\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A fost odat\u0103 \u00eentr-o \u0163ar\u0103 un balaur mare, nevoie de cap. El avea \u015fapte capete, tr\u0103ia \u00eentr-o groap\u0103, \u015fi se hr\u0103nea numai cu oameni. C\u00e2nd ie\u015fea el la m\u00e2ncare, toat\u0103 lumea fugea, se \u00eenchidea \u00een case \u015fi sta ascuns\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 ce-\u015fi potolea foamea cu vreun drume\u0163 pe care \u00eel tr\u0103gea a\u0163a la moarte. To\u0163i oamenii locului se t\u00e2nguiau de r\u0103utatea \u015fi de frica balaurului. Rug\u0103ciuni \u015fi c\u00e2te \u00een lun\u0103 \u015fi \u00een soare se f\u0103cuser\u0103, ca s\u0103 scape Dumnezeu pe biata omenire de acest nes\u0103\u0163ios balaur, dar\u0103 \u00een de\u015fert.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fel de fel de fermec\u0103tori fuser\u0103 adu\u015fi, \u00eens\u0103 r\u0103maser\u0103 ru\u015fina\u0163i cu vrajele lor cu tot.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cen cele din urm\u0103, dac\u0103 v\u0103zu \u00eemp\u0103ratul c\u0103 toate sunt \u00een de\u015fert, hot\u0103r\u00ee ca s\u0103 dea pe fiica lui de so\u0163ie \u015fi jum\u0103tate \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia sa acelui voinic, care va sc\u0103pa \u0163ara de aceast\u0103 urgie, \u015fi dete \u00een \u015ftire la toat\u0103 lumea hot\u0103r\u00e2rea sa.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Iar\u0103 dup\u0103 ce se duse vestea \u00een \u0163ar\u0103, mai mul\u0163i voinici se vorbir\u0103 s\u0103 mearg\u0103 \u00eempreun\u0103 la p\u00e2nd\u0103 \u015fi s\u0103 m\u00e2ntuiasc\u0103 \u0163ara de un a\u015fa balaur \u00eenfrico\u015fat. Ei se \u00een\u0163eleser\u0103 \u00eentre d\u00e2n\u015fii ca s\u0103 fac\u0103 un foc la marginea cet\u0103\u0163ii, care era mai apropiat\u0103 de locul unde tr\u0103ia balaurul, \u015fi \u00een care cetate era \u015fi scaunul \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei, \u015fi acolo s\u0103 stea s\u0103 privegheze pe r\u00e2nd c\u00e2te unul, unul, pe c\u00e2nd ceilal\u0163i s\u0103 se odihneasc\u0103; \u015fi ca nu cumva cela ce ar fi de p\u00e2nd\u0103 s\u0103 doarm\u0103 \u015fi s\u0103 vie balaurul s\u0103-i m\u0103n\u00e2nce d-a gata, f\u0103cur\u0103 leg\u0103tur\u0103 ca cela care va l\u0103sa s\u0103 se sting\u0103 focul s\u0103 fie omor\u00e2t, drept pedeaps\u0103 dac\u0103 va dormi c\u00e2nd ar trebui s\u0103 fie de\u015ftept.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cu ace\u015fti voinici se \u00eentov\u0103r\u0103\u015fi \u015fi un om verde, pui de rom\u00e2n, \u015ftii colea, care auzise de f\u0103g\u0103duin\u0163a \u00eemp\u0103ratului \u015fi venise s\u0103-\u015fi \u00eencerce \u015fi el norocul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pornir\u0103, deci, cu to\u0163ii, \u00ee\u015fi aleser\u0103 un loc aproape de groap\u0103 \u015fi se puser\u0103 la p\u00e2nd\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0P\u00e2ndir\u0103 o zi, p\u00e2ndir\u0103 dou\u0103, p\u00e2ndir\u0103 mai multe zile, \u015fi nu se \u00eent\u00e2mpl\u0103 nimic. Iar\u0103 c\u00e2nd fu \u00eentr-una din zile, cam dup\u0103 asfin\u0163itul soarelui, pe c\u00e2nd era de r\u00e2nd viteazul nostru s\u0103 p\u00e2ndeasc\u0103, ie\u015fi balaurul din groap\u0103 \u015fi se \u00eendrept\u0103 c\u0103tre voinicii cari dormeau pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 foc.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Viteazului care priveghea, i se f\u0103cuse inima c\u00e2t un purice, dar\u0103, \u00eemb\u0103rb\u0103t\u00e2ndu-se, se repezi, \u015fi unde se arunc\u0103, m\u0103re, asupra balaurului cu sabia goal\u0103 \u00een m\u00e2n\u0103, \u015fi se lupt\u0103 cu d\u00e2nsul, p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00eei veni bine \u015fi h\u00e2r\u015ft! \u00eei taie un cap, h\u00e2r\u015ft! \u015fi-i mai t\u0103ie unul, \u015fi a\u015fa c\u00e2te unul, c\u00e2te unul p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00eei t\u0103ie \u015fase capete.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Balaurul se zv\u00e2rcolea de durere \u015fi plesnea din coad\u0103, de te lua fiori de spaim\u0103, viteazul nostru \u00eens\u0103 se lupta de moarte \u015fi obosise, iar\u0103 tovar\u0103\u015fii s\u0103i dormeau du\u015fi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dac\u0103 v\u0103zu el c\u0103 tovar\u0103\u015fii s\u0103i nu se de\u015fteapt\u0103, \u00ee\u015fi puse toate puterile, se mai arunc\u0103 o dat\u0103 asupra grozavului balaur \u015fi-i t\u0103ie \u015fi capul ce-i mai r\u0103m\u0103sese. Atunci un s\u00e2nge negru las\u0103 din ea, fiar\u0103 spurcat\u0103, \u015fi curse, \u015fi curse, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce stinse \u015fi foc \u015fi tot.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Acum ce s\u0103 fac\u0103 viteazul nostru, ca s\u0103 nu g\u0103seasc\u0103 focul stins, c\u00e2nd s-or de\u015ftepta tovar\u0103\u015fii lui, c\u0103ci leg\u0103tura lor era ca s\u0103 omoare pe acela care va l\u0103sa s\u0103 se sting\u0103 focul. S-apuc\u0103 mai \u00eent\u00e2i \u015fi scoase limbile din capetele balaurului, le b\u0103g\u0103 \u00een s\u00e2n \u015fi iute, cum putu, se sui \u00eentr-un copaci \u00eenalt, \u015fi se uit\u0103 \u00een toate p\u0103r\u0163ile, ca de va vedea undeva vro zare de lumin\u0103, s\u0103 se duc\u0103 \u015fi s\u0103 cear\u0103 ni\u0163el foc, ca s\u0103 a\u0163\u00e2\u0163e \u015fi el pe al lor ce se stinsese.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u0103t\u0103 \u00eentr-o parte \u015fi \u00eentr-alta \u015fi nu v\u0103zu nic\u0103ieri lumin\u0103. Se mai uit\u0103 o dat\u0103 cu mare b\u0103gare de seam\u0103 \u015fi z\u0103ri \u00eentr-o dep\u0103rtare nespus\u0103 o schinteie ce abia lic\u0103rea. Atunci se dete jos \u015fi o porni \u00eentr-acolo.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se duse, se duse, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce dete de o p\u0103dure, \u00een care \u00eent\u00e2lni pe Murgil\u0103, \u015fi pe care \u00eel opri pe loc, ca s\u0103 mai \u00eent\u00e2rzie noaptea. Merse dup\u0103 aceea mai departe \u015fi dete peste Miaz\u0103noapte, \u015fi trebui s\u0103 o lege \u015fi pe d\u00e2nsa ca s\u0103 nu dea peste Murgil\u0103. Ce s\u0103 fac\u0103, cum s\u0103 dreag\u0103 ca s\u0103 izbuteasc\u0103? O rug\u0103 s\u0103-i ajute a lua un copaci \u00een spinare, care, zicea el, \u00eel t\u0103iase de la r\u0103d\u0103cin\u0103; o \u00eenv\u0103\u0163\u0103 el s\u0103 se puie cu spatele s\u0103 \u00eemping\u0103, pe c\u00e2nd el tot cu spatele la copaci de ceealalt\u0103 parte va trage cu m\u00e2inile, ca s\u0103-i pice \u00een spinare \u015fi s\u0103-l ia s\u0103 se duc\u0103 la treaba lui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Miaz\u0103noapte, de mil\u0103 \u015fi de rug\u0103ciunea ce-i f\u0103cu, se puse cu spatele la copaciul care i-l ar\u0103t\u0103 viteazul \u015fi, pe c\u00e2nd \u00eempingea, el o leg\u0103 de copaci cobz\u0103, \u015fi porni \u00eenainte, c\u0103 n-avea vreme de pierdut.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nu f\u0103cu mult\u0103 cale \u015fi \u00eent\u00e2lni pe Zoril\u0103, dar\u0103 lui Zoril\u0103 nu prea \u00eei da me\u015fii a sta mult de vorb\u0103, c\u0103ci, zicea el, se duce dup\u0103 Miaz\u0103noapte, pe care o luase \u00een goan\u0103. F\u0103cu ce f\u0103cu \u015fi-l puse \u015fi pe d\u00e2nsul la bun\u0103 r\u00e2nduial\u0103, ca \u015fi pe ceilal\u0163i doi, dar cu mai mare b\u0103taie de cap. Apoi plec\u0103 \u00eenainte \u015fi se duse p\u00e2n\u0103 ce ajunse la o pe\u015fter\u0103 mare, \u00een care z\u0103rise focul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Aci dete peste alte nevoi. \u00cen pe\u015fter\u0103 acolo tr\u0103iau ni\u015fte oameni uria\u015fi carii aveau numai c\u00e2te un ochi \u00een frunte. Ceru foc de la d\u00e2n\u015fii, dar ei, \u00een loc de foc, puser\u0103 m\u00e2na pe d\u00e2nsul \u015fi-l legar\u0103. Dup\u0103 aceea a\u015fezar\u0103 \u015fi un cazan pe foc cu ap\u0103 \u015fi se g\u0103teau s\u0103-l fiarb\u0103 ca s\u0103-l m\u0103n\u00e2nce.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar\u0103 tocmai c\u00e2nd era s\u0103-l arunce \u00een c\u0103ldare, un zgomot se auzi nu departe de pe\u015ftera aceea, to\u0163i ie\u015fir\u0103, \u015fi l\u0103sar\u0103 pe un b\u0103tr\u00e2n de ai lor ca s\u0103 fac\u0103 ast\u0103 treab\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum se v\u0103zu viteazul nostru singur numai cu unchia\u015ful, \u00eei puse g\u00e2nd r\u0103u. Unchia\u015ful \u00eel dezleg\u0103 ca s\u0103-l bage \u00een cazan, dar\u0103 voinicul \u00eendat\u0103 puse m\u00e2na pe un t\u0103ciune \u015fi-l azv\u00e2rli drept \u00een ochiul b\u0103tr\u00e2nului, \u00eel orbi, \u015fi apoi f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103-i dea r\u0103gaz a zice nici c\u00e2rc! \u00eei puse o piedic\u0103 \u015fi-i f\u0103cu v\u00e2nt \u00een cazan.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Lu\u0103 focul dup\u0103 care venise, o apuc\u0103 la s\u0103n\u0103toasa, \u015fi sc\u0103p\u0103 cu fa\u0163\u0103 curat\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ajung\u00e2nd la Zoril\u0103, \u00eei dete drumul. Dup\u0103 aceea o tuli la fug\u0103 \u015fi fugi p\u00e2n\u0103 ce ajunse la Miaz\u0103noapte, o dezleg\u0103 \u015fi pe d\u00e2nsa, \u015fi apoi se duse \u015fi la Murgil\u0103 pe care \u00eel trimise s\u0103-\u015fi vaz\u0103 de treab\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd ajunse la tovar\u0103\u015fii s\u0103i, ei tot mai dormeau. Nu \u00eencepuse, vezi, \u00eenc\u0103 a se ar\u0103ta albul zilei, at\u00e2t de lung\u0103 fu noaptea, fiindc\u0103 voinicul \u00eei oprise cursul, \u015fi a\u015fa avu timp destul s\u0103 colinde dup\u0103 focul care \u00eei trebuia.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0N-apuc\u0103 s\u0103 a\u0163\u00e2\u0163e focul bine \u015fi tovar\u0103\u015fii s\u0103i, de\u015ftept\u00e2ndu-se, ziser\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dar\u0103 lung\u0103 noapte fu asta, m\u0103i vere.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Lung\u0103 da, vericule, r\u0103spunse viteazul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei se umfla din foale ca s\u0103 aprinz\u0103 focul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ei se scular\u0103, apoi \u00eencepur\u0103 a se-ntinde \u015fi a c\u0103sca, dar\u0103 se cutremurar\u0103 c\u00e2nd v\u0103zur\u0103 namila de lighioan\u0103 l\u00e2ng\u0103 d\u00e2n\u015fii \u015fi un lac de s\u00e2nge c\u00e2t pe colo. Zg\u00e2ir\u0103 ochii \u015fi cu mare mirare b\u0103gar\u0103 de seam\u0103 c\u0103 capetele balaurului lipsesc, iar\u0103 viteazul nu le spuse nimic din cele ce p\u0103\u0163ise, de team\u0103 s\u0103 nu intre ur\u0103 \u00eentre d\u00e2n\u015fii, \u015fi se \u00eentoarser\u0103 cu to\u0163ii \u00een ora\u015f.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd ajunser\u0103 \u00een cetate, toat\u0103 lumea se veselea cu mic cu mare de uciderea balaurului, da laud\u0103 sf\u00e2ntului c\u0103 trecuse noaptea aia lung\u0103, mai ajunser\u0103 o dat\u0103 iar\u0103 la ziu\u0103 \u015fi ridica p\u00e2n \u00een naltul cerului pe m\u00e2ntuitorul lor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Viteazul nostru, care v\u0103zuse \u015fi el lipsa capetelor, nu se fr\u0103m\u00e2nta deloc cu firea, fiindc\u0103 se \u015ftia curat la inim\u0103, \u015fi porni c\u0103tre curtea \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasc\u0103, ca s\u0103 vaz\u0103 ce s-o alege cu capetele f\u0103r\u0103 limbi, c\u0103ci el \u00een\u0163elesese c\u0103 aici trebuie s\u0103 se joace vreo dr\u0103cie.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pas\u0103mite, buc\u0103tarul \u00eemp\u0103ratului, un \u0163igan negru \u015fi buzat, se dusese d-a minune s\u0103 vaz\u0103 ce mai ala, bala, pe la fl\u0103c\u0103ii ce stau la p\u00e2nd\u0103. \u015ei dac\u0103 dete peste d\u00e2n\u015fii dormind \u015fi peste dihania spurcat\u0103 f\u0103r\u0103 r\u0103suflare, el se arunc\u0103 cu sat\u00e2rul de la buc\u0103t\u0103rie \u015fi-i t\u0103ie capetele. Apoi merse la \u00eemp\u0103ratul cu capetele \u015fi i le ar\u0103t\u0103, f\u0103lindu-se c\u0103 el a f\u0103cut izb\u00e2nda.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Iar\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103ratul dac\u0103 v\u0103zu c\u0103 se \u00eenf\u0103\u0163i\u015feaz\u0103 buc\u0103tarul cur\u0163ii cu izb\u00e2nd\u0103, f\u0103cu o mas\u0103 mare, ca s\u0103-l logodeasc\u0103 cu fie-sa, \u015fi pusese \u00een g\u00e2nd s\u0103 fac\u0103 o nunt\u0103, unde s\u0103 cheme pe to\u0163i \u00eemp\u0103ra\u0163ii.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u0162iganul ar\u0103ta la toat\u0103 lumea hainele sale pe care le umpluse de s\u00e2nge, ca s\u0103 fie crezut.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd ajunse viteazul nostru la palat, \u00eemp\u0103ratul cu voie bun\u0103 \u015fedea la mas\u0103, iar\u0103 cioropina sta \u00een capul mesei pe \u015fapte perne.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum ajunse la \u00eemp\u0103rat, \u00eei zise voinicul:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Prea\u00een\u0103l\u0163ate \u00eemp\u0103rate, am auzit c\u0103 oarecine s-ar fi l\u0103udat c\u0103tre m\u0103ria-ta c\u0103 el ar fi ucis pe balaur. Nu e adev\u0103rat, m\u0103ria-ta, eu sunt acela care l-am omor\u00e2t.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Min\u0163i, mojicule, strig\u0103 \u0163iganul \u00eeng\u00e2mfat, \u015fi poruncea slujitorilor s\u0103-l dea afar\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul, care nu prea credea s\u0103 fi f\u0103cut \u0163iganul ast\u0103 voinicie, zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cu ce po\u0163i dovedi zisele tale, voinicule?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Zisele mele, r\u0103spunse viteazul, se pot dovedi prea bine, porunci\u0163i numai ca mai \u00eent\u00e2i s\u0103 se caute dac\u0103 capetele balaurului, care stau colea la iveal\u0103, au \u015fi limbile lor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 S\u0103 caute, s\u0103 caute, zise bahni\u0163a.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0El \u00eens\u0103 o cam b\u0103gase pe m\u00e2nic\u0103, dar\u0103 se pref\u0103cea c\u0103 nu-i pas\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Atunci c\u0103utar\u0103 \u015fi la nici unul din capete nu g\u0103sir\u0103 limb\u0103, iar\u0103 mesenii \u00eenm\u0103rmurir\u0103, c\u0103ci nu \u015ftiau ce va s\u0103 zic\u0103 asta.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u0162iganul, care o sfeclise de tot, \u015fi care se c\u0103ia de ce n-a c\u0103utat capetele \u00een gur\u0103, mai nainte de a le aduce la \u00eemp\u0103ratul, strig\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Da\u0163i-l afar\u0103 c\u0103 e un smintit \u015fi nu \u015ftie ce vorbe\u015fte.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul \u00eens\u0103 zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Tu, voinicule, va s\u0103 zic\u0103 ne dai s\u0103 \u00een\u0163elegem c\u0103 acela a omor\u00e2t pe balaur care va ar\u0103ta limbile.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Fugi d-acolo, \u00eemp\u0103rate, zise \u0163iganul care tremura ca varga \u015fi se-ng\u0103lbenise ca ceara, nu vezi c\u0103 calicul \u0103sta este un de\u015fuchiat, care a venit aici s\u0103 ne am\u0103geasc\u0103?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cine am\u0103ge\u015fte, r\u0103spunse voinicul lini\u015ftit, s\u0103-\u015fi ia pedeapsa.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0El \u00eencepu apoi a scoate limbile din s\u00e2n \u015fi a le ar\u0103ta la toat\u0103 adunarea, \u015fi de c\u00e2te ori ar\u0103ta o limb\u0103 de at\u00e2tea ori c\u0103dea \u015fi c\u00e2te o pern\u0103 de sub \u0163igan, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce, \u00een cele din urm\u0103, c\u0103zu \u015fi el de pe scaun, at\u00e2t de tare se speriase dihania.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 aceea voinicul nostru spuse toate c\u00e2te a p\u0103\u0163it, \u015fi cum a f\u0103cut de a \u0163inut noaptea at\u00e2t de mult timp.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nu-i trebui \u00eemp\u0103ratului s\u0103 se g\u00e2ndeasc\u0103 mult \u015fi s\u0103 vaz\u0103 c\u0103 voinicul care vorbea avea dreptate, \u015fi cum era de sup\u0103rat pe \u0163igan, pentru mi\u015felia \u015fi minciuna lui cea neru\u015finat\u0103, porunci \u015fi numaidec\u00e2t se aduse doi cai ne\u00eenv\u0103\u0163a\u0163i \u015fi doi saci de nuci, leg\u0103 pe \u0163igan de coadele cailor \u015fi sacii de nuci \u015fi le dete drumul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ei o luar\u0103 la fug\u0103 prin sm\u00e2rcuri, \u015fi unde c\u0103dea nuca, c\u0103dea \u015fi buc\u0103\u0163ica, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce s-a pr\u0103p\u0103dit \u015fi \u0163igan \u015fi tot.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cen urm\u0103 preg\u0103tindu-se lucrurile, dup\u0103 c\u00e2teva zile f\u0103cu nunt\u0103 mare, \u015fi lu\u0103 rom\u00e2na\u015ful nostru pe fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului de so\u0163ie, \u015fi \u0163inu veselie mare \u015fi nemaipomenit\u0103 mai multe s\u0103pt\u0103m\u00e2ni, puindu-l \u015fi \u00een scaunul \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei, iar\u0103 fata l\u0103cr\u0103m\u0103 \u015fi mul\u0163umi lui Dumnezeu c\u0103 a sc\u0103pat-o de slu\u0163enia p\u0103m\u00e2ntului, de harapina spurcat\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Eram \u015fi eu p-acolo \u015fi dedeam ajutor la nunt\u0103, unde c\u0103ram ap\u0103 cu ciurul, iar\u0103 la sf\u00e2r\u015fitul nun\u0163ei aduser\u0103 un co\u015f de prune uscate s\u0103 arunce \u00een ale guri c\u0103scate.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A fost odat\u0103 \u00eentr-o \u0163ar\u0103 un balaur mare, nevoie de cap. El avea \u015fapte capete, tr\u0103ia \u00eentr-o groap\u0103, \u015fi se hr\u0103nea numai cu oameni. C\u00e2nd ie\u015fea el la m\u00e2ncare, … <\/p>\n