\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A fost odat\u0103 un \u00eemp\u0103rat \u015fi o \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teas\u0103. Ei aveau trei copii. Mai aveau pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 palaturile lor o gr\u0103din\u0103 foarte frumoas\u0103. \u015ei at\u00e2t de drag \u00eei era florile acestui \u00eemp\u0103rat, \u00eenc\u00e2t \u00eensu\u015fi cu mult\u0103 tragere de inim\u0103 le plivea \u015fi \u00eengrij\u0103a de gr\u0103din\u0103. \u00cen fundul acestei gr\u0103dini crescuse un m\u0103r cu totul \u015fi cu totul de aur. \u00cemp\u0103ratul nu mai putea de bucurie c\u0103 \u00een gr\u0103dina sa se afl\u0103 un a\u015fa pom cum nu se g\u0103sea \u00een toat\u0103 lumea. Se tot \u00eentorcea pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 d\u00e2nsul \u015fi se tot uita pe de toate p\u0103r\u0163ile la el, de i se scurgeau ochii. C\u00e2nd, \u00eentr-o zi, v\u0103zu c\u0103 pomul \u00eenmugure\u015fte, \u00eenflore\u015fte, se scutur\u0103 florile \u015fi roadele se arat\u0103: apoi spre sear\u0103 d\u0103 \u00een p\u00e2rguial\u0103. \u00cei z\u00e2mbea musta\u0163a \u00eemp\u0103ratului \u015fi \u00eei l\u0103sa gura ap\u0103, c\u00e2nd se g\u00e2ndea c\u0103 a doua zi o s\u0103 aib\u0103 la masa sa mere de aur, lucru ce nu se auzise p\u00e2n\u0103 atunci.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A doua zi nu se luminase bine de ziu\u0103, \u015fi \u00eemp\u0103ratul era \u00een gr\u0103din\u0103 ca s\u0103 vaz\u0103 merele cele aurite \u015fi s\u0103-\u015fi \u00eempace nesa\u0163iul ce avea de a se uita la d\u00e2nsele. Dar\u0103 r\u0103mase ca ie\u015fit din min\u0163i, c\u00e2nd, \u00een loc de mere coapte aurii, v\u0103zu c\u0103 pomul \u00eenmugurise din nou, iar\u0103 merele nic\u0103ieri. \u00cenc\u0103 fiind acolo, v\u0103zu cum \u00eenflore\u015fte pomul, cum \u00eei cade florile \u015fi cum roadele se arat\u0103 iar\u0103\u015fi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Atunci \u00eei mai veni inima la loc \u015fi se mul\u0163umi a a\u015ftepta p\u00e2n\u0103 a doua zi. \u00een ziua urm\u0103toare, ia merele de unde nu e. S-a sup\u0103rat \u00eemp\u0103ratul, nevoie mare, \u015fi porunci ca paznici s\u0103 se uite s\u0103 prinz\u0103 pe ho\u0163i. Dar\u0103 a\u015fi! unde e pomana aia!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pomul \u00eenflorea \u00een fiecare zi, se scuturau florile, rodul cre\u015ftea \u015fi seara da \u00een p\u00e2rg. Noaptea se cocea. Oarecine venea atunci \u015fi le lua, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 prinz\u0103 de veste oamenii \u00eemp\u0103ratului. Pare c\u0103 era un lucru f\u0103cut: acel cineva care lua merele \u00ee\u015fi b\u0103tea joc \u015fi de \u00eemp\u0103ratul \u015fi de to\u0163i paznicii lui. Acest \u00eemp\u0103rat acum nu-i mai era c\u0103 nu poate avea mere aurite la masa lui, ciuda cea mai mare era c\u0103 nici p\u00e2rga acestui pom nu o v\u0103zuse m\u0103car. Aceasta \u00eel \u00eentrist\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00eentr-at\u00e2ta \u00eenc\u00e2t p-aci p-aci era s\u0103 se scoboare din scaunul \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei \u015fi s\u0103-l dea celui ce se va lega a prinde pe ho\u0163.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fiii acestui \u00eemp\u0103rat, pas\u0103mite c\u0103-i sim\u0163ir\u0103 g\u00e2ndul c\u0103ci venir\u0103 \u00eenaintea lui \u015fi-l rugar\u0103 s\u0103-i lase a p\u00e2ndi \u015fi ei. Mare fu bucuria \u00eemp\u0103ratului c\u00e2nd auzi din gura fiului s\u0103u celui mai mare leg\u0103tura ce f\u0103cea de a pune m\u00e2na pe ho\u0163. Le dete, deci, voie, \u015fi ei se puser\u0103 pe lucru. P\u00e2ndi \u00een ziua dint\u00e2i fiul cel mare; dar\u0103 p\u0103\u0163i ru\u015finea ce p\u0103\u0163ise \u015fi ceilal\u0163i p\u00e2ndari din naintea lui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A doua zi p\u00e2ndi \u015fi cel mijlociu; dar\u0103 nici el nu fu mai breaz, ci se \u00eentoarse la tat\u0103l s\u0103u cu nasul \u00een jos.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ei spuser\u0103 c\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 la miezul nop\u0163ii o duc cum o duc, dar\u0103 c\u0103 dup\u0103 aceea nu se pot \u0163ine pe picioare de piroteala ce-i apuc\u0103 \u015fi cad \u00eentr-un somn ad\u00e2nc, \u015fi nu mai \u015ftiu nimic.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fiul cel mai mic asculta \u015fi t\u0103cea. Apoi, dup\u0103 ce sf\u00e2r\u015fi de spus fra\u0163ii cei mai mari ce li se \u00eent\u00e2mplase, se ceru \u015fi el de la tat\u0103-s\u0103u ca s\u0103-l lase s\u0103 p\u00e2ndeasc\u0103 \u015fi el. C\u00e2t de trist era tat\u0103-s\u0103u pentru c\u0103 nu se g\u0103sea nici un voinic care s\u0103-i prinz\u0103 pe ho\u0163ii merelor r\u00e2se c\u00e2nd \u00eel auzi. Iar\u0103 dup\u0103 multe rug\u0103ciuni se \u00eenduplec\u0103. Atunci fiul cel mai mic se preg\u0103ti de p\u00e2nd\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum veni seara, \u00ee\u015fi lu\u0103 tolba cu s\u0103ge\u0163ile, arcul \u015fi palo\u015ful, \u015fi se duse \u00een gr\u0103din\u0103, \u00ee\u015fi alese un loc singuratic \u015fi dep\u0103rtat de orice pom \u015fi de ziduri, astfel ca s\u0103 n-aib\u0103 de ce se rezema. Se hot\u0103r\u00ee a sta \u00een picioare pe un trunchi de pom t\u0103iat, astfel \u00eenc\u00e2t c\u00e2nd i-ar veni somn \u015fi ar mo\u0163\u0103i, s\u0103 caz\u0103 jos \u015fi s\u0103 se de\u015ftepte. A\u015fa f\u0103cu, \u015fi dup\u0103 ce c\u0103zu de vro dou\u0103 ori, i se sperie somnul \u015fi r\u0103mase treaz \u015fi neb\u00e2ntuit de piroteal\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd, colea despre ziu\u0103, c\u00e2nd somnul e mai dulce, auzi un f\u00e2lf\u00e2it ca de un stol de paseri c\u0103 se apropie.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Trase cu urechea \u015fi sim\u0163i c\u0103 cineva jumule\u015fte pomul de mere. Scoase o s\u0103geat\u0103 din tolb\u0103, o a\u015fez\u0103 la arc \u015fi, trac! trase o s\u0103geat\u0103 \u015fi nu se f\u0103cu nici o mi\u015fcare. Trac! mai trase una \u015fi iar\u0103\u015fi nimic. C\u00e2nd trase cu a treia, f\u00e2lf\u00e2itul se auzi din nou \u015fi el pricepu c\u0103 stolul de p\u0103s\u0103ri trebuie s\u0103 fi zburat. Se apropi\u0103 de m\u0103rul de aur \u015fi v\u0103zu c\u0103 ho\u0163ul n-avusese timp a lua toate merele. Luase ce luase, dar\u0103 tot mai r\u0103m\u0103sese. St\u00e2nd el acolo, i se p\u0103ru c\u0103 vede lucind ceva pe jos. Se plec\u0103 \u015fi ridic\u0103 acel ceva ce lucea. C\u00e2nd, ce s\u0103 vezi d-ta? dou\u0103 pene cu totul \u015fi cu totul de aur.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum se f\u0103cu de ziu\u0103, culese c\u00e2teva mere, le puse pe o tipsie de aur, \u015fi cu penele la c\u0103ciul\u0103 se duse de le \u00eenf\u0103\u0163i\u015f\u0103 tat\u0103lui s\u0103u.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul, v\u0103z\u00e2nd merele, mai-mai era s\u0103-\u015fi ias\u0103 din min\u0163i, de bucurie; dar\u0103 \u00ee\u015fi \u0163inu firea. Puse de strig\u0103 prin toat\u0103 cetatea c\u0103 fiul s\u0103u cel mic a izbutit s\u0103 aduc\u0103 mere \u015fi s\u0103 se afle c\u0103 ho\u0163ul este o pas\u0103re.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103t-Frumos zise tat\u0103lui s\u0103u s\u0103-i dea voie acum s\u0103 caute \u015fi pe ho\u0163. Tat\u0103l s\u0103u nu mai voia s\u0103 \u015ftie de ho\u0163, deoarece i-a ajutat Dumnezeu s\u0103 vaz\u0103 merele cele at\u00e2t de mult dorite.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar\u0103 fiul cel mic al \u00eemp\u0103ratului nu se l\u0103s\u0103 numai pe aceea, ci st\u0103rui p\u00e2n\u0103 ce \u00eemp\u0103ratul \u00eei dete voie s\u0103 mearg\u0103 a c\u0103uta \u015fi pe ho\u0163. Se g\u0103ti de drum; iar\u0103 c\u00e2nd fu a pleca, \u00ee\u015fi scoase penele cele de aur de la c\u0103ciul\u0103 \u015fi le dete \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesei muma lui, ca s\u0103 le poarte ea p\u00e2n\u0103 s-o \u00eentoarce el.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Lu\u0103 haine de primeneal\u0103 \u015fi bani de cheltuial\u0103, \u00ee\u015fi at\u00e2rn\u0103 tolba cu s\u0103ge\u0163ile la spate, palo\u015ful la coapsa st\u00e2ng\u0103 \u015fi, cu arcul \u00eentr-o m\u00e2n\u0103 \u015fi cu alta de g\u00e2tul credinciosului s\u0103u, porni la drum. \u015ei aide, \u015fi aide, merse cale lung\u0103 dep\u0103rtat\u0103, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce ajunse \u00een pustietate. Aci f\u0103cu popas \u015fi sf\u0103tuindu-se cu robul s\u0103u cel credincios, g\u0103si cu cale s\u0103 apuce spre r\u0103s\u0103rit. Mai c\u0103l\u0103torind ei o bucat\u0103 bun\u0103, ajunse la o p\u0103dure deas\u0103 \u015fi stufoas\u0103. Prin bungetul \u0103sta de p\u0103dure merg\u00e2nd ei pe dibuitele, c\u0103ci altfel era peste poate, z\u0103rir\u0103 \u00een dep\u0103rtare un lup groaznic de mare \u015fi cu fruntea de aram\u0103. \u00cendat\u0103 se \u015fi g\u0103tir\u0103 de ap\u0103rare. C\u00e2nd fur\u0103 aproape de lup de o b\u0103taie de s\u0103geat\u0103 puse F\u0103t-Frumos arcul la ochi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0V\u0103z\u00e2nd lupul una ca aceasta, strig\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 St\u0103i, F\u0103t-Frumos, nu m\u0103 s\u0103geta, c\u0103 mult bine \u0163i-oi prinde vreodat\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103t-Frumos \u00eel ascult\u0103 \u015fi l\u0103s\u0103 arcul \u00een jos. Apropiindu-se lupul \u015fi \u00eentreb\u00e2ndu-l unde merge \u015fi ce caut\u0103 prin astfel de p\u0103duri nestr\u0103b\u0103tute de picior de om, F\u0103t-Frumos \u00eei spuse toat\u0103 \u00eent\u00e2mplarea cu merele din gr\u0103dina tat\u0103lui s\u0103u, \u015fi c\u0103 acum merge s\u0103 caute pe ho\u0163.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Lupul \u00eei spuse c\u0103 ho\u0163ul era \u00eemp\u0103ratul p\u0103s\u0103rilor. C\u0103 el c\u00e2nd venea a fura merele, aduna pas\u0103rile cele mai agere la zbor \u015fi cu ele \u00een stol venea de le culegea. C\u0103 acea pas\u0103re se afl\u0103 la \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia de la marginea acestei p\u0103duri. \u00cei mai spuse c\u0103 toat\u0103 megie\u015fia se vaiet\u0103 de furturile ce face ea poamelor de prin gr\u0103dini, \u015fi le ar\u0103t\u0103 drumul cel mai apropiat \u015fi mai lesnicios. Apoi, d\u00e2ndu-i un meri\u015for frumos la vedere, \u00eei mai zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u0162ine, F\u0103t-Frumos, acest meri\u015for. C\u00e2nd vei avea trebuin\u0163\u0103 de mine vreodat\u0103, s\u0103 te ui\u0163i la el, s\u0103 g\u00e2nde\u015fti la mine \u015fi eu \u00eendat\u0103 voi fi acolo.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103t-Frumos priimi meri\u015forul \u015fi-l b\u0103g\u0103 \u00een s\u00e2n, apoi, lu\u00e2ndu-\u015fi r\u0103mas bun, porni cu credinciosul s\u0103u \u015fi, str\u0103b\u0103t\u00e2nd desi\u015furile p\u0103durei, ajunse la cetatea \u00een care se afla acea pas\u0103re.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cercet\u0103 prin cetate \u015fi se spuse c\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103ratul locului aceluia o \u0163ine \u00eentr-o colivie de aur \u00een gr\u0103dina sa.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Aceasta \u00eei fu de ajuns a \u015fti.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dete c\u00e2teva t\u00e2rcoale cur\u0163ii \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103te\u015fti \u015fi lu\u0103 aminte la toate am\u0103nunturile ce \u00eencongiura curtea. Cum se f\u0103cu sear\u0103, veni cu credinciosul s\u0103u \u015fi se pitul\u0103 la un col\u0163, a\u015ftept\u00e2nd acolo p\u00e2n\u0103 se lini\u015ftir\u0103 to\u0163i cei din curte. Apoi credinciosul lui puindu-se piu\u0103, F\u0103t-Frumos se urc\u0103 pe d\u00e2nsul; d-aci pe coama zidului, \u015fi s\u0103ri \u00een gr\u0103din\u0103. C\u00e2nd puse m\u00e2na pe colivie, o dat\u0103 \u0163ip\u0103 pas\u0103rea \u015fi, c\u00e2t ai zice mei, se v\u0103zu \u00eenconjurat de o mul\u0163ime de paseri, cari mai mici, cari mai mari, \u0163ip\u00e2nd pre limba lor. \u015ei at\u00e2ta larm\u0103 f\u0103cur\u0103, \u00eenc\u00e2t se de\u015fteptar\u0103 to\u0163i slujitorii \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103te\u015fti. \u015ei viind \u00een gr\u0103din\u0103, g\u0103sir\u0103 pe F\u0103t-Frumos cu colivia \u00een m\u00e2n\u0103 \u015fi pas\u0103rile d\u00e2ndu-se la el s\u0103-l sf\u00e2\u015fie, iar\u0103 el ap\u0103r\u00e2ndu-se.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Puser\u0103 slujitorii m\u00e2na pe el \u015fi-l duser\u0103 la \u00eemp\u0103ratul, carele \u015fi d\u00e2nsul se sculase s\u0103 vaz\u0103 ce se \u00eent\u00e2mplase.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum \u00eel v\u0103zu \u00eemp\u0103ratul, \u00eel \u015fi cunoscu; apoi prinse a-i zice:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u00cemi pare r\u0103u, F\u0103t-Frumos, de aceast\u0103 \u00eent\u00e2mplare. De ai fi venit cu binele, sau cu rug\u0103ciuni, s\u0103-mi ceri pas\u0103rea, poate m-a\u015f fi \u00eenduplecat ca s\u0103 \u0163i-o dau de bun\u0103voia mea; dar\u0103 acum, prins cu m\u00e2na \u00een sac, cum se zice, dup\u0103 datinele noastre cu moarte trebuie s\u0103 mori. \u015ei numele \u00ee\u0163i va r\u0103m\u00e2nea p\u00e2ng\u0103rit cu ponosul de t\u00e2lhar.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Aceast\u0103 pas\u0103re, luminate \u00eemp\u0103rate, r\u0103spunse F\u0103t-Frumos, ne-a jefuit de mai multe ori merele de aur din pomul ce are t\u0103t\u00e2ne-meu \u00een gr\u0103dina sa, \u015fi de aceea am venit s\u0103 pui m\u00e2na pe ho\u0163.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Poate s\u0103 fie adev\u0103rat ceea ce spui tu, F\u0103t-Frumos, dar\u0103 la noi, \u00eempotriva datinelor noastre eu n-am nici o putere. Numai o slujb\u0103 \u00eensemnat\u0103 f\u0103cut\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei noastre te poate sc\u0103pa \u015fi de ponos \u015fi de moarte.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Spune ce slujb\u0103 s\u0103-\u0163i fac, \u015fi m\u0103 voi \u00eencumete.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 De vei izbuti s\u0103-mi aduci iapa cea sireap\u0103 ce este la curtea \u00eemp\u0103ratului meu vecin, vei sc\u0103pa cu fa\u0163\u0103 curat\u0103, \u015fi-\u0163i voi da pas\u0103rea cu colivia.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103t-Frumos priimi. \u015ei chiar \u00een acea zi \u015fi plec\u0103 cu credinciosul s\u0103u rob.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ajung\u00e2nd la curtea \u00eemp\u0103ratului vecin, lu\u0103 cuno\u015ftin\u0163\u0103 de iap\u0103 \u015fi de \u00eemprejmuirea cur\u0163ii. Apoi, cum veni seara, se a\u015fez\u0103 cu credinciosul lui la un col\u0163 de curte, unde i se p\u0103ru a fi un loc de p\u00e2rleaz.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0El v\u0103zuse iapa cum o plimba doi slujitori, \u015fi se minun\u0103 de frumuse\u0163ea ei. Ea era alb\u0103, avea c\u0103p\u0103strul aurit \u015fi \u00eempodobit cu pietre nestemate, de lumina ca soarele.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pe la miez de noapte, c\u00e2nd somnul este mai dulce, F\u0103t-Frumos zise credinciosului s\u0103u de se puse piu\u0103, iar\u0103 el se urc\u0103 pe d\u00e2nsul, apoi pe zid \u015fi s\u0103ri \u00een curtea \u00eemp\u0103ratului. Merse pe dibuitele \u015fi \u00een v\u00e2rful degetelor, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce ajunse la grajd; \u015fi, deschiz\u00e2nd u\u015fa, puse m\u00e2na pe c\u0103p\u0103stru \u015fi tr\u0103gea iapa dup\u0103 d\u00e2nsul. Cum ajunse iapa la u\u015fa grajdului, unde ninchez\u0103 o dat\u0103 de haui v\u0103zduhul \u015fi url\u0103 toat\u0103 curtea \u015fi palaturile. \u00cendat\u0103 s\u0103rir\u0103 to\u0163i cu totul, puser\u0103 m\u00e2na pe F\u0103t-Frumos \u015fi-l duser\u0103 la \u00eemp\u0103ratul, carele \u015fi el se sculase. Acesta, cum v\u0103zu pe F\u0103t-Frumos \u00eel \u015fi cunoscu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cel \u00eenfrunt\u0103 pentru fapta cea mi\u015feleasc\u0103 ce era s\u0103 s\u0103v\u00e2r\u015feasc\u0103, \u015fi-i spuse c\u0103 datinele \u0163\u0103rei sale d\u0103 mor\u0163ii pe furi, \u015fi c\u0103 \u00eempotriva acelor datine el n-are nici o putere.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103t-Frumos \u00eei spuse drept toat\u0103 \u015firetenia cu merele, cu pas\u0103rea \u015fi cu cele ce \u00eei zisese s\u0103 fac\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103ratul, vecinul s\u0103u.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Atunci \u00eemp\u0103ratul \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 De vei putea, F\u0103t-Frumos, s\u0103-mi aduci pe Z\u00e2na Cr\u0103iasa, poate c\u0103 voi izbuti s\u0103 scapi de moarte \u015fi s\u0103-\u0163i r\u0103m\u00e2ie numele nep\u0103tat.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103t-Frumos se \u00eencumese \u015fi, lu\u00e2nd pe credinciosul s\u0103u cu sine, plec\u0103. Pe drum \u00ee\u015fi aduse aminte de meri\u015for. \u00cel scoase din s\u00e2n, se uit\u0103 la d\u00e2nsul \u015fi se g\u00e2ndi la lup. \u015ei c\u00e2t te-ai \u015fterge la ochi, lupul fu aci.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce pofte\u015fti, F\u0103t-Frumos? \u00eei zise.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce s\u0103 poftesc, \u00eei r\u0103spunse el. Iaca, iaca, iac\u0103 ce mi s-a \u00eent\u00e2mplat. Cum s\u0103 fac eu acum s\u0103 m\u0103 \u00eentorc cu isprav\u0103 bun\u0103?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 De asta \u00ee\u0163i este? Las\u2019 pe mine, c\u0103 treaba este ca \u015fi sf\u00e2r\u015fit\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei pornir\u0103 c\u00e2te\u015fitrei spre Z\u00e2na Cr\u0103ias\u0103, f\u0103cur\u0103 popas \u00eentr-o p\u0103dure de unde se vedea palaturile cele str\u0103lucite ale z\u00e2nei. Se \u00eenvoir\u0103 ca F\u0103t-Frumos \u015fi cu credinciosul s\u0103u s\u0103 a\u015ftepte la tulpina unui copac b\u0103tr\u00e2n, p\u00e2n\u0103 s-o \u00eentoarce lupul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei m\u00e2ndre palaturi mai avea z\u00e2na, m\u0103re. \u00censu\u015fi lupul se mir\u0103 de frumuse\u0163ea \u015fi de r\u00e2nduiala cea bun\u0103 ce era p-acolo. Cum ajunse, f\u0103cu ce f\u0103cu \u015fi se furi\u015f\u0103 \u00een gr\u0103din\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ce s\u0103 vezi d-ta? Nici un pom nu mai era verde. Le c\u0103zuse frunza, \u015fi cr\u0103cile, \u015fi r\u0103murelele, de erau ca despuia\u0163i. Pe jos, frunzele c\u0103zute erau f\u0103cute scrum de usc\u0103ciune. Numai un stuf de trandafiri mai era \u00eenfrunzit \u015fi plin de boboci, unii \u00een floare \u015fi al\u0163ii deschi\u015fi. Ca s\u0103 ajung\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 la d\u00e2nsul, lupul trebui s\u0103 mearg\u0103 \u00een v\u00e2rful degetelor ca s\u0103 nu f\u00e2\u015fie frunzetul cel uscat, \u015fi se ascunse \u00een acel cr\u00e2ngule\u0163 \u00eenflorit. St\u00e2nd el acolo \u015fi p\u00e2ndind, iat\u0103 c\u0103 iese Z\u00e2na Cr\u0103ias\u0103 din palaturi, \u00eenso\u0163it\u0103 de dou\u0103zeci \u015fi patru de roabe, ca s\u0103 se plimbe prin gr\u0103din\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd o v\u0103zu lupul, p-aci, p-ci era s\u0103 uite pentru ce venise \u015fi s\u0103 se dea de gol; dar se st\u0103p\u00e2ni. C\u0103ci era a\u015fa de frumoas\u0103, c\u00e2t nu s-a mai v\u0103zut \u015fi nu se va mai vedea pe fa\u0163a p\u0103m\u00e2ntului. Avea un p\u0103r, nene, cu totul \u015fi cu totul de aur. Cosi\u0163ele ei lungi \u015fi stufoase, de-i b\u0103tea pulpele. C\u00e2nd se uita la cineva cu ochii ei ceia marii \u015fi negri ca murele, \u00eel b\u0103ga \u00een boale; avea ni\u015fte spr\u00e2ncene bine arcuite, de pare c\u0103 erau scrise, \u015fi o pieli\u0163\u0103 mai alb\u0103 ca spuma laptelui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce dete c\u00e2teva t\u00e2rcoale prin gr\u0103din\u0103 cu roabele dup\u0103 d\u00e2nsa, veni si la stuful de trandafir s\u0103 rup\u0103 c\u00e2teva flori. C\u00e2nd lupul, care era ascuns \u00een cr\u00e2ng, odat\u0103 se repezi, o lu\u0103 \u00een bra\u0163e \u015fi pe ici \u0163i-a fost drumul. Iar\u0103 roabele, de spaim\u0103, se \u00eempr\u0103\u015ftiar\u0103 ca puii de pot\u00e2rniche. \u00centr-un suflet alerg\u0103 lupul \u015fi o dete le\u015finat\u0103 \u00een bra\u0163ele lui F\u0103t-Frumos. Acesta, cum o v\u0103zu, se pierdu cu firea; dar\u0103 lupul \u00eei aduse aminte c\u0103 e voinic, \u015fi-\u015fi veni \u00een sine. Mul\u0163i \u00eemp\u0103ra\u0163i voise s\u0103 o fure dar\u0103 se r\u0103puser\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103t-Frumos prinsese mil\u0103 de ea, \u015fi nu-i mai venea a o da altuia.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Z\u00e2na Cr\u0103ias\u0103, dup\u0103 ce se de\u015ftept\u0103 din le\u015fin \u015fi se v\u0103zu \u00een bra\u0163ele lui F\u0103t-Frumos, prinse a-i zice:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dac\u0103 tu e\u015fti lupul care m-a furat, a ta s\u0103 fiu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103t-Frumos \u00eei r\u0103spunse:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 A mea s\u0103 fii, nedesp\u0103r\u0163it\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 la moarte.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Apoi se \u00een\u0163eleser\u0103 la cuvinte, \u015fi spuse fiecare \u015firitenia istoriei sale.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0V\u0103z\u00e2nd lupul dragostea ce se \u00eencinsese \u00eentre ei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 L\u0103sa\u0163i pe mine, c\u0103 toate le \u00eentocmesc eu dup\u0103 vrerea voastr\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei plecar\u0103 a se \u00eentoarce de unde veniser\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pe drum, lupul se dete de trei ori peste cap, \u015fi se f\u0103cu \u00eentocmai ca Z\u00e2na Cr\u0103ias\u0103. Pas\u0103mite lupul era n\u0103zdr\u0103van.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se vorbir\u0103 ei, ca credinciosul lui F\u0103t-Frumos s\u0103 stea cu Z\u00e2na Cr\u0103ias\u0103 la tulpina unui copaci mare din p\u0103dure, p\u00e2n\u0103 se va \u00eentoarce F\u0103t-Frumos cu iapa sireap\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ajung\u00e2nd la \u00eemp\u0103ratul cel cu iapa, F\u0103t-Frumos \u00eei dete pre pref\u0103cuta Z\u00e2na Cr\u0103ias\u0103. Cum o v\u0103zu \u00eemp\u0103ratul, i se mui\u0103 inima \u015fi prinse un dor de d\u00e2nsa, de nu se poate povesti.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Vrednicia ta, F\u0103t-Frumos, te-a sc\u0103pat \u015fi de ocar\u0103 \u015fi de moarte. Acum te \u015fi r\u0103spl\u0103tesc pentru aceasta, d\u00e2ndu-\u0163i \u00een dar iapa.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum puse m\u00e2na pe iap\u0103 \u015fi pe c\u0103p\u0103strul cel minunat, F\u0103t-Frumos o lu\u0103 la s\u0103n\u0103toasa \u015fi, puind Z\u00e2na Cr\u0103ias\u0103 c\u0103lare pe iap\u0103, porni cu d\u00e2nsa \u015fi trecu hotarele acelei \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ii.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul adun\u0103 numaidec\u00e2t pe sfetnicii s\u0103i \u015fi purcese la biseric\u0103 ca s\u0103 se cunune cu Z\u00e2na Cr\u0103ias\u0103. C\u00e2nd fu la u\u015fa bisericei, pref\u0103cuta Z\u00e2n\u0103 se dete de trei ori peste cap \u015fi se f\u0103cu iar\u0103\u015fi lup, carele, cl\u0103n\u0163\u0103nind din col\u0163i, \u00ee\u015fi ar\u0103t\u0103 din\u0163ii r\u00e2njind c\u0103tre curtenii \u00eemp\u0103ratului. Ace\u015ftia, cum v\u0103zur\u0103, deodat\u0103 \u00eenghe\u0163ar\u0103 de fric\u0103. Apoi, dup\u0103 ce se mai dezmeticir\u0103, se luar\u0103 dup\u0103 d\u00e2nsul cu chiote \u015fi cu uideo. Dar\u0103 lupul, s\u0103 te \u0163ii, p\u00e2rleo! lungi pasul lupe\u015fte, se duse, dulu\u0163\u0103, de nu mai dete cu m\u00e2na de d\u00e2nsul. \u015ei ajung\u00e2nd pe F\u0103t-Frumos \u015fi pe ai s\u0103i, merse cu d\u00e2n\u015fii. C\u00e2nd fu aproape de curtea \u00eemp\u0103ratului cel cu pas\u0103rea, f\u0103cur\u0103 ca \u015fi la cellalt \u00eemp\u0103rat. Lupul, schimbat \u00een iap\u0103 sireap\u0103, fu dus la \u00eemp\u0103ratul carele, v\u0103z\u00e2nd iapa, nu se mai \u015ftia de bucurie.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce priimi cu mult\u0103 omenie pe F\u0103t-Frumos, \u00eemp\u0103ratul acesta \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ai sc\u0103pat, F\u0103t-Frumos, \u015fi de ponos \u015fi de moarte. Iar\u0103 eu \u00eemi voi \u0163inea cuv\u00e2ntul \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesc, \u015fi mul\u0163umirea mea va fi pururea cu tine.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Porunci, \u015fi numaidec\u00e2t i se dete pas\u0103rea, cu colivia ei cu tot. \u015ei priimind-o F\u0103t-Frumos, \u00ee\u015fi lu\u0103 ziua bun\u0103 \u015fi plec\u0103. Ajung\u00e2nd \u00een p\u0103dure unde l\u0103sase pe Z\u00e2na Cr\u0103ias\u0103, iapa \u015fi pe credinciosul lui, pornir\u0103 \u00eempreun\u0103 c\u0103tre \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia tat\u0103lui s\u0103u.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul cel ce priimise iapa porunci s\u0103 ias\u0103 toat\u0103 oastea lui \u015fi mai-marii \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei sale la c\u00e2mp, unde voia s\u0103 li se arate c\u0103lare pe iapa cea at\u00e2t de vestit\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd \u00eel v\u0103zur\u0103 osta\u015fii, to\u0163i cu to\u0163ii strigar\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 S\u0103 tr\u0103ie\u015fti, \u00eemp\u0103rate, c\u0103 ai dob\u00e2ndit un astfel de odor! S\u0103-\u0163i tr\u0103iasc\u0103 \u015fi iapa, care te face s\u0103 te ar\u0103\u0163i a\u015fa de m\u0103re\u0163!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei \u00een adev\u0103r, venea, nene, iapa cu \u00eemp\u0103ratul pe d\u00e2nsa, de nu-i da picioarele de p\u0103m\u00e2nt, ci parc-ar fi zburat.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se luar\u0103 la \u00eentrecere. Dar\u0103 nici pomeneal\u0103 nu era ca s\u0103 se apropie cineva de aceast\u0103 iap\u0103, c\u0103ci pe to\u0163i \u00eei l\u0103sa \u00een urm\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd fu la o dep\u0103rtare bun\u0103, odat\u0103 st\u0103tu iapa, tr\u00e2nti pe \u00eemp\u0103rat, se dete de trei ori peste cap \u015fi se f\u0103cu iar\u0103\u015fi lup, \u015fi o rupse d-a fuga, \u015fi fugi, \u015fi fugi, p\u00e2n\u0103 ajunse pe F\u0103t-Frumos.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd fur\u0103 a se desp\u0103r\u0163i, lupul zise lui F\u0103t-Frumos:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Iat\u0103, de ast\u0103 dat\u0103 \u0163i s-a \u00eemplinit toate poftele. P\u0103ze\u015fte-te \u00een via\u0163a ta a nu mai pofti lucruri peste puterea ta, c\u0103ci nu vei p\u0103\u0163i bine.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Apoi se desp\u0103r\u0163ir\u0103, duc\u00e2ndu-se fiecare \u00eentr-ale sale.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ajung\u00e2nd la \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia tat\u0103lui s\u0103u \u015fi auzind c\u0103 vine fiul s\u0103u cel mic, \u00eei ie\u015fi \u00eenainte cu mare, cu mic, ca s\u0103-l primeasc\u0103, dup\u0103 cum i se cuvenea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mare fu bucuria ob\u015fteasc\u0103 c\u00e2nd \u00eel v\u0103zur\u0103 cu so\u0163ioar\u0103 cum nu se mai g\u0103sea pe fa\u0163a p\u0103m\u00e2ntului, \u015fi cu odoare cu nu s-a mai pomenit.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum ajunse, porunci F\u0103t-Frumos \u015fi f\u0103cu un grajd m\u0103iestrit pentru iap\u0103; iar\u0103 colivia cu pas\u0103rea o puse \u00een p\u0103limarul despre gr\u0103din\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Apoi tat\u0103-s\u0103u puse de se f\u0103cu preg\u0103tirile de nunt\u0103. \u015ei dup\u0103 c\u00e2teva zile se cunun\u0103 F\u0103t-Frumos cu Z\u00e2na Cr\u0103ias\u0103, \u00eentinse mas\u0103 mare pentru bun \u015fi pentru r\u0103u, \u015fi \u0163inur\u0103 veseliile trei zile \u015fi trei nop\u0163i \u00eencheiate.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 care tr\u0103ir\u0103 \u00een fericire, fiindc\u0103 F\u0103t-Frumos nu mai avea ce pofti. \u015ei or fi tr\u0103ind \u015fi ast\u0103zi, de n-or fi murit.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A fost odat\u0103 un \u00eemp\u0103rat \u015fi o \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teas\u0103. Ei aveau trei copii. Mai aveau pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 palaturile lor o gr\u0103din\u0103 foarte frumoas\u0103. \u015ei at\u00e2t de drag \u00eei era florile … <\/p>\n