poveste<\/a>: unde al\u0163ii nu puteau face unele lucr\u0103ri de fier\u0103rie nici \u00een trei ani, el \u00eentr-o jum\u0103tate de an lucra ca o calf\u0103 veche. Barosul cel mare pe carele nici trei oameni nu-l putea ridica, el se juca cu d\u00e2nsul. \u015ei to\u0163i se temeau de el.<\/p>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dac\u0103 \u00ee\u015fi \u00eemplini anul, se mai b\u0103g\u0103 pe un an, ca s\u0103-i dea fier \u015fi c\u0103rbuni s\u0103-\u015fi f\u0103ureasc\u0103 el o sabie \u015fi un buzdugan, dup\u0103 pofta inimii sale. \u00cemplinindu-se \u015fi acest an, st\u0103p\u00e2nul porunci s\u0103-i dea fier \u015fi c\u0103rbuni. Calfa cea mai mare, tem\u00e2ndu-se s\u0103 nu-i ia locul, \u00eei pusese g\u00e2nd r\u0103u \u015fi c\u0103uta cum s\u0103 fac\u0103 s\u0103-l pr\u0103p\u0103deasc\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cei spuse, deci, c\u0103 fier este destul, dar\u0103 nu sunt c\u0103rbuni de ajuns, ci s\u0103 se duc\u0103 la p\u0103durea neagr\u0103 s\u0103-\u015fi fac\u0103, c\u0103ci de acolo aduc \u015fi ei. Aceasta nu era adev\u0103rat. Acolo, la p\u0103durea neagr\u0103, se iscodise o scorpie care omora pe oricine mergea \u00een acea p\u0103dure, \u015fi de aceea \u00eel trimitea pre d\u00e2nsul acolo, ca s\u0103 se pr\u0103p\u0103deasc\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0George nu \u015ftia de unele ca acestea. El era cu inima curat\u0103 \u015fi f\u0103r\u0103 f\u0103\u0163\u0103rnicie. \u00ce\u015fi alese din pr\u0103v\u0103lia st\u0103p\u00e2nului s\u0103u o sabie r\u0103mas\u0103 de la Novaci, pe care o p\u0103stra \u00een pr\u0103v\u0103lie ca pe un odor din vechime, lu\u0103 ni\u015fte burdu\u015fe mari pentru c\u0103rbuni, f\u0103cute din dou\u0103 piei de bivol \u015fi plec\u0103 s\u0103-\u015fi fac\u0103 c\u0103rbuni \u00een p\u0103durea neagr\u0103. Merse ce merse \u015fi, ajung\u00e2nd la un sat, \u00eentreb\u0103 c\u0103 \u00eencotro se afl\u0103 p\u0103durea neagr\u0103. Cum auzir\u0103 s\u0103tenii, \u00eencepur\u0103 s\u0103-\u015fi fac\u0103 cruce \u015fi s\u0103-\u015fi scuipe \u00een s\u00e2n de fric\u0103. Apoi \u00eei spuser\u0103 toat\u0103 \u015firetenia cu scorpia.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0George le t\u0103ie cuv\u00e2ntul \u015fi le zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dac\u0103 nu voi\u0163i a-mi spune, \u00eenceta\u0163i cu astfel de parascovenii ce n-au seam\u0103n.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Oamenii, dac\u0103 \u00eel v\u0103zur\u0103 at\u00e2t de \u00een\u0163estat, \u00eei ar\u0103tar\u0103 drumul \u015fi-l l\u0103sar\u0103 s\u0103 se duc\u0103 unde \u00eel va duce or\u00e2nda lui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ajung\u00e2nd la p\u0103dure, t\u0103ie cu sabia o mare mul\u0163ime de copaci, din cari f\u0103cu o gr\u0103mad\u0103 de nu-i putea da nimeni de seam\u0103 \u015fi \u00eei puse foc.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0St\u00e2nd pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 foc, sim\u0163i c\u0103 un oarecare lucru, un fel de sorbitur\u0103 \u00eel tr\u0103gea \u015fi \u00eel tot mi\u015fca din loc; se \u00eentoarse; c\u00e2nd, ce s\u0103 vezi? unde venea, m\u0103re, vericule, asupra lui n\u0103b\u0103d\u0103ioasa de scorpie, \u015fi tot sugea v\u0103zduhul, ca s\u0103 trag\u0103 \u00eentr-\u00eensa \u015fi pe bietul George. Acesta, cum v\u0103zu ce pl\u0103cint\u0103 i se preg\u0103te\u015fte, \u00eenfipse sabia \u00een p\u0103m\u00e2nt, se propti \u00eentr-\u00eensa \u015fi r\u0103mase neclintit. Astfel a\u015ftepta el \u015fi priveghea s\u0103 vaz\u0103 ce are s\u0103 i se \u00eent\u00e2mple. Scorpia, cum veni, dete cu coada \u015fi risipi focul, apoi se repezi asupra lui George ca s\u0103-l soarb\u0103 pre el. Voinicu\u0163ul de George unde smuci odat\u0103 sabia din p\u0103m\u00e2nt \u015fi, mai iute dec\u00e2t ai g\u00e2ndi, o aduse \u015fi t\u0103ie \u00een dou\u0103 scorpia.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Apoi se lu\u0103 dup\u0103 d\u00e2nsa, care fugea c\u0103tre scorbura unde vie\u0163uia, \u015fi, ajung\u00e2nd-o, \u00eei t\u0103ie capul. At\u00e2ta s\u00e2nge mohor\u00e2t curse din spurc\u0103ciunea de scorpie, \u00eenc\u00e2t se alc\u0103tui o balt\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd era s\u0103 se \u00eentoarc\u0103 \u00eentr-ale sale, deodat\u0103 auzi un grai dulce care \u00eei vorbea \u015fi-i zicea pre nume.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd se uit\u0103, ce s\u0103 vaz\u0103? o p\u0103s\u0103ric\u0103 dr\u0103gulic\u0103 \u015fi frumu\u015fic\u0103 sta pre o ramur\u0103 \u015fi-i zicea:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Georgi\u0163\u0103 cel viteaz, spre mul\u0163umire c\u0103 mi-ai sc\u0103pat pe ai mei de la pieirea acestei scorpii necurate, care \u00een to\u0163i anii \u00eemi sorbea puii, te sf\u0103tuiesc s\u0103 te scalzi \u00een s\u00e2ngele acestei fiar\u0103 blestemate \u015fi nici un r\u0103u nu se va mai atinge de tine \u00een toat\u0103 via\u0163a ta, \u015fi s\u0103 nu mai ai fric\u0103 de nimeni, afar\u0103 de Dumnezeu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Voinicul de George f\u0103cu precum \u00eel \u00eenv\u0103\u0163\u0103 p\u0103s\u0103rica; c\u00e2nd ie\u015fi din sc\u0103ld\u0103toare, p\u0103s\u0103rica v\u0103zu pe spinarea lui George lipit\u0103 o frunz\u0103 de copaci \u015fi-i zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 George, \u0163i-a mai r\u0103mas un loc\u015for pe trupul t\u0103u supus la metehne; dar\u0103, dac\u0103 te vei p\u0103zi bine, habar s\u0103 n-aibi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Apoi voinicul, pun\u00e2nd capul scorpiei \u00eentr-un burduf, \u015fi \u00een cellalt c\u0103rbunii ce f\u0103cuse, se \u00eentoarse la pr\u0103v\u0103lia st\u0103p\u00e2nului s\u0103u, \u00ee\u015fi lu\u0103 fierul pentru care muncise un an \u015fi se puse a-\u015fi f\u0103uri o sabie \u015fi un buzdugan. Dup\u0103 ce le ispr\u0103vi, \u00ee\u015fi \u00eencerc\u0103 sabia, d\u00e2nd cu d\u00e2nsa \u00eentr-un drug de fier, \u015fi se rupse \u00een dou\u0103; o lep\u0103d\u0103 \u015fi, lu\u00e2nd buzduganul, \u00eel arunc\u0103 \u00een slava cerului, \u015fi c\u00e2nd c\u0103zu jos se turti; \u00eel lep\u0103d\u0103 \u015fi pe acesta.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Acum ce s\u0103 fac\u0103? Sta \u00een loc \u015fi fluiera a pagub\u0103. Tot g\u00e2ndindu-se, \u00ee\u015fi aduse aminte a fi v\u0103zut, \u00een codrul unde a crescut el, un fier gros \u00eenfipt \u00een p\u0103m\u00e2nt. Se duse tocmai acolo. C\u00e2nd se apuc\u0103 s\u0103-l scoat\u0103, ce s\u0103 vezi? fierul nu era \u00eenfipt, ci era o v\u00e2n\u0103 din mun\u0163i. Se apuc\u0103 de el, \u00eel trase, \u00eel smuci, \u00eel r\u0103suci, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce, rup\u00e2nd v\u00e2na, o smulse \u015fi o lu\u0103 la spinare ca un voinic ce era, se \u00eentoarse la pr\u0103v\u0103lie \u015fi izbuti a-\u015fi face o sabie \u015fi un buzdugan cari s\u0103-i fie tovar\u0103\u015fi nedesp\u0103r\u0163i\u0163i.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 aceea se duse cu tovar\u0103\u015fii s\u0103i la f\u00e2nt\u00e2na botezului \u015fi le botez\u0103, pun\u00e2nd s\u0103biei numele de Balmut ajut\u0103torul meu, \u015fi buzduganului Omor\u00e2torul vr\u0103jma\u015filor mei; apoi se \u00eentoarse iar\u0103\u015fi la pr\u0103v\u0103lie ca s\u0103-\u015fi ia ziua bun\u0103, fiindc\u0103 voia s\u0103 plece s\u0103-\u015fi caute p\u0103rin\u0163ii.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd se \u00eentoarse la pr\u0103v\u0103lie, g\u0103si pe to\u0163i mor\u0163i bu\u015fteni. Pas\u0103mite ei, \u00een lipsa lui, c\u0103utar\u0103 \u00een burduful s\u0103u, \u015fi dete peste capul scorpiei. C\u00e2\u0163i o v\u0103zur\u0103, to\u0163i murir\u0103. Dac\u0103 v\u0103zu a\u015fa, \u00eei p\u0103ru r\u0103u; dar\u0103 n-avu ce face.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ie\u015fi pe poart\u0103 afar\u0103 \u015fi plec\u0103. Pe drum se \u00eent\u00e2lni cu un ucenic carele nu fusese acolo c\u00e2nd umblase c\u0103lfile \u00een burduful lui George. Acesta, cum \u00eel v\u0103zu, se duse la d\u00e2nsul s\u0103-\u015fi ia ziua bun\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Da unde te duci, nene George?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Iaca, unde oi vedea cu ochii \u015fi m\u0103 va lumina Dumnezeu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ia-m\u0103 \u015fi pe mine cu d-ta, nea George, se rug\u0103 ucenicul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Las\u0103-m\u0103 \u00een pace, c\u0103 n-am eu singur unde s\u0103-mi plec capul, dar\u0103mite s\u0103-mi iau \u015fi licheaua dup\u0103 mine!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Plec\u00e2nd George \u015fi merg\u00e2nd singur, singurel, se ab\u0103tu \u00eentr-un colnic s\u0103 fac\u0103 un popas, c\u00e2nd iat\u0103 \u015fi b\u0103iatul cu care ucenicise c\u0103 vine \u015fi se a\u015feaz\u0103 l\u00e2ng\u0103 d\u00e2nsul. Pas\u0103mite, se luase dup\u0103 el \u015fi, c\u00e2t colea, \u00eel urm\u0103ri p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00eel ajunse.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dar\u0103 asta, m\u0103? \u00eei zise George.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Iat\u0103-m\u0103 \u015fi eu, r\u0103spunse ucenicul. Ce? dac\u0103 n-ai vrut s\u0103 m\u0103 iei, socote\u015fti c\u0103 eu n-am putut s\u0103 m\u0103 \u0163in de dumneata?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce r\u00e2se ni\u0163el George \u015fi, f\u0103c\u00e2ndu-i-se mil\u0103 de dragostea ce-i ar\u0103ta b\u0103iatul, se \u00eenduplec\u0103 s\u0103-l ia, zic\u00e2ndu-i:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dac\u0103 este a\u015fa, tovar\u0103\u015f s\u0103-mi fii.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Apoi lungi pasul la drum, \u015fi aide, aide, trei zile \u015fi trei nop\u0163i merser\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 ajunse la o p\u0103dure mare. Acolo st\u0103tur\u0103 s\u0103 se mai odihneasc\u0103 \u015fi s\u0103 \u015fi \u00eembuce c\u00e2te ceva. Pe c\u00e2nd stau ei acolo, auzir\u0103 o gui\u0163\u0103tur\u0103 de porc \u015fi totdeodat\u0103 \u015fi v\u0103zur\u0103 un porc mistre\u0163 mare, fugind, \u015fi un v\u00e2n\u0103tor alerg\u00e2nd dup\u0103 d\u00e2nsul c\u0103lare, iar\u0103 dup\u0103 v\u00e2n\u0103tor se luase un alt porc \u015fi mai n\u0103prasnic. V\u00e2n\u0103torul \u00eentinse arcul \u015fi, c\u00e2nd zbur\u0103 s\u0103geata, pr\u0103v\u0103li fiara s\u0103lbatic\u0103 din gura c\u0103reia g\u00e2lg\u00e2ia s\u00e2ngele ca dintr-o saca.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Atunci fiara de la urm\u0103, unde se repezi o dat\u0103 \u015fi dintr-o s\u0103ritur\u0103 fu l\u00e2ng\u0103 calul de v\u00e2n\u0103tor, c\u0103ruia \u00eei \u015fi v\u0103rs\u0103 ma\u0163ele, sf\u00e2\u015fiindu-i burta cu col\u0163ii lui cei grozavi. V\u00e2n\u0103torul c\u0103zu morman de pe cal \u015fi, pe c\u00e2nd porcul cel mistre\u0163 umbla s\u0103-l fac\u0103 mici buc\u0103\u0163i, George cel voinic s\u0103ri de acolo de unde era \u015fi, mai iute dec\u00e2t g\u00e2ndul, fu l\u00e2ng\u0103 v\u00e2n\u0103torul cel nenorocit, cu sabia goal\u0103 \u00een m\u00e2n\u0103. Dintr-o lovitur\u0103 f\u0103cu \u00een dou\u0103 spurcata fiar\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cen mai pu\u0163in de o clip\u0103 de ochi, venir\u0103 \u015fi ceilal\u0163i tovar\u0103\u015fi ai v\u00e2n\u0103torului, cari r\u0103maser\u0103 \u00eenm\u0103rmuri\u0163i de groaz\u0103 pentru cele ce era s\u0103 se \u00eent\u00e2mple.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ace\u015fti oameni erau din \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia t\u0103t\u00e2ne-s\u0103u. Ei cu to\u0163ii mul\u0163umir\u0103 lui George pentru izb\u0103virea domnului lor. Apoi se puser\u0103 la mas\u0103 \u015fi traser\u0103 un chef, de s\u0103 se duc\u0103 pomina, de bucurie. \u015ei fiindc\u0103 era cald, se dezbr\u0103car\u0103 de hainele de pe deasupra, r\u0103m\u00e2n\u00e2nd mai u\u015fori. Atunci, unul din meseni z\u0103ri m\u0103rgelele de la g\u00e2tul lui George. Se dete pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 d\u00e2nsul bini\u015for, \u00eei citi numele \u015fi-l cunoscu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Spun\u00e2nd \u015fi celorlal\u0163i minunea dumnezeiasc\u0103, cum se descoperi \u00eemp\u0103ratul lor, v\u00e2n\u0103torul cel cu pricina veni l\u00e2ng\u0103 d\u00e2nsul \u015fi-i zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Mul\u0163i ani s\u0103 tr\u0103ie\u015fti, doamne \u015fi al nostru st\u0103p\u00e2nitor! \u015ei s\u0103 \u015ftii c\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103ratul locului acestuia a r\u0103posat \u00een Domnul \u015fi eu, sluga nevrednic\u0103 a domnului meu, \u00eei \u0163in locul, p\u00e2n\u0103 se va g\u0103si mo\u015ftenitorul s\u0103u cel pierdut de la botez. Adunarea b\u0103tr\u00e2nilor m-a \u00eens\u0103rcinat cu aceasta. Acum mul\u0163umesc Domnului pentru cele ce mi s-au \u00eent\u00e2mplat, c\u0103 mi te trimise Dumnezeu de m\u0103 sc\u0103pa\u015fi de la moarte, c\u0103ci cunoscui \u00een tine pe fiul acelui bun \u00eemp\u0103rat care ne-a c\u00e2rmuit omene\u015fte at\u00e2ta mare de ani.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0George, care c\u0103scase gura \u015fi bleojdise ochii la cele ce spunea v\u00e2n\u0103torul, zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dar\u0103 de unde \u015fti\u0163i voi, oameni buni, c\u0103 eu sunt fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului despre care \u00eemi vorbi\u0163i?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 M\u0103rgelele de la g\u00e2tul t\u0103u ne-au spus. S\u0103 fie l\u0103udat numele Domnului c\u0103 am dat peste tine, \u015fi de azi \u00eenainte tu s\u0103 ne c\u00e2rmuie\u015fti.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0To\u0163i mesenii se scular\u0103 \u015fi i se \u00eenchinar\u0103 ca la un \u00eemp\u0103rat.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0George plec\u0103 cu d\u00e2n\u015fii \u015fi cu b\u0103iatul cu care ucenicise el, \u015fi se duse la palaturile \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Sfar\u0103 se dete \u00een \u0163ar\u0103 de aceast\u0103 fericit\u0103 \u00eent\u00e2mplare. \u015ei alerga poporimea din toate p\u0103r\u0163ile, cu mic cu mare, s\u0103 vaz\u0103 pe acela carele mort a fost \u015fi a \u00eenviat, pierdut \u015fi s-a aflat, l\u0103ud\u00e2nd numele Domnului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Iar\u0103 dac\u0103 s-a a\u015fezat George \u00een scaunul t\u0103t\u00e2ne-s\u0103u, \u00eencepu a pune lucrurile la cale, cum s\u0103 mearg\u0103 bine trebile.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B\u0103iatul cu care ucenicise George ajunse s\u0103 fie m\u00e2na dreapt\u0103 a \u00eemp\u0103ratului, at\u00e2t se ciopli \u015fi se sup\u0163ie \u00een pu\u0163in\u0103 vreme.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cercet\u00e2nd noul \u00eemp\u0103rat \u00een dreapta \u015fi \u00een st\u00e2nga, de cum s-a \u00eent\u00e2mplat pierderea lui, afl\u0103 \u015firetenia pricinei din fir p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00een a\u0163\u0103, cum adic\u0103 s-a b\u0103tut tat\u0103-s\u0103u cu t\u00e2lharii, cum ace\u015ftia i-au \u00eenfr\u00e2nt oastea \u015fi cum \u00eemp\u0103ratul cu ai s\u0103i, d\u00e2nd dosul, n-a mai \u015ftiut nimic nici despre d\u00e2nsul, nici despre mama sa, \u015fi cum \u00eemp\u0103ratul a fost cuprins de m\u00e2hnire \u015fi de obid\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 la moartea sa, \u015fi cum a murit nem\u00e2ng\u00e2iat, nemaiafl\u00e2nd nimica despre d\u00e2n\u015fii.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Atunci el alc\u0103tui o ceat\u0103 de oameni tot unul \u015fi unul \u015fi porni la f\u00e2nt\u00e2na botezului, ca s\u0103 st\u00e2rpeasc\u0103 codrul de acei t\u00e2lhari. Dar\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 una, alta, ca s\u0103 nu i se \u00eent\u00e2mple ceva r\u0103u m\u0103-sei, socoti mai nemerit s\u0103 pofteasc\u0103 pe c\u0103pitanul t\u00e2lharilor printr-o carte scris\u0103 ca s\u0103 dea drumul \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei scrise carte. Iar\u0103 dac\u0103 v\u0103zu c\u0103 o\u015ftenii lui se cam codesc, primi cererea b\u0103ietului cu care ucenicise el, \u015fi-l trimise pe d\u00e2nsul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Acesta dac\u0103 plec\u0103, ajung\u00e2nd \u00een codrul unde era f\u00e2nt\u00e2na botezului, se pomeni \u00eenconjurat de doisprezece haiduci, cari \u015fi puser\u0103 m\u00e2na pe d\u00e2nsul. Ace\u015ftia chibzuiau cu ce moarte s\u0103-l omoare; dar\u0103 dup\u0103 ce auzir\u0103 c\u0103 merge cu carte la c\u0103pitanul lor, \u00eel duser\u0103 la d\u00e2nsul \u015fi a\u015fteptar\u0103 s\u0103 vaz\u0103 ce le porunce\u015fte el.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u0103pitanul r\u00e2se, dup\u0103 ce citi scrisoarea. \u015ei scrise \u015fi el carte \u00een care zicea \u00eemp\u0103ratului c\u0103 dac\u0103 \u00eei e voia s\u0103 mai fie cu via\u0163\u0103, s\u0103 stea locului, iar\u0103 dac\u0103 i s-a ur\u00e2t de a mai tr\u0103i, s\u0103 vie s\u0103 se bat\u0103 c\u0103-l a\u015fteapt\u0103; \u015fi m\u0103-sei nu-i va da drumul p\u00e2n\u0103 nu se va istovi de tot \u00een \u00eenchisoarea unde este b\u0103gat\u0103. Aceast\u0103 os\u00e2nd\u0103 zicea el c\u0103 i se cuvine pentru \u00eenfruntarea ce i-a f\u0103cut oarec\u00e2nd \u00een tinere\u0163e, neprimindu-l a-i fi so\u0163, c\u00e2nd a cerut-o de la p\u0103rin\u0163ii ei, lucru pentru care s-a \u015fi f\u0103cut el haiduc.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0P\u00e2n\u0103 s\u0103 vie cu r\u0103spunsul, c\u0103pitanul de haiduci puse de t\u0103ie un curcan, \u00eel fripse \u015fi-l trimise \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesei, zic\u00e2ndu-i s\u0103 m\u0103n\u00e2nce cea mai de pe urm\u0103 m\u00e2ncare bun\u0103, c\u0103ci el are s\u0103 se lupte cu fiul ei, \u00eemp\u0103ratul, pe care f\u0103r\u0103 doar \u015fi poate are s\u0103-l omoare. Acesta este, zicea el, pomana ce face fiului ei, c\u0103ci dup\u0103 ce va pieri, nu va mai avea cine s\u0103-i fac\u0103 poman\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103r\u0103teasa, cum auzi c\u0103 tr\u0103ie\u015fte fiul ei \u015fi c\u0103 este \u00eemp\u0103rat la \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia t\u0103t\u00e2ne-s\u0103u, nici c\u0103 se atinse de curcan, ci trimise r\u0103spuns c\u0103pitanului de t\u00e2lhari c\u0103 ea, cum a tr\u0103it dou\u0103zeci \u015fi patru de ani numai cu p\u00e2ine \u015fi ap\u0103, va tr\u0103i \u015fi de aci nainte, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce Dumnezeu, care cunoa\u015fte toate ascunsurile inimii \u015fi \u015ftie nevinov\u0103\u0163ia ei, o va m\u00e2ntui de aceste munci de cari nu este vrednic\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0George se c\u0103tr\u0103ni de m\u00e2nie c\u00e2nd v\u0103zu necuviincioasa purtare a haiducului \u015fi poftirea cea vrednic\u0103 de r\u00e2s ce-i f\u0103cea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Atunci porni cu ceata lui cea aleas\u0103 \u015fi se ot\u0103r\u00e2r\u0103 ca nici \u00een ruptul capului s\u0103 nu se \u00eentoarc\u0103 acas\u0103 f\u0103r\u0103 m\u0103-sa, pentru care se bucura, auzind c\u0103 \u00eenc\u0103 tr\u0103ie\u015fte.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tot atunci, c\u0103pitanul de t\u00e2lhari \u00ee\u015fi adun\u0103 ceata \u00eentr-o cul\u0103 sub ni\u015fte d\u0103r\u0103m\u0103turi de ziduri ce se aflau \u00een muntele acela \u015fi unde era locuin\u0163a lor, \u015fi se puse a cina. Pe c\u00e2nd ei beau \u015fi se veseleau, vorbind verzi \u015fi uscate \u015fi b\u0103t\u00e2ndu-\u015fi jos de scrisele \u00eemp\u0103ratului \u015fi de r\u0103spunsul \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesei, o dat\u0103 se despic\u0103 zidul \u015fi se ivi o umbr\u0103, care puse pe mas\u0103 dou\u0103 lum\u00e2n\u0103ri aprinse de piatr\u0103, o carte \u015fi o cheie. Apoi umbra se f\u0103cu nev\u0103zut\u0103. T\u00e2lharii r\u0103maser\u0103 ca scri\u015fi pe p\u0103rete \u015fi t\u0103cur\u0103 m\u00e2lc\u0103. Se putea auzi musca zb\u00e2rn\u00e2ind, at\u00e2ta lini\u015fte \u015fi t\u0103cere se f\u0103cu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u0103pitanul lu\u0103 cartea, \u00eei rupse pecetea, o deschise \u015fi citi:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0“Firul nelegiuirilor tale s-a sf\u00e2r\u015fit. Glasul nenoroci\u0163ilor pe care f\u0103r\u0103 mil\u0103 i-ai jertfit s-a auzit la cer. S\u00e2ngele cel nevinovat ce at\u00e2ta mare de timp ai v\u0103rsat cere r\u0103spl\u0103tire. E\u015fti blestemat. \u00cen ascunz\u0103toarea ce este \u00een col\u0163 la dreapta, \u015fi pe care tu n-ai \u015ftiut-o, este o u\u015fcioar\u0103 pe care o ve\u0163i descoperi c\u0103ut\u00e2nd-o cu una din aceste lum\u00e2n\u0103ri. Ia cheia ce \u0163i s-a pus pe mas\u0103 \u015fi o deschide. \u00cen aceast\u0103 ascunz\u0103toare vei g\u0103si ni\u015fte haine \u015fi podoabe de \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teas\u0103, pe cari le vei da nenorocitei \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tese, muma lui George, s\u0103 se \u00eembrace cu ele. Ea te va ierta pentru trudele \u015fi chinurile ce i-ai pricinuit de sunt acum dou\u0103zeci \u015fi patru de ani. \u00cen cel\u0103lalt sipe\u0163el vei g\u0103si o piele de urs \u015fi un lan\u0163 cu care piele te vei \u00eembr\u0103ca tu, c\u0103ci urs ai s\u0103 r\u0103m\u00e2i p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00ee\u0163i vei isp\u0103\u015fi p\u0103catele. \u00cemp\u0103r\u0103teasa te va duce de lan\u0163 \u015fi te va da \u00een m\u00e2na \u00eemp\u0103ratului. \u015ei s\u0103 nu cutezi a face \u00een alt chip, c\u0103ci m\u00e2nia cerului va c\u0103dea peste tine \u015fi mai \u00eengrozitoare”.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0La citirea acestei scrisori, c\u0103pitanul r\u0103mase ca lovit de tr\u0103snet. \u015ei neav\u00e2nd \u00eencotro, scoase toate avu\u0163iile ce adunase de c\u00e2nd t\u00e2lh\u0103rea \u015fi le f\u0103cu dou\u0103sprezece p\u0103r\u0163i, deopotriv\u0103, pe cari le \u00eemp\u0103r\u0163i la cei doisprezece tovar\u0103\u015fi ai s\u0103i. Ace\u015ftia, dup\u0103 ce-\u015fi luar\u0103 ziua bun\u0103 de la c\u0103pitanul lor, se \u00eempr\u0103\u015ftiar\u0103 ca puii de pot\u00e2rniche, care \u015fi pre unde.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Iar\u0103 el, c\u0103pitanul, deschise sipe\u0163elele \u015fi afl\u0103 toate celea, \u00eentocmai precum \u00eei zicea cartea. Lu\u0103 hainele \u015fi podoabele de \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teas\u0103 \u015fi le dete mumei lui George, ca s\u0103 se \u00eembrace cu ele. Aceasta primi bucuros, c\u0103ci hainele de pe d\u00e2nsa se h\u0103rt\u0103niser\u0103, se muceziser\u0103 \u015fi se putreziser\u0103, r\u0103m\u00e2n\u00e2nd mai goal\u0103. Apoi \u00ee\u015fi ceru iert\u0103ciune pentru relele ce-i f\u0103cuse el, pe care iert\u0103ciune o \u015fi dob\u00e2ndi, fiindc\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa avea o inim\u0103 foarte bun\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce c\u0103pitanul de t\u00e2lhari se \u00eembr\u0103c\u0103 \u00een pielea de urs, care se lipi de trupul s\u0103u ca \u015fi c\u00e2nd ar fi fost de acolo, \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa \u00eel lu\u0103 de lan\u0163 \u015fi se \u00eendrept\u0103 c\u0103tre scaunul fiului s\u0103u.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pe drum se \u00eent\u00e2lni cu George, care venea, m\u0103re, ca un leu, \u015fi c\u0103lare pe un \u015foimulean sireap de m\u00e2nca foc. George era cu sabia lui, ce o \u0163inea goal\u0103 \u00een m\u00e2n\u0103. Mum\u0103-sa, cum \u00eel v\u0103zu, \u00eel cunoscu, c\u0103ci era leit tat\u0103-s\u0103u, \u015fi se \u00eenchin\u0103 lui ca unui \u00eemp\u0103rat.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0George se dete jos de pe cal \u015fi \u00eembr\u0103\u0163i\u015fase pe \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa ca pre muma lui, dup\u0103 ce afl\u0103 cine este.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mum\u0103-sa \u00eei spuse cum Dumnezeu, cunosc\u00e2ndu-i nevinov\u0103\u0163ia, a izb\u0103vit-o pref\u0103c\u00e2nd \u00een urs pe prigonitorul ei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Apoi dete pe urs de lan\u0163 \u00een m\u00e2na \u00eemp\u0103ratului. Acesta se \u00eenduio\u015fi de os\u00e2nda lui \u015fi-i dete drumul, zic\u00e2ndu-i:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Destul \u00ee\u0163i este \u0163ie urgia dumnezeiasc\u0103. Du-te \u015fi cat\u0103 de-\u0163i isp\u0103\u015fe\u015fte p\u0103catele.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ursul \u00eentr-o clip\u0103 de ochi se f\u0103cu nev\u0103zut, intr\u00e2nd \u00een codru.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Iar\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103ratul, cu mum\u0103-sa, cu credinciosul \u015fi cu osta\u015fii s\u0103i se \u00eentoarser\u0103 la scaunul \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei, mul\u0163umind lui Dumnezeu pentru toate ar\u0103t\u0103rile lui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei domnir\u0103 \u00een pace \u015fi \u00een lini\u015fte p\u00e2n\u0103 ce, vr\u00e2nd Dumnezeu, i-a mutat din lumea aceasta.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Iar\u0103 \u00eent\u00e2mpl\u0103rile lor au r\u0103mas de poveste \u015fi vor r\u0103m\u00e2nea \u00een veacul veacului.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A fost odat\u0103 un \u00eemp\u0103rat \u015fi o \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teas\u0103. Zece ani au vie\u0163uit ei \u00een c\u0103s\u0103torie \u015fi nu putur\u0103 face \u015fi ei m\u0103car o st\u00e2rpitur\u0103 de copil. \u00cen cele de … <\/p>\n
Continua\u021bi s\u0103 citi\u021bi<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[385,21],"tags":[388,406,387,758,393],"class_list":["post-2117","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-petre-ispirescu","category-povesti-pentru-copii","tag-basme","tag-george-cel-viteaz","tag-petre-ispirescu","tag-povesti-pentru-copii","tag-povesti-si-povestiri","infinite-scroll-item","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-25"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scriem.ro\/povesti\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2117","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scriem.ro\/povesti\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scriem.ro\/povesti\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scriem.ro\/povesti\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scriem.ro\/povesti\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2117"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/scriem.ro\/povesti\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2117\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scriem.ro\/povesti\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2117"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scriem.ro\/povesti\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2117"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scriem.ro\/povesti\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}