e2nduiala lui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei fiindc\u0103 \u00eei prindea m\u00e2na la fr\u0103m\u00e2ntat, la fiertul dulce\u0163ilor \u015fi la alte bun\u0103t\u0103\u0163i de m\u00e2ncare ce se afl\u0103 prin c\u0103m\u0103rile \u00eemp\u0103ra\u0163ilor, \u00een grija ei fur\u0103 l\u0103sate tainurile cur\u0163ii. \u015ei cum oare n-ar fi \u015ftiut s\u0103 fac\u0103 toate astea? M\u0103 rog, fat\u0103 de \u00eemp\u0103rat nu era? \u015ei nu se ivi nicio c\u00e2rteal\u0103 din partea nim\u0103nui, c\u0103ci ea toate tainurile le \u00eemp\u0103r\u0163ea cu cump\u0103n\u0103 \u015fi cu dreptate, de nu-i g\u0103sea nimeni nicio p\u0103rtinire.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Unde s\u0103 stea ea la vorb\u0103 de\u015fart\u0103, sau cu streinii carii veneau s\u0103-\u015fi ia tainurile \u015fi merticurile? Unde s\u0103 ias\u0103 din gura ei vreo vorb\u0103 f\u0103r\u0103 cump\u0103t, ori s\u0103 asculte de la cineva vreo asemenea vorb\u0103, c\u0103 se ru\u015fina \u015fi g\u0103sea ea cuvinte destul de cuviincioase cu care s\u0103 \u00eenchiz\u0103 \u015fi gura cea mai farfara. Ea nu sta la taifas cu slugile ori cu slujnicile cur\u0163ii, ci, c\u00e2nd \u00ee\u015fi g\u0103sea c\u00e2te ni\u0163ic\u0103 vreme de repaus, citea pe carte. To\u0163i cu totul aveau sfial\u0103 de d\u00e2nsa \u015fi nu-i g\u0103sea nimeni vreo fapt\u0103 care s\u0103 le dea dreptul a-i at\u00e2rna vreun ponos de coad\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Vestea despre vrednicia \u015fi smerenia ajutoarei de chel\u0103reas\u0103 ajunse numaidec\u00e2t \u015fi la urechile \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesei. Ea dori s-o vaz\u0103. Iar dac\u0103 se \u00eenf\u0103\u0163i\u015f\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesei, fata de \u00eemp\u0103rat \u015ftiu s\u0103 se arate \u015fi s\u0103 vorbeasc\u0103 din inim\u0103 curat\u0103, f\u0103r\u0103 pref\u0103c\u0103torie \u015fi f\u0103r\u0103 mult\u0103 \u00eendr\u0103zneal\u0103. \u00cemp\u0103r\u0103teasa prinse a o \u00eendr\u0103gi. Ea b\u0103nui c\u0103 ajutoarea de chel\u0103reas\u0103 nu poate s\u0103 fie de neam prost.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei a\u015fa cum v\u0103 spusei, \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa lu\u0103 pe fat\u0103, ajutoarea chei\u0103resei, pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 d\u00e2nsa. Unde se ducea \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa, mergea \u015fi ea; c\u00e2nd se punea \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa la lucru, lucra \u015fi ca. Apoi, lucrul ce ie\u015fea din m\u00e2na ei era m\u0103rg\u0103ritar, nu altceva. Din toate cuvintele cele \u00een\u0163elepte ce ie\u015feau din gura ei pl\u0103cu \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesei mai mult dec\u00e2t orice. Ce s\u0103 \u00eentindem vorb\u0103 mult\u0103? Ajunsese s\u0103 fie nedesp\u0103r\u0163it\u0103 de \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teas\u0103. O iubea \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa ca pe copilul ei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se mira \u015fi \u00eemp\u0103ratul de at\u00e2ta alipire a \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesei c\u0103tre aceast\u0103 fat\u0103. Acest \u00eemp\u0103rat avea un fecior singur la p\u0103rin\u0163i. Tat\u0103-s\u0103u \u015fi mum\u0103-sa se uitau la d\u00e2nsul ca la soare. \u00cel pierdeau de drag ce le era.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei merg\u00e2nd \u00eemp\u0103ratul la un r\u0103zboi, lu\u0103 \u015fi pe fiul s\u0103u cu d\u00e2nsul, ca s\u0103 se deprinz\u0103 cu ale r\u0103zboaielor. Acolo, nu \u015ftiu cum se f\u0103cu, nu \u015ftiu cum se drese, c\u0103 numai ce \u00eel aduser\u0103 acas\u0103 r\u0103nit.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0S\u0103 fi v\u0103zut pe m\u0103-sa j\u0103liri \u015fi pl\u00e2nsete. Nop\u0163ile le f\u0103cea zile privindu-l la boal\u0103. Iar dac\u0103 o ajunse oboseala de nu mai putea sta \u00een picioare, \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa puse pe fata ei din cas\u0103, ca pe un om de credin\u0163\u0103, s\u0103 \u00eengrij\u0103asc\u0103 de d\u00e2nsul, \u015fi apoi, c\u00e2nd una, c\u00e2nd alta, erau nelipsite de l\u00e2ng\u0103 patul r\u0103nitului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cuvintele cele bl\u00e2nde \u015fi \u00een\u0163elepte ale fetei, m\u00e2ng\u00e2ierile ei cele dulci \u015fi nepref\u0103cute, smerenia ei de\u015fteptar\u0103 \u00een inima bolnavului o sim\u0163ire ce nu o avusese p\u00e2n\u0103 atunci, iar mai mult dec\u00e2t toate, cum \u015ftia ea s\u0103 umble de bini\u015for c\u00e2nd \u00eei primenea r\u0103nile, f\u0103cu pe fiul de \u00eemp\u0103rat s\u0103 o iubeasc\u0103 ca pe o sor\u0103, c\u0103ci pare c\u0103-i alina durerile c\u00e2nd punea ea m\u00e2na pe r\u0103nile lui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00centr-un dup\u0103-pr\u00e2nz, dup\u0103 ce se f\u0103cuse mai bine, c\u00e2nd sta de vorb\u0103 cu m\u0103-sa, el \u00eei zise: \u2013 \u015etii ce, mam\u0103, mie mi-ar fi voia s\u0103 m\u0103 \u00eensor. \u2013 Bine, m\u0103icu\u0163\u0103, bine. Mai bine de t\u00e2n\u0103r, dec\u00e2t s\u0103 intri \u00een valurile lumii. S\u0103-\u0163i caute maica o fat\u0103 bun\u0103 de \u00eemp\u0103rat, \u015fi dc neam, \u015fi de treab\u0103. \u2013 Ea e g\u0103sit\u0103, mam\u0103. -\u015ei cine este? O \u015ftiu eu? \u2013 S\u0103 nu te superi, mam\u0103, dac\u0103 \u0163i-oi spune. Mie mi-a r\u0103mas inima la fata dumitale din cas\u0103. O iubesc, mam\u0103, ca pe sufletul meu. Din c\u00e2te fete de \u00eemp\u0103ra\u0163i \u015fi de domni am v\u0103zut, niciuna nu mi-a pl\u0103cut ca d\u00e2nsa. Ea mi-a robit inima.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se \u00eempotrivi \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa oarecum, c\u00e2rmi ea; dar nu fu cu putin\u0163a s\u0103 \u00eentoarc\u0103 pornirea fiului ei de la aceast\u0103 \u00eensur\u0103toare.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dac\u0103 v\u0103zu \u015fi v\u0103zu c\u0103 altfel nu se poate, \u015fi c\u0103 fata ce-\u015fi alesese fiul ei s\u0103 o ia de nevast\u0103 este cuminte, bl\u00e2nd\u0103, cu bun\u0103 judecat\u0103, \u015fi mai presus de toate este smerit\u0103, cinstit\u0103 \u015fi vrednic\u0103, se \u00eenvoi \u015fi d\u00e2nsa. R\u0103mase acum s\u0103 \u00eenduplece \u015fi pe \u00eemp\u0103ratul, tat\u0103l b\u0103iatului, ca s\u0103 primeasc\u0103 \u015fi d\u00e2nsul alegerea fiului lor.Pentru aceasta nu fu mare greutate; c\u0103ci at\u00e2t muma, c\u00e2t \u015fi fiul c\u0103zur\u0103 cu rug\u0103minte \u015fi l\u0103udar\u0103 pe fat\u0103 cum \u015ftiur\u0103 \u015fi ei mai bine.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Logodir\u0103 deci \u00eemp\u0103ratul \u015fi \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa pe fiul lor cu fata din cas\u0103 a \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesei \u015fi hot\u0103r\u00e2r\u0103 \u015fi nunta.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd \u00eencepur\u0103 a face poftirile la nunt\u0103, logodnica fiului de \u00eemp\u0103rat se ruga cu cerul, cu p\u0103m\u00e2ntul ca la nunt\u0103 s\u0103 pofteasc\u0103 \u015fi pe \u00eemp\u0103ratul cutare, pe tat\u0103l ei adic\u0103; se feri \u00eens\u0103 d-a spune cuiva c\u0103 este fata acelui \u00eemp\u0103rat. Socrii primir\u0103 s\u0103-i fac\u0103 voia \u015fi poftir\u0103 la nunt\u0103 \u015fi pe acel \u00eemp\u0103rat.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cen ziua cununiilor venir\u0103 to\u0163i musafirii la nunt\u0103. Se \u00eencepur\u0103 veseliile \u015fi \u0163inur\u0103 toat\u0103 ziua, ca la \u00eemp\u0103ra\u0163i, de! Ce s\u0103 zici? Seara se \u00eentinse o mas\u0103 d-alea \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103te\u015ftile, cu fel de fel de m\u00e2nc\u0103ri, de b\u0103uturi, de pl\u0103cinte \u015fi de alte bun\u0103t\u0103\u0163i, de s\u0103-\u0163i lingi \u015fi degetele c\u00e2nd le vei m\u00e2nca.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mireasa poruncise buc\u0103tarilor ce bucate s\u0103 g\u0103teasc\u0103. Ea \u00eens\u0103 cu m\u00e2na ei g\u0103ti deoparte toate acele feluri de m\u00e2ncare numai pentru un musafir. Apoi dete porunc\u0103 unei slugi credincioase ca s\u0103 bage bine de seam\u0103 ca, aduc\u00e2nd la mas\u0103 bucatele g\u0103tite de d\u00e2nsa, s\u0103 le puie dinaintea \u00eemp\u0103ratului poftit dup\u0103 rug\u0103ciunea ei. Dar\u0103 s\u0103 \u00eengrij\u0103asc\u0103 s\u0103 nu le puie dinaintea altcuiva, c\u0103 e primejdie de moarte. Sluga cea credincioas\u0103 f\u0103cu \u00eentocmai precum i se poruncise.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce se a\u015fezar\u0103 to\u0163i pofti\u0163ii la mas\u0103, \u00eencepur\u0103 a m\u00e2nca \u015fi a se veseli c\u00e2t nu se poate spune. \u00cemp\u0103ratul cel poftit, adic\u0103 tat\u0103l miresei, m\u00e2nca \u015fi nu prea. \u00cenc\u0103 de c\u00e2nd venise, el se tot uita la mireas\u0103 \u015fi pare c\u0103-i zicea inima ceva, dar\u0103 nu-i venea s\u0103 creaz\u0103 ochilor. Pas\u0103mite, el \u00ee\u015fi semuia copila, \u015fi neput\u00e2ndu-\u015fi da seam\u0103 de cum ajunsese ea s\u0103 se m\u0103rite dup\u0103 un fecior de \u00eemp\u0103rat, nu cutez\u0103 s\u0103 zic\u0103 nim\u0103nui nimic. Vezi c\u0103 trudele \u015fi necazurile ce suferise biata fat\u0103 o schimbaser\u0103 de cum o \u015ftia tat\u0103-s\u0103u. \u015ei, \u00eendemn\u00e2ndu-se de pofta cu care m\u00e2ncau mesenii, ar fi voit \u015fi d\u00e2nsul s\u0103 m\u0103n\u00e2nce \u015fi s\u0103 se veseleasc\u0103; dar\u0103 dup\u0103 ce gust\u0103 o dat\u0103 sau de dou\u0103 ori din bucate, se opri. Sluga care \u00eei aducea bucatele le ridica \u00eentregi, neatinse. Se mira acest \u00eemp\u0103rat cum de to\u0163i mesenii m\u0103n\u00e2nc\u0103 cu poft\u0103 ni\u015fte bucate care pentru d\u00e2nsul n-aveau niciun gust. Se \u00eencumese \u015fi \u00eentreab\u0103 pe vecinul din dreapta. Acesta \u00eei r\u0103spunse c\u0103 astfel de bucate bune n-a m\u00e2ncat de nu \u0163ine minte. Gust\u0103 \u015fi \u00eemp\u0103ratul din talerul vecinului, \u015fi v\u0103zu c\u0103 bucatele sunt bune. Asemenea f\u0103cu \u015fi la vecinul din st\u00e2nga. \u00cei l\u0103sa gura ap\u0103 dup\u0103 bucatele cele bune ce gustase de la vecini; foamea \u00eei da zor s\u0103 \u00eembuce \u015fi el; dar\u0103 cine putea s\u0103 m\u0103n\u00e2nce bucatele ce i se aducea, lui? Rabd\u0103 ce rabd\u0103; de ru\u015fine lua el c\u00e2teodat\u0103 \u015fi din bucatele ce i se aduceau, ca s\u0103 nu se fac\u0103 de r\u00e2s \u00eentre meseni, dar \u00eencolo nimic. \u00cen cele din urm\u0103, nu se mai putu opri, \u015fi ridic\u00e2ndu-se \u00een sus, zise cu glas mare:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Bine, \u00eemp\u0103rate, m-ai chemat la nunta fiului t\u0103u ca s\u0103-\u0163i ba\u0163i joc de mine? \u2013 Vai de mine, m\u0103ria-ta! Cum se poate s\u0103-\u0163i treac\u0103 prin g\u00e2nd una ca aceasta? Dup\u0103 cum se vede toat\u0103 adunarea, te cinstesc \u015fi pe dumneata ca pe to\u0163i ceilal\u0163i \u00eemp\u0103ra\u0163i, f\u0103r\u0103 deosebire. \u2013 Ba s\u0103 m\u0103 ier\u0163i, \u00eemp\u0103rate, bucatele tuturor mesenilor sunt bune de m\u00e2ncat, numai ale mele nu. Se f\u0103cu foc de sup\u0103rare \u00eemp\u0103ratul socru \u015fi porunci ca numaidec\u00e2t s\u0103 vie buc\u0103tarii s\u0103-\u015fi dea seam\u0103 de ceea ce au f\u0103cut, \u015fi vinova\u0163ii s\u0103 se dea mor\u0163ii.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015eti\u0163i ce era? Iaca mireasa g\u0103tise toate bucatele pentru tat\u0103-s\u0103u f\u0103r\u0103 sare, ci numai cu miere \u015fi cu zah\u0103r. Chiar sarni\u0163a de dinaintea lui era plin\u0103 cu zah\u0103r pisat, \u015fi degeaba lua bietul \u00eemp\u0103rat cu cu\u0163itul din sarni\u0163\u0103 ce credea el c\u0103 este cu sare \u015fi punea \u00een bucate, ele, \u00een loc s\u0103 se fac\u0103 mai bune de m\u00e2ncare, se f\u0103ceau \u015fi mai dulci de pe c\u00e2t erau, \u015fi mai c\u0103tr\u0103nite.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Atunci se ridic\u0103 mireasa \u00een sus \u015fi zise \u00eemp\u0103ratului socru: \u2013 Eu am g\u0103tit bucatele pentru \u00eemp\u0103ratul ce s-a sup\u0103rat, \u015fi iat\u0103 pentru ce am f\u0103cut-o: Acest \u00eemp\u0103rat este tat\u0103-meu. Noi eram trei surori \u00een casa p\u0103rinteasc\u0103. Tata ne-a \u00eentrebat \u00eentr-o zi cum \u00eel iubim noi. Surorile mele cel mai mari, una \u00eei r\u0103spunse c\u0103 \u00eel iube\u015fte ca mierea, alta ca zah\u0103rul. Eu \u00eei zisei c\u0103 \u00eel iubesc ca sarea \u00een bucate. A\u015fa am socotit eu c\u0103 nu se poate mai mult\u0103 iubire dec\u00e2t aceasta! Tata s-a sup\u0103rat pe mine \u015fi m-a gonit din cas\u0103. Dumnezeu nu m-a l\u0103sat s\u0103 piei \u015fi, prin munc\u0103, cinste \u015fi h\u0103rnicie, am ajuns unde m\u0103 vede\u0163i. Acum am vrut s\u0103 dovedesc tatei c\u0103, f\u0103r\u0103 miere \u015fi f\u0103r\u0103 zah\u0103r, poate omul s\u0103 tr\u0103iasc\u0103, dar f\u0103r\u0103 sare nu, d-aia i-am g\u0103tit bucatele f\u0103r\u0103 sare. Judeca\u0163i dumneavoastr\u0103 cu minte \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasc\u0103 cine a avut dreptate.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0To\u0163i mesenii \u00eentr-o gl\u0103suire g\u0103sir\u0103 cu cale c\u0103 pe nedrept a fost fata gonit\u0103 din casa p\u0103rinteasc\u0103. Atunci tat\u0103l fetei m\u0103rturisi c\u0103 n-a \u015ftiut s\u0103 pre\u0163uiasc\u0103 duhul fetei sale \u015fi \u015fi-a cerut iert\u0103ciune. Fata, \u015fi ea, i-a s\u0103rutat m\u00e2na \u015fi \u015fi-a cerut \u015fi d\u00e2nsa iert\u0103ciune dac\u0103 fapta ei l-a sup\u0103rat. \u015ei se puser\u0103 pe o veselie \u015fi pe o petrecere de se duse vestea \u00een lume. Tat\u0103l fetei se veselea, nu se veselea, dar socrul \u015ftiu c\u0103 se veselea \u015fi se m\u00e2ndrea c\u0103 a dob\u00e2ndit o a\u015fa nor\u0103, \u015fi de vi\u0163\u0103 bun\u0103, \u015fi \u00een\u0163eleapt\u0103 \u015fi harnic\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Eram \u015fi eu la nunt\u0103 \u00eempreun\u0103 cu chele\u015ful acela care se tupileaz\u0103 printre d-voastr\u0103, cinsti\u0163i boieri. Multe ciolane, doamne, mai c\u0103zur\u0103 de la acea mas\u0103, \u015fi, care cum c\u0103dea, tot \u00een capul chelului le da.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei \u00eenc\u0103lecai p-o \u015fea, \u015fi v-o spusei d-voastr\u0103 a\u015fa.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei \u00eenc\u0103lecai p-o lingur\u0103 scurt\u0103, s\u0103 tr\u0103iasc\u0103 cine ascult\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei mai \u00eenc\u0103lecai p-un fus, s\u0103 tr\u0103iasc\u0103 \u015fi cine a spus.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A fost odat\u0103 un \u00eemp\u0103rat. Acest \u00eemp\u0103rat avea trei fete. R\u0103m\u00e2n\u00e2nd v\u0103duv, toat\u0103 dragostea lui el \u015fi-o aruncase asupra fetelor. Ele m\u0103rindu-se \u015fi v\u0103z\u00e2nd s\u00e2rguin\u0163a ce punea … <\/p>\n