\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A fost odat\u0103 ca niciodat\u0103 etc.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A fost odat\u0103 un \u00eemp\u0103rat, \u015fi el avea trei feciori. C\u00e2nd le-a venit \u015fi lor vremea de \u00eensur\u0103toare, le-a zis \u00eemp\u0103ratul:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dragii mei copii, v-a\u0163i f\u0103cut mari; merge\u0163i de v\u0103 c\u0103uta\u0163i ursitele, ca s\u0103 intra\u0163i \u015fi voi \u00een r\u00e2ndul oamenilor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Vorbele tale, tat\u0103, sunt pentru noi ca o icoan\u0103 la care ne \u00eenchin\u0103m, r\u0103spunser\u0103 copiii \u015fi, dup\u0103 ce \u00eei s\u0103rutar\u0103 m\u00e2na, se g\u0103tir\u0103, care mai de care, s\u0103 plece mai cur\u00e2nd.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fiul cel mare se \u00eembr\u0103c\u0103 cu hainele ce le avea el mai bune, lu\u0103 oaste cu d\u00e2nsul \u015fi b\u0103net de ajuns.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Merg\u00e2nd spre r\u0103s\u0103rit, ajunse la curtea unui \u00eemp\u0103rat care avea o fat\u0103, singur\u0103 la p\u0103rin\u0163i. O pe\u0163i de la tat\u0103l ei, \u00eemp\u0103ratul, \u015fi \u00eenvoiala se \u015fi f\u0103cu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Asemenea \u015fi cel mijlociu, dup\u0103 ce se dichisi \u015fi el cum \u015ftiu mai bine, plec\u0103 \u015fi el \u00eenspre apus. Ajunse \u015fi el la curtea unui alt \u00eemp\u0103rat, carele asemenea avea o fat\u0103. F\u0103cur\u0103 vorba, \u015fi iute, iute, se logodi \u015fi el cu d\u00e2nsa.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pe fiul cel mai mic, \u00eens\u0103, nu-l tr\u0103gea inima a pleca \u00een pe\u0163it. Dar\u0103 n-avu ce-\u015fi face capului, c\u0103ci tat\u0103-s\u0103u \u00eel trimitea \u00eentruna s\u0103 caute a se c\u0103p\u0103tui \u015fi el. Lu\u0103 \u015fi d\u00e2nsul ni\u015fte haine, numai s\u0103 nu zic\u0103 nescine c\u0103 nu s-a g\u0103tit, \u015fi de cheltuial\u0103 ce pe ap\u0103 nu curge, \u015fi plec\u0103 \u015fi el, \u015ftii, cam \u00een dorul lelii.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar\u0103 unde s\u0103 se duc\u0103? Nici el, iac\u0103, nu \u015ftia. Mi\u015fca \u015fi el picioarele a lene, unul dup\u0103 altul \u00eenaintea lui, numai s\u0103 zic\u0103 c\u0103 umbl\u0103, apuc\u0103 pe o c\u0103rare ce \u00eent\u00e2lni \u00een cale, \u015fi merse pe ea, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103-\u015fi dea seama unde se duce. C\u00e2nd, ce s\u0103 vezi d-ta? Poteca pe care apucase, \u00eel scoase drept la un ele\u015fteu mare. \u00cen cale v\u0103zu o nuia lung\u0103 de alun pe care o lu\u0103, a\u015fa de florile m\u0103rului, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 \u015ftie ce are s\u0103 fac\u0103 cu d\u00e2nsa.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ajung\u00e2nd pe marginea ele\u015fteului, se a\u015fez\u0103 \u015fi el acolo jos, \u015fi, privind cu nedomirire, ia a\u015fa numai ca s\u0103 zic\u0103 \u015fi el c\u0103 face ceva, b\u0103l\u0103cea cu nuiaua prin ap\u0103, \u015fi f\u0103cea haz cum sare stropii de ap\u0103, c\u00e2nd o lovea. Apoi \u00eencepu a cugeta. El vedea c\u0103 fiecare strop de ap\u0103, c\u00e2nd pic\u0103 \u00eenapoi la matc\u0103, se face c\u00e2te un armean (cerc) \u00eempregiurul lui, \u015fi de ce merge se m\u0103re\u015fte, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce intr\u0103 iar\u0103\u015fi \u00een s\u00e2nul matcei de unde a ie\u015fit, f\u0103r\u0103 mai pe urm\u0103 s\u0103 se cunoasc\u0103 nici locul unde a picat stropul, nici \u00eentinderea armeanului din giurul lui, ci totul r\u0103m\u00e2nea ca mai-nainte, adic\u0103 fa\u0163a apei lucie ca o oglind\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0El era dus cu g\u00e2ndurile. Se uita \u015fi nu mai vedea, tot da cu nuiaua \u00een ap\u0103, \u015fi nu \u015ftia ce f\u0103cea. Nu mai sim\u0163ea dac\u0103 este, ori nu mai este. C\u00e2nd, iat\u0103 c\u0103 o broasc\u0103 \u0163estoas\u0103 ie\u015fise pe luciul apei, \u015fi se uita gale\u015f la d\u00e2nsul. Unde lovea el cu nuiaua, \u015fi unde se deschidea talazurile care \u00eenconjura v\u00e2rful nuielei, acolo, \u0163\u00e2\u015ft! \u015fi d\u00e2nsa, \u015fi ochii de la d\u00e2nsul nu \u015fi-i mai lua.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se uita la d\u00e2nsul parc\u0103 s\u0103-l soarb\u0103 cu privirea. Dar\u0103 el nu vedea, nu auzea. At\u00e2ta era de dus cu min\u0163ile.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cen cele din urm\u0103, cum, cum, b\u0103g\u0103 de seam\u0103 c\u0103 o broasc\u0103 \u0163estoas\u0103 se \u0163ine dup\u0103 v\u00e2rful nuielei lui. Se uit\u0103 \u015fi el la d\u00e2nsa, \u015fi parc\u0103 \u00eei zicea inima ceva, dar\u0103 nu pricepu nimic.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd se trezi bine din cuget\u0103rile lui, v\u0103zu c\u0103 soarele d\u0103 \u00een asfin\u0163it. Se scul\u0103 bini\u015for, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103-i pese de ceva, \u015fi se duse acas\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A doua zi iar\u0103\u015fi a\u015fa f\u0103cu, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103-i plesneasc\u0103 prin cap ceva, \u015fi f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103-\u015fi mai aduc\u0103 aminte c\u0103 plecase \u00een pe\u0163it.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A treia zi, cum se scul\u0103, plec\u0103 iar\u0103\u015fi la marginea ele\u015fteului. Pas\u0103mite \u00eel tr\u0103gea a\u0163a la ursita lui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei cum sta el acolo \u015fi se juca cu nuiaua \u00een ap\u0103, iar\u0103 broasca \u0163estoas\u0103 \u00eei tot s\u0103rea pe dinainte \u015fi se uita la d\u00e2nsul cu dor, \u00ee\u015fi aduse aminte, la urma urmelor, c\u0103 el era plecat \u00een pe\u0163it, \u015fi c\u0103 fra\u0163ii lui erau a se \u00eentoarce a doua zi cu logodnicele lor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tocmai c\u00e2nd voi s\u0103 se scoale \u015fi s\u0103 plece spre a merge s\u0103-\u015fi \u00eencerce \u015fi el norocul, iat\u0103 c\u0103 broasca mai \u0163\u00e2\u015fni o dat\u0103, iar el \u00ee\u015fi arunc\u0103 ochii la d\u00e2nsa mai cu b\u0103gare de seam\u0103. Se uit\u0103 drept \u00een ochii broa\u015ftei, \u015fi sim\u0163i un nu \u015ftiu ce, colea la inimioar\u0103, pare c\u0103 \u00eel s\u0103getase ceva. \u015eezu iar\u0103\u015fi jos. Ar fi voit s\u0103 plece, dar\u0103 parc\u0103 \u00eel pironise cineva locului. Mai voi el s\u0103 fac\u0103 ceva cumva, a\u015fa ca s\u0103 se dep\u0103rteze, dar\u0103 \u00een de\u015fert. Picioarele nu se mai mi\u015fcar\u0103, ca \u015fi c\u00e2nd ar fi fost butucite.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se mir\u0103 de ast\u0103 l\u00e2ncezeal\u0103. \u015ei, mai arunc\u00e2ndu-\u015fi c\u0103ut\u0103tura la broasc\u0103, v\u0103zu ochii ei, pare c\u0103 str\u0103lucea de un foc ce sim\u0163ea c\u0103 \u00eel atinge. Atunci \u00ee\u015fi lu\u0103 inima \u00een din\u0163i \u015fi strig\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Asta s\u0103 fie logodnica mea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u00ce\u0163i foarte mul\u0163umesc, dragul meu iubit, \u00eei r\u0103spunse atunci broasca. Cuv\u00e2ntul t\u0103u a sf\u0103r\u00e2mat toate farmecele ce m\u0103 \u0163ineau \u00eenl\u0103n\u0163uit\u0103. Tu e\u015fti ursitul inimii mele. Pe tine te voi urma p\u00e2n\u0103 voi avea via\u0163\u0103 \u00een mine.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se sperie oarecum, fiul de \u00eemp\u0103rat, c\u00e2nd auzi pe broasc\u0103 vorbind.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ar fi rupt-o d-a fuga, dar\u0103 graiul ei era dulce \u015fi viersul cu lipici ce avea \u00eel f\u0103cu s\u0103-i r\u0103m\u00e2ie t\u0103lpile lipite de locul unde sta.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Broasca se dete de trei ori peste cap \u015fi se f\u0103cu o z\u00e2n\u0103 ginga\u015fe, \u015fi pl\u0103p\u00e2nd\u0103, \u015fi frumoas\u0103; cum nu se mai afla sub soare. \u00cei venea fl\u0103c\u0103ului, de drag, s\u0103 o soarb\u0103 \u00eentr-o lingur\u0103 de ap\u0103. Dar\u0103 se opri, \u015fi nu f\u0103cu nici o mi\u015fcare, ca s\u0103 nu supere ori s\u0103 \u00eend\u0103r\u0103tniceasc\u0103 pe z\u00e2na a veni dup\u0103 el, c\u0103ci sim\u0163i c\u0103, de aci \u00eenainte, f\u0103r\u0103 d\u00e2nsa nu va putea tr\u0103i.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se puser\u0103 la vorb\u0103, \u015fi nici ei nu \u015ftiau ce vorbesc. Aci \u00eencepeau una, aci l\u0103sau alta, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce se pomenir\u0103 c\u0103 amurgise. \u015ei fiindc\u0103 a doua zi era s\u0103 vie fra\u0163ii cu logodnicele lor, spuse z\u00e2nei c\u0103 se duce s\u0103 \u00een\u015ftiin\u0163eze \u015fi el pe t\u0103t\u00e2ne-s\u0103u c\u0103 a s\u0103-\u015fi aduc\u0103 \u015fi el logodnica.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Broasca intr\u0103 iar\u0103\u015fi \u00een ele\u015fteu, iar\u0103 d\u00e2nsul plec\u0103 la curtea \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasc\u0103. Mergea el, dar\u0103 parc\u0103-l tot oprea cineva \u00een cale. I se p\u0103rea c\u0103-l trage cineva de la spate de haine. El se tot \u00eentorcea de se uita \u00eenapoi. Nu vedea nimic, \u00eens\u0103 el \u00ee\u015fi tot \u00eentorcea capul \u015fi se uita. Noroc c\u0103 i se scurtase calea \u015fi ajunse acas\u0103, c\u0103ci, de \u0163inea drumul mai lung, te mir\u0103 de nu r\u0103m\u00e2nea cu g\u00e2tul str\u00e2mb, de at\u00e2ta uitat \u00eenapoi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dac\u0103 ajunse \u015fi g\u0103si pe to\u0163i ai lor aduna\u0163i la tat\u0103l s\u0103u, \u00eencepu s\u0103 le povesteasc\u0103 \u015firetenia celor ce i se \u00eent\u00e2mplase. C\u00e2nd ajunse s\u0103 le spuie c\u0103 a zis broa\u015ftei:”Tu s\u0103 fii logodnica mea”, to\u0163i se umflar\u0103 de r\u00e2s deodat\u0103 \u015fi \u00eencepu a-l cam lua peste picior cu vorbe \u00een doi peri \u015fi cu glume nes\u0103rate. Vru el s\u0103 le spuie cine a fost broasca, dar\u0103 nu-i deter\u0103 r\u0103gaz, c\u0103ci \u00eei luau vorba din gur\u0103, \u015fi-l cam dedeau \u00een t\u0103rb\u0103ceal\u0103 cu graiuri care mai de care p\u0103c\u0103litoare.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dac\u0103 v\u0103zu, t\u0103cu din gur\u0103 \u015fi \u00eenghi\u0163i ru\u015finea ce-i f\u0103cur\u0103 fra\u0163ii \u00eenaintea tat\u0103lui s\u0103u. Se g\u00e2ndi el:”Acum o mie de vorbe un ban nu face. Las\u0103, \u00ee\u015fi zise el, s\u0103 vedem c\u0103 cine r\u00e2de mai la urm\u0103, r\u00e2de mai cu folos”.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A doua zi fiecare fl\u0103c\u0103u zbur\u0103 la logodnica sa. Iar\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103ratul puse de \u00eempodobi palatul \u015fi cetatea c\u00e2t se putu mai frumos, ca s\u0103-\u015fi primeasc\u0103 nurorile. Oamenii umblau cete, cete prin cetate, ca \u00een zi de s\u0103rb\u0103toare, osta\u015fii se g\u0103tir\u0103 ca de alai, p\u00e2n\u0103 \u015fi copiii se veseleau de veselia \u00eemp\u0103ratului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Venir\u0103 unul dup\u0103 altul feciorii cei mai mari ai \u00eemp\u0103ratului cu logodnicele lor. Ce e drept, \u015fi ele erau frumoase, hainele pare c\u0103 le erau turnate pe d\u00e2nsele. Fiecare \u00ee\u015fi adusese zestre \u00eensemnat\u0103: robi, cai, c\u0103ru\u0163e ferecate; \u015fi le priimise \u00eemp\u0103ratul cum se cuvine \u00eemp\u0103ra\u0163ilor \u015fi fiilor de \u00eemp\u0103ra\u0163i.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ei, dac\u0103 se adunar\u0103 la un loc, aduser\u0103 vorba iar\u0103\u015fi despre broasca fratelui lor celui mai mic, \u015fi \u00eencepur\u0103 \u00eempreun\u0103 cu logodnicele lor a gr\u0103i despre d\u00e2nsul cam \u00een dodii.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cei \u0163inur\u0103 de r\u0103u tat\u0103l lor, c\u0103ci de, orice s-ar zice, fiu \u00eei era \u015fi \u0103l mic, \u015fi \u00eel durea la inim\u0103 c\u00e2nd \u00eel luau \u00een r\u00e2s, dar\u0103 toate fur\u0103 \u00een de\u015fert, c\u0103ci, de\u015fi nu mai vorbea de r\u0103u aievea \u00een fa\u0163a \u00eemp\u0103ratului, pe din dos, \u00eens\u0103, \u00ee\u015fi b\u0103teau mendrele, cum voiau, \u00ee\u015fi dedeau coate de r\u00e2deau, \u015fi chiar se vorbir\u0103, am\u00e2ndoi fra\u0163ii cu logodnicele lor, s\u0103 fac\u0103 pe fratele lor mai mic de r\u00e2s \u015fi ocar\u0103, c\u00e2nd va veni cu broasca \u0163estoas\u0103 \u00eenaintea \u00eemp\u0103ratului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fiul cel mic al \u00eemp\u0103ratului dac\u0103 se duse \u015fi el s\u0103-\u015fi aduc\u0103 logodnica, broasca cea \u0163estoas\u0103 ie\u015fi din ele\u015fteu la d\u00e2nsul, se dete de trei ori peste cap \u015fi se f\u0103cu om ca to\u0163i oamenii. Vorbir\u0103 ce vorbir\u0103, apoi fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului \u00eei zise s\u0103 se g\u0103teasc\u0103 s\u0103 mearg\u0103. Atunci ea \u00eei r\u0103spunse:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dragul meu logodnic, trebuie s\u0103 \u015ftii c\u0103 \u015fi eu sunt fat\u0103 de \u00eemp\u0103rat, \u015fi \u00eenc\u0103 fat\u0103 de \u00eemp\u0103rat mare, \u015fi avut, \u015fi puternic. Dar\u0103 blestematele de farmece ne-a acoperit palaturile cu apa aceasta murdar\u0103, \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia ne-a fost r\u0103pit-o du\u015fmanii, \u015fi pe mine m-a f\u0103cut precum m-ai v\u0103zut.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Vorbele ei mieroase, viersul ei pl\u0103cut, de pare c\u0103 te ungea la inim\u0103, nu altceva, z\u0103p\u0103cise oarecum pe bietul fecior de \u00eemp\u0103rat, dar\u0103, \u0163iindu-\u015fi firea \u015fi nepierz\u00e2ndu-\u015fi cump\u0103tul, el \u00eei mai zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Las\u0103 astea acum. Odat\u0103 dac\u0103 te-am ales, tu e\u015fti a mea, flonc\u0103neasc\u0103 lumea ce va vrea. G\u0103te\u015fte-te, \u00ee\u0163i zic, \u015fi aidem, c\u0103 ne a\u015fteapt\u0103 tat\u0103l, cu fra\u0163ii \u015fi cu cumnatele mele.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 La noi este obiceiul, ad\u0103og\u0103 z\u00e2na, ca \u00eenainte de a merge la cununie, s\u0103 ne \u00eemb\u0103iem.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ne vom \u00eemb\u0103ia la palaturile tat\u0103lui meu, r\u0103spunse el.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 De ce s\u0103 mai facem p-acolo tevatur\u0103? S\u0103 ne \u00eemb\u0103iem aci.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei f\u0103c\u00e2nd un semn cu m\u00e2na, apa ele\u015fteului se trase \u00eentr-o parte \u015fi \u00eentr-alta, \u015fi \u00een locul lui se v\u0103zur\u0103 ni\u015fte palaturi, str\u0103lucitoare de podoabe, \u00eenc\u00e2t la soare te puteai uita, dar\u0103 la d\u00e2nsele ba. Aurul cu care erau polei\u0163i st\u00e2lpii \u015fi ciubucele de pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 strea\u015fin\u0103 lic\u0103rea de-\u0163i lua ochii.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Z\u00e2na lu\u0103 de m\u00e2n\u0103 pe fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului \u015fi intr\u0103 \u00een palat. Vezi c\u0103 el r\u0103m\u0103sese cu ochii bleojdi\u0163i, ca unul ce nici d\u00e2nsul, de\u015fi era fecior de \u00eemp\u0103rat, nu mai v\u0103zuse asemenea scumpeturi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei fiind gata b\u0103ile \u015fi apa \u00eencropit\u0103 numai ca laptele c\u00e2nd \u00eel mulge de la oaie, intrar\u0103 fiecare \u00een c\u00e2te o baie \u015fi se \u00eemb\u0103iar\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului nu cuteza s\u0103 calce pardoseala b\u0103ii \u015fi pe velin\u0163ele cele de mare pre\u0163 ce erau a\u015fternute prin palat, de mil\u0103 sa nu le strice frumuse\u0163ea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Baia era pardosit\u0103 cu tot felul de marmur\u0103 lustruit\u0103 \u015fi adus\u0103 din me\u015fte\u015fug a\u015fa, \u00eenc\u00e2t \u00eenchipuia fel de fel de flori, de p\u0103s\u0103ri \u015fi c\u00e2te nagode toate. Apa ciuruia din \u0163eve aurite \u015fi o lua cu n\u0103strape \u015fi cu c\u0103u\u015fe de aur. \u015etergarele erau de m\u0103tase \u015fi \u00een \u0163es\u0103tur\u0103 cu fir de cel mai bun \u015fi cu m\u0103rg\u0103ritare.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce ie\u015fir\u0103 din baie \u015fi se \u00eembr\u0103car\u0103, trecur\u0103 prin gr\u0103din\u0103, unde mirosul florilor \u00eei \u00eemb\u0103ta.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Z\u00e2na porunci \u015fi trase la scar\u0103 o c\u0103ru\u0163\u0103 ferecat\u0103 \u00een aur, cu patru telegari de m\u00e2ncau foc. C\u0103ru\u0163a era \u00eempodobit\u0103 cu pietre nestemate de sclipeau \u00een fa\u0163a soarelui ca cine \u015ftie ce lucru mare. Ei se urcar\u0103. Cum se puse el l\u00e2ng\u0103 d\u00e2nsa, un luceaf\u0103r se a\u015fez\u0103 pe fruntea ei, \u015fi a\u015fa str\u0103lucea de orbea pe cei ce se uitau asupra d\u00e2n\u015filor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Am\u00e2ndoi erau \u00eembr\u0103ca\u0163i cu ni\u015fte haine scumpe \u015fi foarte frumoase. Caii pornir\u0103. Dar\u0103 zburau de parc\u0103 n-atingeau p\u0103m\u00e2ntul, iar\u0103 nu c\u0103 mergeau. \u00eentr-o clip\u0103 ajunser\u0103 la \u00eemp\u0103ratul, tat\u0103l b\u0103iatului, carele \u00eel a\u015ftepta \u015fi se ciudea de at\u00e2ta \u00eent\u00e2rziere.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd \u00eei v\u0103zur\u0103, to\u0163i \u00een\u0163eleser\u0103 c\u0103 aceasta era femeie de pe alte t\u0103r\u00e2muri, \u015fi l\u0103uda pe fiul de \u00eemp\u0103rat pentru o a\u015fa nimerit\u0103 \u015fi nea\u015fteptat\u0103 alegere. Fra\u0163ii cei mai mari o m\u00e2lcir\u0103, v\u0103z\u00e2nd at\u00e2ta frumuse\u0163e \u015fi at\u00e2ta bog\u0103\u0163ie. Mai mare str\u0103lucire \u015fi ging\u0103\u015fie ca aceasta nu se mai v\u0103zuse sub soare \u015fi pe la d\u00e2n\u015fii p\u00e2n\u0103 atunci. \u00cencepur\u0103 a-\u015fi da coate, a-\u015fi veni \u00een cuno\u015ftin\u0163\u0103 \u015fi a se c\u0103i de r\u00e2sul ce f\u0103cuser\u0103 de fratele lor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul nu mai putu de bucurie, c\u00e2nd v\u0103zu c\u0103 fiul s\u0103u cel mai mic \u00eei aduce \u00een cas\u0103 minunea minunilor. Z\u00e2na se purt\u0103 cu mare bun\u0103cuviin\u0163\u0103, \u015fi vorbi astfel \u00eenc\u00e2t robi toate inimile. Oaspe\u0163ii nu-\u015fi mai luau ochii de la d\u00e2nsa \u015fi urechile lor nu mai ascultau alte vorbe, dec\u00e2t vorbele ei, c\u0103 mult erau cu lipici.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fiii cei mari ai \u00eemp\u0103ratului pov\u0103\u0163uir\u0103 pe logodnicele lor ca s\u0103 fac\u0103 \u015fi ele tot ce va vedea pe z\u00e2na c\u0103 face, \u015fi la cununie \u015fi la mas\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul \u00ee\u015fi \u00eemplini pofta inimii lui. El dorise, vezi, s\u0103-\u015fi cunune to\u0163i copiii \u00eentr-o zi, \u015fi a\u015fa \u015fi f\u0103cu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Era vesel \u00eemp\u0103ratul pentru aceasta, c\u00e2t un lucru mare.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce se cununar\u0103 fiii \u00eemp\u0103ratului cu logodnicele ce-\u015fi aleseser\u0103 fiecare, se prinser\u0103 \u00een hor\u0103 \u015fi jucar\u0103, ca la nunta unui \u00eemp\u0103rat. Ceilal\u0163i jucau, nu jucau, dar\u0103 z\u00e2na c\u00e2nd juca, p\u0103rea c\u0103 n-atinge p\u0103m\u00e2ntul. Lumea privea \u015fi i se umplea inima de m\u00e2ndrie, c\u0103ci fiul cel mic al \u00eemp\u0103ratului lor adusese o a\u015fa z\u00e2n\u0103 s\u0103 o domneasc\u0103. Oamenii se luau la prinsoare c\u0103 nici \u00een cer nu se g\u0103sea o mai mare frumuse\u0163e ca ceea ce aveau ei dinaintea ochilor lor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00centre acestea veni seara, \u015fi se puse o mas\u0103 d-alea \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103te\u015ftile. \u00cemprejurul mesei \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103te\u015fti, o mul\u0163ime de alte mese erau puse pentru boierime, pentru negustorime \u015fi pentru prostime. Se puser\u0103 la mas\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nurorile cele mari ale \u00eemp\u0103ratului \u0163ineau ochii \u0163int\u0103 la z\u00e2na s\u0103 vaz\u0103 ce face ea ca s\u0103 fac\u0103 \u015fi ele, dup\u0103 pova\u0163a so\u0163ilor lor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Z\u00e2na, din fiecare fel de bucate ce se aducea la mas\u0103, lua c\u00e2te ni\u0163ele \u015fi b\u0103ga \u00een s\u00e2n. Asemenea f\u0103cur\u0103 \u015fi cumnatele ei. M\u00e2ncar\u0103 \u015fi se veselir\u0103 c\u00e2t le ceru inima.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd se scular\u0103 de la mas\u0103, z\u00e2na se duse la \u00eemp\u0103ratul socru, \u00eei s\u0103rut\u0103 m\u00e2na, \u00eei mul\u0163umi, \u015fi, sco\u0163\u00e2nd din s\u00e2n, de unde b\u0103gase bucatele, un m\u0103nunchi de flori bine-mirositoare, i-l dete ca semn de iubire fiasc\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Odat\u0103 se umplu locul de un miros a\u015fa de frumos \u015fi strein, cum nu mai mirosise oamenii locului aceluia. Atunci to\u0163i \u00eentr-o gl\u0103suire strigar\u0103:”S\u0103 ne tr\u0103iasc\u0103 doamna \u015fi \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa noastr\u0103”, iar\u0103 ea, f\u0103r\u0103 a se m\u00e2ndri, se trase din naintea \u00eemp\u0103ratului cu totul smerit\u0103 \u015fi se a\u015fez\u0103 l\u00e2ng\u0103 so\u0163iorul ei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cen calea ei, \u00eencepu a curge de printre \u00eencre\u0163iturile hainei sale m\u0103rg\u0103ritare, de umplu locul; iar\u0103 mesenii, cu buni, cu pro\u015fti, se plecar\u0103 \u015fi le adunar\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Duc\u00e2ndu-se \u015fi nurorile cele mai mari ale \u00eemp\u0103ratului s\u0103-i mul\u0163umeasc\u0103, \u00eei s\u0103rutar\u0103 \u015fi ele m\u00e2na. C\u00e2nd voir\u0103 \u00eens\u0103 a scoate \u015fi ele din s\u00e2n ce puseser\u0103 \u00een timpul mesei, b\u0103gar\u0103 de seam\u0103 c\u0103 hainele lor sunt murdare \u015fi terfelite de bucate, \u00eenc\u00e2t nu mai sem\u0103na a haine puse pe om, ci a alte dihanii, \u015fi se f\u0103cu un r\u00e2s de mila lor \u00een toat\u0103 nunta, \u00eenc\u00e2t plecar\u0103 umilite \u00een c\u0103m\u0103rile lor ca s\u0103 se schimbe, fiindc\u0103 nu mai era chip a mai sta a\u015fa \u00eeng\u0103late la nunt\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Atunci mul\u0163imea, cu mic, cu mare, \u015fi \u00eemp\u0103ratul \u00eempreun\u0103 cu d\u00e2nsa, strigar\u0103 \u00eentr-un grai, c\u0103 ace\u015fti so\u0163i s\u0103-i domneasc\u0103 de aci \u00eenainte. \u00cemp\u0103ratul se cobor\u00ee din scaun, \u015fi se urc\u0103 fiul cel mic cu so\u0163ia sa.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Aceast\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teas\u0103 cu rostul ei cel blajin, cu purtarea cea cump\u0103tat\u0103, se f\u0103cu de o iubir\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 \u015fi cumnatele ei. Iar\u0103 fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului, cu agerimea min\u0163ii lui, cu \u00een\u0163elepciunea cea fireasc\u0103 \u015fi cu pove\u0163ele \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesei, so\u0163ia lui, domni \u00een pace, \u00een lini\u015fte \u015fi \u00een veselie toat\u0103 via\u0163a lui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Eram \u015fi eu p-acolo. \u015ei fiindc\u0103 am dob\u00e2ndit \u015fi eu un os de ros, mi-am pus \u00een g\u00e2nd s\u0103 v\u0103 povestesc, boieri d-voastr\u0103, lucruri care, de s-ar crede, m-ar da de minciun\u0103; \u0219i \u00eenc\u0103lecai p-o \u0219ea etc.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A fost odat\u0103 ca niciodat\u0103 etc. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A fost odat\u0103 un \u00eemp\u0103rat, \u015fi el avea trei feciori. C\u00e2nd le-a venit \u015fi lor vremea de \u00eensur\u0103toare, le-a zis \u00eemp\u0103ratul: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 … <\/p>\n