\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A fost odat\u0103 un b\u0103iat. El, de la na\u015fterea lui, se pomenise bubos. Ce n-a f\u0103cut el ca s\u0103 se cure\u0163e de bube? dar\u0103 \u00een de\u015fert. B\u0103ie\u0163ii la joc \u015fi fetele la hor\u0103 \u00eel huiduia \u015fi fugeau de d\u00e2nsul ca de o lepr\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei fiindc\u0103 n-avea \u00eencotro, \u015fi el, biet, \u00ee\u015fi \u00eenghi\u0163ea amarul, \u015fi r\u0103bda. Nici tu joc, nici tu veselie, nici tu dezmierdare. Se uita cu jind la ceilal\u0163i b\u0103ie\u0163i \u015fi fl\u0103c\u0103i, cum unii se \u00eencurau juc\u00e2ndu-se, cum al\u0163ii se zbenguiau cu fetele, \u015fi r\u00e2mnea la d\u00e2n\u015fii.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cen toate zilele se ducea el la un pu\u0163 de aducea ap\u0103 pentru cas\u0103. Drumul \u00eens\u0103 \u00eei era pe la curtea \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasc\u0103. \u00centr-o zi, c\u00e2nd scoase ap\u0103 v\u0103zu \u00een ciutur\u0103 un ghigor\u0163. Bucuria lui, c\u0103 o s\u0103 aib\u0103 \u00een ziua aceea legum\u0103 mai deosebit\u0103. C\u00e2nd, ce s\u0103 vezi d-ta? pe\u015ftele \u00eencepu s\u0103-i vorbeasc\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Fl\u0103c\u0103ule, arunc\u0103-m\u0103 iar\u0103 \u00een pu\u0163, \u015fi nu-\u0163i face p\u0103cat cu mine, c\u0103 mult bine \u0163i-oi prinde \u015fi eu vreodat\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B\u0103iatul se minun\u0103 de asta; cum de s\u0103 vorbeasc\u0103 un pe\u015fte? Sim\u0163i el c\u0103 trebuie s\u0103 fie aci la mijloc ceva n\u0103zdr\u0103van \u015fi-i dete drumul \u00een pu\u0163.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului nu voia cu nici un chip s\u0103 se m\u0103rite. Ce nu f\u0103cu bietul tat\u0103-s\u0103u, ce nu drese ca s\u0103-\u015fi dea fata la casa ei, dar\u0103 ca s-o \u00eenduplece, ba. Ei nu-i da inima s\u0103-\u015fi lege capul cu nici unul din pe\u0163itorii ce veneau s\u0103 o cear\u0103, de\u015fi to\u0163i erau \u00eemp\u0103ra\u0163i \u015fi fii de \u00eemp\u0103ra\u0163i.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B\u0103iatul cel bubos \u00eens\u0103 de c\u00e2te ori trecea cu cofa la ap\u0103 \u015fi ea era la fereastr\u0103, vedea c\u0103 \u00eei tot r\u00e2de. El nici s\u0103 se g\u00e2ndea c\u0103 pentru d\u00e2nsul se punea la fereastr\u0103, \u015fi c\u0103 \u00eel p\u00e2ndea p\u00e2n\u0103 ce trecea, ci socotea c\u0103 a\u015fa este ea de felul ei cu z\u00e2mbetul pe buze. Pas\u0103mite fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului, ori c\u0103 cunoscuse c\u0103 el o s\u0103 fie un om frumos, ori c\u0103 o tr\u0103gea a\u0163a ca spre ursitul ei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Azi a\u015fa, m\u00e2ine a\u015fa, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce, \u00eentr-o zi, \u00eel chem\u0103 de vorbi cu el. S\u0103 se pr\u0103p\u0103deasc\u0103 b\u0103iatul de ru\u015fine c\u00e2nd v\u0103zu c\u0103 pe d\u00e2nsul \u00eel cheam\u0103! Se f\u0103cu ro\u015fu ca sfecla, se z\u0103p\u0103ci p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00eentr-at\u00e2ta de nu \u015ftiu deocamdat\u0103 s\u0103 zic\u0103 nici dou\u0103 boabe leg\u0103nate. At\u00e2t de mult se f\u00e2st\u00e2cise el.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Apoi, \u0163iindu-\u015fi firea \u015fi lu\u00e2ndu-\u015fi inima \u00een din\u0163i, dete ni\u015fte r\u0103spunsuri de merse fetei tocmai la inim\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Vezi c\u0103 \u015fi vorba lui ca \u015fi a fetei era vorb\u0103 cu lipici, dragul neichii; fetei \u00eei t\u00e2c\u00e2ia inima nu-i t\u00e2c\u00e2ia, dar\u0103 lui \u015ftiu c\u0103-i t\u00e2c\u00e2ia de sta s\u0103-i ias\u0103 afar\u0103 din piept. \u015ei dintr-acel minut, nu \u015ftiu ce f\u0103cea el, nu \u015ftiu ce dregea, c\u0103 se pomenea, f\u0103r\u0103 voia lui, trec\u00e2nd pe la curtea \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasc\u0103, ia a\u015fa, numai ca s\u0103 treac\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0El \u00ee\u015fi uitase de pe\u015fte. Acum \u00ee\u015fi aduse aminte de d\u00e2nsul, \u015fi duc\u00e2ndu-se la pu\u0163 \u00eentr-o zi, se uit\u0103 \u00een\u0103untru \u015fi zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Pe\u015fte, pe\u015fti\u015for, ghigor\u0163ule drag\u0103, mi-ai zis c\u0103 ai s\u0103-mi prinzi bine odat\u0103, odat\u0103; rogu-te, scap\u0103-m\u0103 de bubele astea uricioase \u015fi \u00eempu\u0163ite.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0N-apuc\u0103 s\u0103 sf\u00e2r\u015feasc\u0103 vorba bine, \u015fi ce s\u0103 vezi dumneata? odat\u0103 \u00eei c\u0103zu bubele, \u015fi r\u0103mase curat \u015fi luminat, ca un pui de brad.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd l-a v\u0103zut fata de \u00eemp\u0103rat a\u015fa m\u00e2ndru \u015fi frumos, nu s-a mai putut opri, \u015fi l-a s\u0103rutat. Vezi c\u0103 inima \u00eei da br\u00e2nci c\u0103tre d\u00e2nsul, \u015fi se bucur\u0103, nevoie mare, c\u0103 pusese ochii pe un a\u015fa boboc de fl\u0103c\u0103u.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ea frumoas\u0103 de pica, el frumos ca un bujor, v\u0103zu c\u0103 sunt numai buni de a se lua \u00een c\u0103s\u0103torie, \u015fi duc\u00e2ndu-se la \u00eemp\u0103ratul, tat\u0103l s\u0103u, \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Tat\u0103, eu mi-am g\u0103sit logodnicul. Nu \u015ftiu dac\u0103 \u0163ie \u00ee\u0163i place ori ba, dar\u0103 mie \u00eemi sf\u00e2r\u00e2ie inima dup\u0103 d\u00e2nsul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cum se poate s\u0103-mi faci tu ast\u0103 ru\u015fine, fata mea?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Unde ai mai auzit tu ca o fat\u0103 de \u00eemp\u0103rat s\u0103 ia de b\u0103rbat pe un fluier\u0103-v\u00e2nt, golan \u015fi f\u0103r\u0103 nici un c\u0103p\u0103t\u00e2i?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Tat\u0103, poate s\u0103 fie s\u0103rac, poate s\u0103 fie golan, cum zici d-ta, dar\u0103 este om de omenie, de\u015ftept \u015fi apoi mie \u00eemi place. Eu am s\u0103 tr\u0103iesc cu el. Pe el \u00eemi zice inima s\u0103-l iau. Dac\u0103 nu vei voi s\u0103 m\u0103 \u00eenso\u0163esc cu el, s\u0103 \u015ftii cu hot\u0103r\u00e2re c\u0103 pe altul nu iau, o dat\u0103 cu capul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dac\u0103 v\u0103zu tat\u0103l fetei, \u00eemp\u0103ratul, c\u0103 fie-sa pusese piciorul \u00een prag \u015fi nu voia nici \u00een ruptul capului s\u0103 ia pe altul de b\u0103rbat, mi i-a luat bini\u015for pe am\u00e2ndoi, i-a b\u0103gat \u00eentr-o butie \u015fi i-a dat pe g\u00e2rl\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ei \u00eencepur\u0103 a se boci \u015fi a pl\u00e2nge de mi \u0163i se rupea r\u0103runchii. El, biet, nevinovat, p\u0103\u0163ea necazul dup\u0103 urma fetei \u00eemp\u0103ratului, c\u0103ci el nici nu-i b\u0103tuse capul, ba nici c\u0103 visa c\u0103 o s\u0103 ia de nevast\u0103 pe fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0V\u0103z\u00e2nd \u00eens\u0103 c\u0103 cu bocela nu o scoate la nici un c\u0103p\u0103t\u00e2i, se ru\u015fin\u0103 singur de sine, cum de s\u0103 se arate el, cruce de voinic, a\u015fa pu\u0163in la inim\u0103 c\u00e2nd se \u00eent\u00e2mpl\u0103 de caz \u00een nevoie, \u015fi \u00eencepu a se g\u00e2ndi, ca ce ar face s\u0103 scape de primejdie.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd, odat\u0103 \u00eei veni \u00een g\u00e2nd ghigor\u0163ul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 I!\u2026 zise, ghigor\u0163ule dr\u0103gu\u0163, acum s\u0103 te v\u0103d! Mi-ai dat dovezi de n\u0103zdr\u0103v\u0103nia ta. \u015etiu c\u0103 po\u0163i multe. Scap\u0103-m\u0103 de nevoia \u00een care am c\u0103zut.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Abia \u00eei ie\u015fi din gur\u0103 vorba cea din urm\u0103, \u015fi, ce s\u0103 vezi dumneata? dintr-o p\u0103c\u0103toas\u0103 de butie, unde mi se f\u0103cu un palat, de nici \u00eemp\u0103ratul, tat\u0103l fetei, nu avea a\u015fa palat bogat \u015fi \u00eempodobit cu de toate frumuse\u0163ile lumei. At\u00e2ta numai, c\u0103 butia ajunsese la mare, \u015fi acest palat acolo se \u00eenfiin\u0163\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mai g\u00e2ndi o dat\u0103 b\u0103iatul cel bubos la ghigor\u0163 \u015fi dori ca palatul s\u0103 se str\u0103mute \u00eentr-o p\u0103dure.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dorin\u0163a lui se \u00eemplini numat c\u00e2t te \u015ftergi la ochi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar a\u015fa palat m\u0103iestru nici c\u0103 s-a mai v\u0103zut, m\u0103re. Toate lucru\u015foarele dintr-\u00eensul era puse la r\u00e2nduiala lor \u015fi toate \u00eemi vorbeau ca ni\u015fte n\u0103zdr\u0103vane.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ei acolo au f\u0103cut nunta. Fa\u0163\u0103 la nunt\u0103 au fost: fiarele p\u0103durii, copacii cei m\u0103re\u0163i, floricelele cele frumoase, pas\u0103rile v\u0103zduhului \u015fi stelele cerului \u00eempreun\u0103 cu s\u00e2nta lun\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tr\u0103iau acolo ei ca \u00een s\u00e2nul mumei lor. Unde s\u0103 auzi la d\u00e2n\u015fii ceart\u0103! ferita s\u00e2ntule\u0163ul s\u0103 vezi la d\u00e2n\u015fii neunire. C\u0103ci diavolul vrajbei nu cuteza s\u0103-\u015fi v\u00e2re coada \u00eentre ei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei a\u015fa petrec\u00e2nd ei, c\u0103s\u0103toria lor fu binecuv\u00e2ntat\u0103 cu un copila\u015f, ce se n\u0103scu \u00eempl\u0103to\u015fat cu un piept de aur. Mum\u0103-sa, fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului, cum \u00eel v\u0103zu a\u015fa, se sperie, \u015fi \u00eei \u015fi puse g\u00e2nd r\u0103u.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar\u0103 fiind rodul p\u00e2ntecelui s\u0103u, \u00eei fu mil\u0103 s\u0103-i fac\u0103 de petrecanie. Se duse deci de-l puse \u00eentr-un pom nalt \u015fi \u00eel n\u0103pusti acolo.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Venind ursitoarele, ele ursi pe copil c\u0103 va ajunge om mare; c\u0103 va ridica tulpina din care ie\u015fise m\u0103-sa, la mare m\u0103rire; c\u0103 hrana i-o va aduce o pas\u0103re; c\u0103 va \u00eent\u00e2mpina un zabrac bun de la ai hr\u0103nitoarei sale, din care va sc\u0103pa cu fa\u0163\u0103 curat\u0103; apoi c\u0103 va fi pov\u0103\u0163uit de o alt\u0103 pas\u0103re.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei \u00een adev\u0103r, chiar de a doua zi \u00eencepu a veni un vultur \u00een toate zilele, \u015fi a-i aduce de m\u00e2ncare.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cen vremea aceasta, \u00eemp\u0103ratul, tat\u0103l fetei, plecase \u00een v\u00e2n\u0103toare cu o mul\u0163ime de curteni, slujitori \u015fi v\u00e2n\u0103tori. \u015ei v\u00e2neaz\u0103 ici, v\u00e2neaz\u0103 colea, se dep\u0103rtase de oamenii s\u0103i, pe neb\u0103gate \u00een seam\u0103. Cum, cum, el se r\u0103t\u0103ci, r\u0103m\u00e2n\u00e2nd numai cu credincerul s\u0103u. E! ce te faci tu acum? c\u0103ci seara se apropie, \u015fi loc de repaus nu este, \u015fi cas\u0103 de g\u0103zduit nici pomeneal\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tot b\u00e2jb\u00e2ind ei prin amurg, dete peste palaturile b\u0103iatului celui bubos. Cum ajunser\u0103, desc\u0103lecar\u0103, \u015fi voind s\u0103 lege c\u0103p\u0103strul calului de propteaua por\u0163ii, aceasta \u00eei \u00eenfrunt\u0103, zic\u00e2ndu-le:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 De, m\u0103 neghiobilor, da ce, aici lega\u0163i voi caii? locul cailor este la grajd.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul r\u0103mase st\u00e2lpit de mirare. \u015ei apoi \u00eei veni \u015fi cu ru\u015fine cum el, \u00eemp\u0103ratul, s\u0103 fie mustrat de o proptea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei, tot str\u00e2ng\u00e2nd pumnii \u015fi din\u0163ii de necaz, se plimba de colo p\u00e2n\u0103 colo pe dinaintea por\u0163ii, ca s\u0103 se mai r\u0103coreasc\u0103 ni\u0163el \u015fi s\u0103-\u015fi ast\u00e2mpere necazul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Bubosul v\u0103zu de pe fereastr\u0103 c\u0103 tot umbl\u0103 pe dinaintea por\u0163ii ni\u015fte oameni, lucru ce nu mai v\u0103zuse el de c\u00e2nd intrase \u00een butie, cobor\u00ee scara palatului \u015fi veni la poart\u0103 de pofti pe ace\u015fti c\u0103l\u0103tori \u00een\u0103untru \u015fi-i osp\u0103t\u0103 ca pe ni\u015fte oameni de omenie \u015fi r\u0103t\u0103ci\u0163i.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0St\u0103p\u00e2nii palatului cunoscur\u0103 pe \u00eemp\u0103ratul, dar\u0103 el nu-i cunoscuser\u0103 pe d\u00e2n\u015fii, vezi c\u0103 nici nu-i tr\u0103snea lui prin cap ca ei s\u0103 mai tr\u0103iasc\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul nici n-avea vreme s\u0103 se minuneze de ceea ce v\u0103zu \u00een acele palaturi. N-apuca s\u0103 priveasc\u0103 cu b\u0103gare de seam\u0103 la lucrurile ce mergeau singure \u015fi-\u015fi f\u0103ceau slujba, \u015fi sta s\u0103 asculte la altele cari vorbeau \u015fi se \u00eemb\u0103rb\u0103tau una pe alta la lucru. Masa se puse \u00een lini\u015fte \u015fi cu bun\u0103 r\u00e2nduial\u0103. Toate \u00ee\u015fi aveau v\u0103taful lor: tac\u00e2murile mesei, tr\u0103nc\u0103n\u0103ile de la buc\u0103t\u0103rie, a\u015fternuturile, m\u0103turile de cas\u0103 \u015fi de curte, grajdurile, curtea, toate erau cu r\u00e2nduielile lor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce osp\u0103t\u0103 ca un \u00eemp\u0103rat, a doua zi plecar\u0103 v\u00e2n\u0103torii cei r\u0103t\u0103ci\u0163i. G\u0103sind o potec\u0103 care \u00eei scoase la lumini\u015f, de unde cunoscur\u0103 drumul, \u00eemp\u0103ratul plec\u0103 la curtea lui cu hot\u0103r\u00e2re des\u0103v\u00e2r\u015fit\u0103 a pune gonaci cari s\u0103 afle ale cui erau palaturile acelea din coprinsul \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei sale, \u015fi despre care nimeni nu-i povestise nimic. El avea de g\u00e2nd ca s\u0103 poruneasc\u0103 mai apoi s\u0103 i-l aduc\u0103 lui acolo.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Vulturul urma a hr\u0103ni copila\u015ful lep\u0103dat de m\u0103-sa \u015fi pus \u00een copaci, carele cre\u015ftea repede ca o floare, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce \u00eentr-o zi se \u0163inu vulturoaica dup\u0103 d\u00e2nsul s\u0103 vaz\u0103 unde tot vine el. C\u00e2nd privi ceea ce f\u0103cea, \u00ee\u015fi zburli penele de pe d\u00e2nsa \u015fi puse g\u00e2nd r\u0103u copilului. Ea se ascunse \u015fi stete acolo p\u00e2n\u0103 ce plec\u0103 vulturul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum se duse el, vulturoaica veni la copil \u015fi cu pliscul \u00eencepu a ciocni \u00een pieptul copilului, ca s\u0103-i m\u0103n\u00e2nce r\u0103runchii. Pieptul fiind tare, pentru c\u0103 era, cum zisei, de aur, nu-l putu sparge a\u015fa lesne. Copilul, cum sim\u0163i ciocniturile vulturoaicei, \u00eentinse m\u00e2nu\u015fi\u0163ele, parc\u0103 l-ar fi \u00eenv\u0103\u0163at cineva, apuc\u0103 pe vulturoaic\u0103 de g\u00e2t, \u015fi str\u00e2nse, \u015fi str\u00e2nse, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce o sugrum\u0103 \u015fi c\u0103zu jos moart\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Atunci \u015fi copilul, cobor\u00e2ndu-se din copaci, o apuc\u0103 razna pe c\u00e2mp. \u00cen cale se \u00eent\u00e2lni cu un cocor. Cum \u00eel v\u0103zu, se \u00eemprieteni cu el. Cocorul d\u00e2nd peste o a\u015fa bun\u0103tate \u015fi frumuse\u0163e de copil, nu se mai \u00eendur\u0103 a se dezlipi de d\u00e2nsul, \u015fi tr\u0103iau \u00eempreun\u0103 \u00een cuibul lui. G\u0103sind o carte pe unde colinda cocorul, o aduse b\u0103iatului, \u015fi acesta \u00eenv\u0103\u0163\u0103 s\u0103 citeasc\u0103 \u015fi s\u0103 scrie.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce se mai m\u0103ri b\u0103iatul, cocorul \u00eel \u00eenv\u0103\u0163\u0103 a face o luntre, cu care se plimba pe ap\u0103. El lua oameni cu d\u00e2nsul \u00een luntre, cu care se \u00eenv\u0103\u0163a la m\u00e2nat. Mai t\u00e2rziu el \u00eei \u015fi \u00eentrecu la me\u015fte\u015fugul de a m\u00e2na luntrea \u015fi \u00eei plimb\u0103 \u015fi pe d\u00e2n\u015fii.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Plimb\u00e2ndu-se el a\u015fa pe ap\u0103, a z\u0103rit palaturile tat\u0103lui s\u0103u. A cercetat ce era aceea \u015fi a aflat c\u0103 acolo tr\u0103ie\u015fte o pereche de oameni. El s-a dus s\u0103 fac\u0103 cuno\u015ftin\u0163\u0103 cu d\u00e2n\u015fii. Acolo, din una, din alta, se dar\u0103 \u00een vorb\u0103 \u015fi despre copii, \u015fi afl\u0103 c\u0103 el este copilul lor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 aceasta p\u0103rin\u0163ii \u00eel rugar\u0103 s\u0103 r\u0103m\u00e2ie cu d\u00e2n\u015fii. El nu voi, vezi c\u0103 ursita lui \u00eel tr\u0103gea \u00een alt\u0103 parte.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se puse \u00een luntre \u015fi ie\u015fi la lume. Aci dac\u0103 ajunse, dete peste palaturile \u00eemp\u0103ratului, tat\u0103l m\u0103-sii.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum \u00eel v\u0103zu \u00eemp\u0103ratul, nu \u015ftiu ce parc\u0103 \u00eei zicea s\u0103 ia \u00een nume de bine pe acest june. Iar lui, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 \u015ftie de ce, \u00eei t\u00e2c\u00e2ia inima de bucurie. Vezi c\u0103, m\u0103re, s\u00e2ngele ap\u0103 nu se face, \u015fi rubedenia la rubedenie trage ca acul la magnet.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0El intr\u0103 \u00een slujb\u0103 la \u00eemp\u0103ratul. \u015ei ispr\u0103vile ce aduse \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei prin iscusin\u0163a lui f\u0103cu pe \u00eemp\u0103rat s\u0103 aib\u0103 pe acest t\u00e2n\u0103r mai de aproape al s\u0103u.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fiind tot pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103ratul, \u015fi v\u0103z\u00e2nd adesea pe fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului, c\u0103ci dup\u0103 surghiunirea fetei celei mari dob\u00e2ndise \u00eemp\u0103ratul alt\u0103 fat\u0103, \u00eel b\u0103tu g\u00e2ndurile s\u0103 se \u00eentinz\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 la d\u00e2nsa \u015fi nu gre\u015fi, c\u0103ci \u015fi ea pusese ochii pe d\u00e2nsul. \u00centr-o zi se \u00eencumese a-i face cu musta\u0163a, dar\u0103 cam cu sfial\u0103; ea se uit\u0103 gale\u015f la d\u00e2nsul. Azi a\u015fa, m\u00e2ine a\u015fa, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce \u00eentr-o zi merser\u0103 am\u00e2ndoi \u00eenaintea \u00eemp\u0103ratului, d\u0103dur\u0103 \u00een genunchi, m\u0103rturisir\u0103 c\u0103 sunt \u00eendr\u0103gi\u0163i, \u015fi se rugar\u0103 de \u00eemp\u0103ratul s\u0103-i c\u0103s\u0103toreasc\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul, carele \u015ftia de patarama celei dint\u00e2i fete, nu se \u00eempotrivi nici o cirt\u0103 de timp, ci \u015ftiind \u015fi pe b\u0103iat de\u015ftept \u015fi ager la minte, puse de le f\u0103cu un pui de nunt\u0103 de \u015ftiu c\u0103 s-a dus pomina.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Apoi fiind \u015fi b\u0103tr\u00e2n, se cobor\u00ee din scaunul \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei \u015fi \u00eei urcar\u0103 pe d\u00e2n\u015fii, cari domnir\u0103 cu omenie c\u00e2te zile avur\u0103.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A fost odat\u0103 un b\u0103iat. El, de la na\u015fterea lui, se pomenise bubos. Ce n-a f\u0103cut el ca s\u0103 se cure\u0163e de bube? dar\u0103 \u00een de\u015fert. B\u0103ie\u0163ii la joc … <\/p>\n