\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A fost odat\u0103 un \u00eemp\u0103rat. El avea trei feciori. C\u00e2nd fu la ceasul mor\u0163ii, \u00ee\u015fi chem\u0103 feciorii \u015fi le zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Fe\u0163ii mei, sunt cu sufletul la gur\u0103, precum m\u0103 vede\u0163i; un lucru numai v\u0103 cei: \u00een cele trei nop\u0163i dup\u0103 \u00eenmorm\u00e2ntarea mea, s\u0103-mi p\u0103zi\u0163i morm\u00e2ntul, c\u00e2te unul din voi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum auzi f\u0103g\u0103duiala din gura feciorilor s\u0103i, c\u0103sc\u0103 gura \u015fi-\u015fi dete sufletul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0G\u0103tire se f\u0103cu de \u00eengrop\u0103ciune, m\u0103 rog, ca la moartea unui \u00eemp\u0103rat, \u015fi cu mare alai \u015fi jale fu pus la odihna de veci.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Feciori, carii \u015ftiau ce gl\u0103suie tat\u0103l lor c\u00e2nd \u00eei ie\u015fi sufletul, se puse de paz\u0103 \u00een noaptea dint\u00e2i feciorul cel mai mare al \u00eemp\u0103ratului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0P\u00e2ndi el ce p\u00e2ndi, \u015fi \u00een puterea nop\u0163ii, pe c\u00e2nd \u015fi apele dormeau, se pomeni fiul de \u00eemp\u0103rat cu un oarecine c\u0103 vine \u015fi vrea s\u0103 dezgroape pe mort. Nici c\u0103 e de g\u00e2ndit a-l fi l\u0103sat feciorul de \u00eemp\u0103rat s\u0103 fac\u0103 a\u015fa o nelegiuire, f\u0103r\u0103 dec\u00e2t se lu\u0103 cu d\u00e2nsul la lupt\u0103. \u015ei lupte-se, \u015fi lupte-se, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce, c\u00e2nd \u00eencepu s\u0103 c\u00e2nte coco\u015fii, acel cineva pieri ca o n\u0103luc\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A doua noapte, feciorul de \u00eemp\u0103rat cel mijlociu p\u0103\u0163i ca \u015fi cel mare.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd se \u00eent\u00e2lnir\u0103 ei, se vorbir\u0103 s\u0103 spuie fratelui lor celui mic, p\u0103\u0163ania lor \u015fi s\u0103-l \u00eembie a priimi ca unul din ei, pe carele \u00eel va alege el, s\u0103-l \u00eenso\u0163easc\u0103 \u00een noaptea c\u00e2nd va avea s\u0103 p\u0103zeasc\u0103 d\u00e2nsul, de team\u0103, ca s\u0103 nu se r\u0103puie, ca unul ce era mai t\u00e2n\u0103r.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar\u0103 feciorul cel mic al \u00eemp\u0103ratului nici nu voi s\u0103 asculte de unele ca acestea, ci zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Duce-m\u0103-voi singur, c\u0103ci trebuie s\u0103 fi \u015ftiut tata ce zice, c\u00e2nd ne-a poruncit s\u0103 p\u0103zim c\u00e2te unul singur.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei astfel, cum veni seara, se duse la locul de p\u00e2nd\u0103. \u015ei deoarece \u015ftia ce-l a\u015fteapt\u0103, el \u00ee\u015fi lu\u0103 cu d\u00e2nsul armele \u015fi se g\u0103ti bine de lupt\u0103. Pe la miezul nop\u0163ii se pomeni \u015fi el cu cineva c\u0103 vine. Vru el s\u0103 \u00eentrebuin\u0163eze armele; dar\u0103 unde \u00eei d\u0103du \u0103la pas; c\u0103ci el se ar\u0103t\u0103 ca o vedenie ie\u015find ca din p\u0103m\u00e2nt, \u015fi se luar\u0103 la tr\u00e2nt\u0103. Lupta fu cr\u00e2ncen\u0103, c\u0103ci duhul necurat, duh necurat era cel ce venea s\u0103 dezgroape pe \u00eemp\u0103rat, \u00ee\u015fi pusese toate puterile ca s\u0103 dovedeasc\u0103 pe fiul cel mai mic al \u00eemp\u0103ratului. Vezi c\u0103 duhul \u015ftia c\u0103 de nu va putea nici \u00een a treia sear\u0103 s\u0103 izbuteasc\u0103, apoi trebuia s\u0103-\u015fi mute g\u00e2ndul; nu mai putea adec\u0103 s\u0103-l dezgroape, nici la amin. Fie \u00eens\u0103 c\u0103 \u015fi b\u0103iatul nu se l\u0103s\u0103 mai pe jos. \u015ei cum spusei, se luptar\u0103 pe capete; dar\u0103 lupt\u0103 nu glum\u0103. Curgea sudorile de pe fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului \u015firoaie, \u015fi nu se da netezului nicic\u00e2t. Lupta \u0163inu, \u015fi o lupt\u0103 de moarte, p\u00e2n\u0103 despre c\u00e2nt\u0103tori. Cum se auzi coco\u015ful, duhul pieri ca o n\u0103luc\u0103, dar\u0103 \u015fi b\u0103iatul c\u0103zu jos de ostenit. De mai \u0163inea lupta, numai c\u00e2t ai a\u0163\u00e2\u0163a un foc, s-ar fi muiat, \u015fi cine \u015ftie ce se \u00eent\u00e2mpla. Cum c\u0103zu fiul de \u00eemp\u0103rat pe morm\u00e2ntul t\u0103t\u00e2ne-s\u0103u, acolo \u015fi adormi. At\u00e2t era de rupt de oboseal\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd se de\u015ftept\u0103, ce s\u0103 vede\u0163i d-voastr\u0103? Soarele r\u0103s\u0103rise de mult \u015fi se urcase ca de trei suli\u0163e. Ce s\u0103 fac\u0103 el? S\u0103 se \u00eentoarc\u0103 acas\u0103 ziua-n amiaza mare, s\u0103 treac\u0103 prin ora\u015f a\u015fa \u00eenarmat de sus p\u00e2n\u0103 jos, \u00eei era ru\u015fine; s\u0103 r\u0103m\u00e2ie acolo, nu se putea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ce-i veni lui \u00een g\u00e2nd, c\u0103 numai o lu\u0103 rara, rara, c\u0103tre o p\u0103dure ce era p-acolo p-aproape, ca s\u0103-\u015fi petreac\u0103 ziua cu v\u00e2natul, \u015fi mai c\u0103tre sear\u0103 s\u0103 se \u00eentoarc\u0103 acas\u0103. \u015ei a\u015fa, merg\u00e2nd el prin p\u0103durea aceea, \u00eel apuc\u0103 g\u00e2ndurile. El cuget\u0103, ca ce s\u0103 fie pricina de le-a zis tat\u0103-s\u0103u s\u0103-i p\u0103zeasc\u0103 morm\u00e2ntul \u00een trei seri d-a r\u00e2ndul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei merg\u00e2nd a\u015fa, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 \u015ftie nici el unde merge, \u015fi cu g\u00e2ndurile duse, se pomeni c\u0103 pierde poteca \u015fi nu mai \u015ftie unde merge. D\u0103 \u00een sus, d\u0103 \u00een jos, drumul nu-l mai g\u0103sea. Mai se \u00eentoarse \u00een dreapta, mai la st\u00e2nga, a\u015fi! \u00een loc s\u0103 ias\u0103 la lumin\u0103, el s\u0103 r\u0103t\u0103cea \u015fi mai mult. Dibuind prin codru, \u015fi cercet\u00e2nd s\u0103 dea peste potec\u0103, ie\u015fi la un lumini\u015f, \u015fi acolo \u00een mijlocul lumini\u015fului z\u0103re\u015fte un foc mare \u015fi pe foc o cr\u0103c\u0103ti\u0163\u0103, din care ie\u015fea un fel de glas, dar\u0103 f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 \u015ftie el ca ce s\u0103 fie.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Stete locului, \u015fi mai ascult\u0103. Auzi ca \u015fi \u00eent\u00e2i. Se mai uit\u0103 o dat\u0103, dar\u0103 nu v\u0103zu pe nimeni. Ce s\u0103 fac\u0103? S\u0103 se duc\u0103 acolo, nu-i da me\u015fii, c\u0103 nu \u015ftia ca ce dr\u0103covenie o fi aia. Atunci \u00eentinse \u015fi el arcul, dete drumul s\u0103ge\u0163ii \u015fi tranc! lovi drept \u00een capacul cr\u0103c\u0103ti\u0163ei, \u015fi \u00eel dete jos.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00centr-aceea\u015fi clipeal\u0103, toat\u0103 p\u0103durea \u00eencepu a h\u0103ui, de-\u0163i lua auzul, \u015fi deodat\u0103 se ar\u0103t\u0103 \u00eenaintea lui \u015fapte zmei, \u00eel \u00eenconjoar\u0103, pune m\u00e2na pe el, \u015fi sf\u0103tuiesc cum s\u0103-l pedepseasc\u0103, pentru ce s\u0103 dea el drumul Agerului p\u0103m\u00e2ntului, pe carele ei l-a fost \u00eenchis \u00een cr\u0103c\u0103ti\u0163a aceea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Unul zicea s\u0103-l taie. Altul s\u0103-l sp\u00e2nzure. Altul s\u0103-l jupoaie de viu. Al\u0163ii \u00een fel de fel de chipuri s\u0103-l chinuiasc\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 l-o omor\u00ee. Iar\u0103 cel mai b\u0103tr\u00e2n dintre d\u00e2n\u015fii zise s\u0103-l lase cu via\u0163\u0103, c\u0103ci cine \u015ftie la ce le-o fi \u015fi el bun, poate c\u0103 va izbuti el s\u0103 fure pe fata unui \u00eemp\u0103rat dup\u0103 care umblau ei s\u0103 o r\u0103peasc\u0103, \u015fi nu puteau.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata aceasta se afla \u00eenchis\u0103 de tat\u0103-s\u0103u \u00eentr-o cas\u0103, ale c\u0103rii u\u015fi erau \u00eenchise. Tat-s\u0103u o dat\u0103 pe an o l\u0103sa descuiat\u0103, \u015fi atunci, la o u\u015f\u0103 sta de paz\u0103 un coco\u015f, \u015fi la cealalt\u0103 era un clopo\u0163el; \u015fi nu putea nimeni s\u0103 se apropie, c\u0103ci cum punea cineva piciorul pe prag, ori clopo\u0163elul se tr\u0103gea, ori coco\u015ful c\u00e2nta.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fiul de \u00eemp\u0103rat se f\u0103g\u0103dui c\u0103 va cerca \u015fi el. \u015ei a\u015fa \u00eel l\u0103saser\u0103 zmeii viu. El se duse bini\u015for, \u015fi p\u00e2n\u0103 a nu pune piciorul pe prag, \u00eentinse m\u00e2na f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103-l sim\u0163\u0103 nici m\u0103iestrele, apuc\u0103 coco\u015ful de g\u00e2t \u015fi i-l r\u0103suci, de nu mai zise nici pis! apoi deschise u\u015fa \u00eenceti\u015for, trecu la cealalt\u0103 u\u015f\u0103, fur\u0103 clopo\u0163elul \u015fi se \u00eentoarse de spuse zmeilor s\u0103 intre unul c\u00e2te unul, c\u0103 el \u00eei a\u015fteapt\u0103 la u\u015f\u0103, pe din\u0103untru.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Zmeii \u00eel ascultar\u0103, orbi\u0163i de l\u0103comia ce aveau ei s\u0103 puie m\u00e2na pe fat\u0103. \u015ei apoi, de! de zmei, zmei; de voinici, voinici; dar\u0103 se vede c\u0103 erau cam n\u0103t\u0103fle\u0163i, de ascultar\u0103 la gura b\u0103iatului s\u0103 intre dup\u0103 d\u00e2nsul c\u00e2te unul, unul; c\u0103ci fiul cel mic al \u00eemp\u0103ratului sta acolo \u00een\u0103untru cu palo\u015ful \u00een m\u00e2n\u0103, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 \u015ftie zmeii, \u015fi cum intrau, el h\u00e2r\u015ft! le lua capul \u015fi \u00eei tr\u0103gea cu totul \u00een camer\u0103. F\u0103cu unuia, f\u0103cu la doi, p\u00e2n\u0103 la al \u015faselea. Dracul de zmeu cel d-al \u015faptelea, pesemne c\u0103 el nu era tocmai at\u00e2t de n\u0103t\u0103flete, c\u0103ci parc\u0103-i spuse dracul la ureche ce pr\u0103p\u0103d li se g\u0103te\u015fte acolo \u00een\u0103untru c\u0103 nu-i veni s\u0103 intre \u015fi fugi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B\u0103iatul a\u015fa de \u00eencet \u015fi u\u015for lucrase, \u00eenc\u00e2t fata nu sim\u0163i nimic. Ea dormea dus\u0103 \u00een pat, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 iab\u0103 vreun habar. Atunci \u015fi el se apropie de fat\u0103 \u2013 \u015fi, dreptul lui Dumnezeu! nici c\u0103 mai v\u0103zuse p\u00e2n\u0103 atunci a\u015fa frumuse\u0163e \u2013 \u00eei lu\u0103 inelul ce avea \u00een degetul cel mic \u015fi marama de pe fa\u0163\u0103. Cu aceste dou\u0103 lucruri se \u00eentoarse el acas\u0103 la fra\u0163ii s\u0103i, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 le spuie ceva, din cele ce i s-au \u00eent\u00e2mplat.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tata-l fetei, \u00eemp\u0103ratul, carele \u015ftia c\u0103 umbl\u0103 ni\u015fte zmei s\u0103-i r\u0103peasc\u0103 copila, nu mai putu de bucurie c\u00e2nd \u00eei v\u0103zu m\u0103cel\u0103ri\u0163i. \u015ei cu socoteal\u0103 c\u0103 de aci \u00eenainte fata \u00eei va fi sc\u0103pat\u0103, puse s\u0103 se strige prin toate r\u0103sp\u00e2ntiile cet\u0103\u0163ilor din lume c\u0103 cine va fi acel viteaz care a r\u0103pus pe zmei, s\u0103 se \u00eenf\u0103\u0163i\u015feze ca s\u0103-i dea fata dup\u0103 d\u00e2nsul, \u015fi jum\u0103tate \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nu trecu mult \u015fi iat\u0103 c\u0103 vine la \u00eemp\u0103rat un \u0163igan ur\u00e2t \u015fi buzat, \u015fi negru, cium\u0103 nu altceva, \u015fi spuse c\u0103 el a omor\u00e2t pe zmei. \u015ei ca s\u0103 \u00eencredin\u0163eze pe \u00eemp\u0103ratul de spusele lui, \u00ee\u015fi ar\u0103t\u0103 cu m\u00e2ndrie sat\u00e2rul plin de s\u00e2nge \u015fi hainele stropite. El \u00ee\u015fi umpluse sat\u00e2rul \u015fi hainele cu s\u00e2ngele unui cal al s\u0103u, st\u0103tu de b\u0103tr\u00e2n \u015fi plin de tecnefes, cu care nu mai avea ce face, \u015fi-l ucisese ca s\u0103-i ia pielea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratului nu-i prea venea la socoteal\u0103 s\u0103 aib\u0103 ginere pe un \u0163igan, dar\u0103 fiindc\u0103 apucase de-\u015fi dedese cuv\u00e2ntul, voia acum ca s\u0103 \u015fi-l \u0163ie. \u015ei p\u00e2n\u0103 s\u0103 se fac\u0103 logodna, pofti pe \u0163igan la o mas\u0103 pe care o d\u0103du \u00eemp\u0103ratul pentru m\u00e2ntuirea fie-sei de zmei. \u0162iganul \u015fedea la mas\u0103 pe \u015fapte perne \u015fi d-a dreapta \u00eemp\u0103ratului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pe c\u00e2nd m\u00e2ncau ei acolo \u015fi se chefuiau, iat\u0103 c\u0103 vine \u015fi feciorul \u00eemp\u0103ratului cel cu izb\u00e2nda, \u015fi d-abia, d-abia, izbuti s\u0103 intre ca s\u0103 vorbeasc\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103ratului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Intr\u00e2nd la masa \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasc\u0103, fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului \u00eencepu s\u0103 laude pe cel ce f\u0103cuse izb\u00e2nda, \u015fi s\u0103 heretiseasc\u0103 pe \u00eemp\u0103rat pentru sc\u0103parea fie-sei de la rele.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Eu am omor\u00e2t pe zmei, zise \u0163iganul fudul, fudul. Ce socote\u015fti tu, b\u0103iete, c\u00e2t m-am mai luptat!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 A\u015fa o fi, veri\u015fcane, dar\u0103 mie pare c\u0103 tot nu-mi vine a crede ca tu s\u0103 fi f\u0103cut o a\u015fa isprav\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce sta\u0163i de mai asculta\u0163i la b\u00e2rfele mojicului \u0103sta? slujitori! da\u0163i-l afar\u0103!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 O! o! voinicule, mai \u00eencet, mai \u00eencet, te-ai prea gr\u0103bit; nu e de nasul t\u0103u o asemenea buc\u0103\u0163ic\u0103! Ca s\u0103 te credem c\u0103 tu ai f\u0103cut o a\u015fa vitejie, arat\u0103-ne vrun semn care s\u0103 ne scoat\u0103 din b\u0103nuial\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dar\u0103 mai semn ca sat\u00e2rul \u015fi hainele mele cele stropite cu s\u00e2nge, ce mai pofte\u015fti?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cel care a f\u0103cut o asemenea vitejie nu crez eu s\u0103 fi fost el a\u015fa de u\u015furel, \u00eenc\u00e2t s\u0103 nu fi luat vreun semn, cu care s\u0103-\u015fi dovedeasc\u0103 fapta.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce mai a\u015ftepta\u0163i, slujitori? Da\u0163i afar\u0103 pe smintitul \u0103sta carele vine s\u0103 ne strice cheful.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ia, mai stai olecu\u0163\u0103, \u00eei zise atunci \u015fi \u00eemp\u0103ratul, carele ascultase cum nu se \u00een\u0163elegeau ei la cuvinte. Cum cam dai tu s\u0103 se \u00een\u0163eleag\u0103, parc\u0103 ar veni la prochimen.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Eu socotesc, m\u0103rite \u00eemp\u0103rate, c\u0103 cel care a f\u0103cut o asemenea vitejie, nu crez s\u0103 se fi culcat pe urechea aia \u015fi s\u0103 fi stat numa a\u015fa cu degetul \u00een gur\u0103, dup\u0103 ce a ucis pe zmei \u015fi s-a v\u0103zut st\u0103p\u00e2n pe c\u0103mara unde dormea \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa, trebuie s\u0103 fi luat el vrun semn cu care s\u0103 dea la iveal\u0103 vitejia lui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pe c\u00e2nd vorbea feciorul \u00eemp\u0103ratului, pernele s\u0103rea una c\u00e2te una de sub \u0163igan. Pesemne c\u0103 se tot s\u00e2c\u00e2ia pe scaun de neast\u00e2mp\u0103r \u015fi de fric\u0103 pentru mi\u015felia ce f\u0103cu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Iar\u0103 fiul de \u00eemp\u0103rat, \u00eenc\u0103 vorbind, scoase m\u0103rama \u015fi inelul ce luase fetei din deget.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Aoleo! astea sunt ale mele, zise \u015fi fata, \u015fi mi-a pierit \u00een \u00eenv\u0103lm\u0103\u015feala cu omorul zmeilor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 N-a pierit, domni\u0163\u0103, \u00eei r\u0103spunse fiul de \u00eemp\u0103rat, eu \u0163i le-am luat, dup\u0103 ce am ucis \u015fase zmei \u015fi \u00eemi pare r\u0103u c\u0103 mi-a sc\u0103pat \u015fi cel de-al \u015faptelea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Atunci \u00eemp\u0103ratul r\u0103sufl\u0103 de bucurie c\u0103 a sc\u0103pat cu fa\u0163\u0103 curat\u0103 pe fie-sa de o \u00eenso\u0163ire ce nu-i venea la socoteal\u0103 de loc, de loc.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei \u00eenfrunt\u00e2nd pe \u0163igan, dup\u0103 cum i se \u015fi c\u0103dea, porunci de aduse doi arm\u0103sari ne\u00eenv\u0103\u0163a\u0163i. Leg\u0103 pe \u0163igan de coadele cailor \u015fi \u00eempreun\u0103 cu d\u00e2nsul \u015fi un sac de nuci. Apoi dete drumul arm\u0103sarilor de se duser\u0103 \u00een lume \u015fi unde c\u0103dea nuca, c\u0103dea \u015fi buc\u0103\u0163ica din \u0163igan, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce nu se alese nici praful de el.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Apoi se f\u0103cu g\u0103tire de nunt\u0103 pentru feciorul de \u00eemp\u0103rat cel viteaz cu fata cea frumoas\u0103 ca o z\u00e2n\u0103. \u015ei g\u0103tindu-se, \u015fi ziua de mult sosind, pornir\u0103 cu to\u0163ii la biseric\u0103. Lumea dup\u0103 lume se luaser\u0103 dup\u0103 d\u00e2n\u015fii s\u0103-i petreac\u0103 la biseric\u0103. \u00cemp\u0103ratul \u015fi \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa, mirii \u015fi rudele lor erau \u00een c\u0103ru\u0163e ferecate numai \u00een aur.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd fur\u0103 aproape \u015fi mai aveau numai c\u00e2\u0163iva pa\u015fi s\u0103 fac\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 la biseric\u0103 odat\u0103 se auzi o v\u00e2jiitur\u0103 groaznic\u0103, \u015fi numai iat\u0103 c\u0103 zmeul d-al \u015faptelea d\u0103 n\u0103val\u0103 peste d\u00e2n\u015fii. Odat\u0103 plesni dintr-un bici, \u015fi toate c\u0103ru\u0163ele se f\u0103cur\u0103 stane de piatr\u0103, f\u0103r\u0103 numai \u00eemp\u0103ratul \u015fi mirii sc\u0103par\u0103. Pe mireas\u0103 o \u00eenh\u0103\u0163\u0103 zmeul de mijloc, o r\u0103pe\u015fte dintre ai s\u0103i, se \u00een\u0103l\u0163\u0103 \u015fi se f\u0103cu nev\u0103zut cu fat\u0103 cu tot.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0To\u0163i r\u0103maser\u0103 buim\u0103ci\u0163i de spaim\u0103. Iar\u0103 ginerele se sup\u0103r\u0103 mai cu asupra dec\u00e2t to\u0163i. \u00ce\u015fi mu\u015fca m\u00e2inile de sup\u0103rare cum de n-a putut el s\u0103 puie m\u00e2na \u015fi pe acest blestemat de zmeu s\u0103-l omoare, c\u0103ci iat\u0103 acum ce neajuns \u00eei f\u0103cu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ce s\u0103 fac\u0103 acum? F\u0103r\u0103 logodnica lui nu putea s\u0103 r\u0103m\u00e2ie; s\u0103 se duc\u0103 s\u0103 o caute; dar unde? Se fr\u0103m\u00e2nta, bietul \u015fi nu \u015ftia cum s-o nimereasc\u0103 mai bine. \u00cen cele din urm\u0103 se hot\u0103r\u00ee, ca, orice o fi, s\u0103 fie, el s\u0103 se duc\u0103 s\u0103-\u015fi caute scrisa.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se cerc\u0103 bietul tat\u0103l fetei s\u0103-l opreasc\u0103, ca s\u0103 nu se r\u0103puie \u015fi d\u00e2nsul \u00een de\u015fert; dar geaba, nu fu cu putin\u0163\u0103 a-l opri; \u015fi-o pusese el \u00een cap, \u015fi c\u0103ta s\u0103 se duc\u0103. \u00ce\u015fi lu\u0103 deci ni\u0163ele merinde cu d\u00e2nsul \u015fi plec\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ie\u015find la c\u00e2mpie, lu\u0103 drumul d-a lungul \u015fi aide, aide, trecu p\u0103duri \u015fi v\u0103i, trecu pustiuri, dumbr\u0103vi, mun\u0163i \u015fi v\u0103lcele p\u00e2n\u0103 ce ajunse la un codru mare, mare f\u0103r\u0103 c\u0103p\u0103t\u00e2i. Orb\u0103c\u0103ind el p-acolo prin desi\u015f, dete de o poian\u0103. Acolo \u00een poian\u0103 \u015fedea cineva la foc. Tocmai \u015fi el \u00ee\u015fi ispr\u0103vise merindele \u015fi se duse drept la omul ce \u015fedea la foc. Acela cum \u00eel v\u0103zu, \u00eel cunoscu \u015fi \u00eencepu s\u0103-i mul\u0163umeasc\u0103 c\u0103 l-a scos din ghiarele zmeului. Pas\u0103mite era Agerul p\u0103m\u00e2ntului. Acolo tr\u0103ia el.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0St\u0103tur\u0103 ei ce st\u0103tur\u0103 de vorb\u0103, se \u00eentrebar\u0103 de ale s\u0103n\u0103t\u0103\u0163ii, \u00ee\u015fi spuser\u0103 p\u0103surile, \u015fi apoi feciorul de \u00eemp\u0103rat zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Acum m\u0103 duc s\u0103-mi caut logodnica pe care mi-a r\u0103pit-o zmeul. Nu \u015ftii tu, vericule, \u00eencotro va fi \u015fez\u00e2nd spurcatul?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cam greu lucru este ce vrei tu. \u015ei eu te-a\u015f sf\u0103tui mai bine s\u0103-\u0163i cau\u0163i de treab\u0103 \u015fi s\u0103 la\u015fi la naiba \u015fi zmeu \u015fi tot, c\u0103 poate s\u0103-\u0163i r\u0103puie via\u0163a.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Se vede c\u0103 tu nu \u00een\u0163elegi, \u00eei r\u0103spunse voinicul, c\u0103 f\u0103r\u0103 de logodnica mea nu mai pot tr\u0103i, sunt hot\u0103r\u00e2t a m\u0103 duce dup\u0103 d\u00e2nsa \u015fi dincolo de lumea asta, \u015fi ori voi izbuti s\u0103-mi iau so\u0163ia, ori \u00eemi voi fr\u00e2nge \u015fi eu junghetura umbl\u00e2nd dup\u0103 d\u00e2nsa.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Atunci Agerul p\u0103m\u00e2ntului v\u0103z\u00e2nd a\u015fa, \u00eei spuse c\u0103 zmeul nu este tocmai, tocmai de temut, dar\u0103 mum\u0103-sa, c\u0103 e \u015fi vr\u0103jitoare de n-are c\u0103p\u0103t\u00e2i, \u015fi pe ea trebuie s-o omoare mai \u00eent\u00e2i. Apoi \u00eel \u00eendrept\u0103 pe unde s\u0103 mearg\u0103 ca s\u0103 ajung\u0103 la casele zmeoaicei \u015fi ce s\u0103 fac\u0103 ca s\u0103 puie m\u00e2na pe odorul ce c\u0103uta el.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0At\u00e2ta voi s\u0103 \u015ftie feciorul de \u00eemp\u0103rat \u015fi dup\u0103 ce priimi de la Agerul p\u0103m\u00e2ntului c\u00e2te ceva de ale gurei, porni \u015fi se duse, \u015fi se duse, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce ajunse la hotarele zmeilor. \u015ei ca s\u0103 nu ne pierdem vremea degeaba \u00een\u015fir\u00e2nd greut\u0103\u0163ile ce \u00eent\u00e2mpin\u0103 bietul fecior de \u00eemp\u0103rat \u00een cale, s\u0103 v\u0103 spui cum a ajuns \u015fi cum \u015fi-a izb\u00e2ndit.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Aci dac\u0103 ajunse, f\u0103cu tocmai cum \u00eel \u00eenv\u0103\u0163ase Agerul p\u0103m\u00e2ntului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dr\u0103coaica de mum\u0103 a zmeului dormea numai la n\u0103miezi c\u00e2nd soarele st\u0103 \u00een cruci. \u015ei c\u00e2nd veni fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului, \u015fi st\u0103tu la poart\u0103, ea tocmai adormise, c\u0103t\u00e2ndu-i \u00een cap slujnica sa. Aceast\u0103 slujnic\u0103, \u015fi ea tot r\u0103pit\u0103 era \u015fi vi\u0163\u0103 de boier.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0St\u00e2nd el acolo \u015fi uit\u00e2ndu-se la cotoroan\u0163a de bab\u0103 cum \u00eei c\u0103uta \u00een cap, fata aceasta \u00eel z\u0103ri. El \u00eei f\u0103cu semn. Fata puse bini\u015for capul babei pe o pern\u0103, \u015fi veni numaidec\u00e2t la feciorul de \u00eemp\u0103rat s\u0103 vaz\u0103 ce voie\u015fte.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei dup\u0103 ce se \u00een\u0163eleser\u0103 la cuvinte, fata \u00eel b\u0103g\u0103 \u00eentr-o c\u0103mar\u0103 \u015fi acolo \u00eel \u00eenv\u0103\u0163\u0103 cum s\u0103 fac\u0103, dup\u0103 ce el \u00eei f\u0103g\u0103dui c\u0103 o va sc\u0103pa \u015fi pe d\u00e2nsa de robia zmeoaicei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Baba cloan\u0163a, muma zmeului, zise ea, are darul s\u0103 nu moar\u0103 c\u00e2t va fi cada (tocitoarea) ce st\u0103 ici dup\u0103 u\u015f\u0103. \u00cen ea sunt o mul\u0163ime de suflete, \u015fi c\u00e2nd s-ar \u00eent\u00e2mpla s\u0103 o r\u0103puie cineva, ea d\u0103 fuga \u015fi soarbe din sufletele \u00eenchise \u00een cad\u0103, \u015fi c\u00e2\u015ftig\u0103 putere \u015fi via\u0163\u0103 din nou.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului p\u00e2n\u0103 s\u0103 se scoale baba, se apuc\u0103 de \u00eengrop\u0103 cada \u00een pivni\u0163\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce se de\u015ftept\u0103 baba \u015fi auzi c\u0103 nescine a venit \u015fi vrea s\u0103 se \u00eent\u00e2lneasc\u0103 cu d\u00e2nsa, se duse numaidec\u00e2t \u00een c\u0103mara unde o a\u015ftepta fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului; vezi c\u0103 acolo voia s\u0103 vorbeasc\u0103 ea cu cei ce veneau la d\u00e2nsa.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Aoleo! era s\u0103 uit a v\u0103 spune c\u0103 \u00een curtea zmeoaicei era de jur-\u00eemprejur pari \u00eenfip\u0163i \u00een p\u0103m\u00e2nt, \u015fi \u00een fiecare par c\u00e2te un cap de om din cei ce \u00eei tr\u0103gea a\u0163a la moarte \u015fi \u00eei \u00eempingeau p\u0103catele s\u0103-i calce hotarele. Numai unul mai r\u0103m\u0103sese f\u0103r\u0103 de cap, \u015fi acela striga babei: cap! cap!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nu e vorb\u0103, fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului o cam b\u0103gase pe m\u00e2nec\u0103 de fric\u0103, dar\u0103 \u00eemb\u0103rb\u0103tat de fata, slujnica babei, \u00ee\u015fi lu\u0103 inima \u00een din\u0163i zic\u00e2nd:”vei mai c\u0103p\u0103ta \u015fi tu cap la mo\u015fii \u0103i verzi, ori la pa\u015ftele cailor”.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Viind baba la d\u00e2nsul, \u00eencepu s\u0103-i vorbeasc\u0103 cu ni\u015fte graiuri mieroase \u015fi ademenitoare, de ar fi supus pe nu \u015ftiu ce voinic de ar fi fost. Fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului \u015ftia la ce s\u0103 se a\u015ftepte, \u015fi sta \u015fi el gata de lupt\u0103. \u00cenc\u0103 vorbind, baba se f\u0103cea c\u0103 nu \u015ftiu ce c\u0103uta prin cas\u0103, \u015fi lu\u00e2nd ni\u015fte i\u0163e ce erau ag\u0103\u0163ate \u00eentr-un cui, le puse pe d\u00e2nsa. Odat\u0103 se schimb\u0103 \u00eentr-o catan\u0103 (o\u015ftean), cu sabia goal\u0103 \u00een m\u00e2n\u0103. Atunci \u015fi fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului, f\u0103r\u0103 a mai z\u0103bovi nici o clip\u0103, \u015fi mai iute dec\u00e2t ai g\u00e2ndi, scoase palo\u015ful \u015fi \u00eei t\u0103ie capul, retez\u00e2ndu-l de nou\u0103 ori. Vezi c\u0103 a\u015fa \u00eel \u00eenv\u0103\u0163ase fata.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Afurisita de bab\u0103 a\u015fa cu capul retezat s\u0103rea prin cas\u0103 de colo p\u00e2n\u0103 colo, c\u0103ut\u00e2nd cada cu sufletele, ca s\u0103 le soarb\u0103, \u015fi dac\u0103 n-o g\u0103si, c\u0103zu jos \u015fi cr\u0103p\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 aceea fata din cas\u0103 a babei ar\u0103t\u0103 voinicului fiu de \u00eemp\u0103rat calea ce ducea la casele zmeului, \u015fi \u00eel \u00eenv\u0103\u0163\u0103 ce s\u0103 fac\u0103 \u015fi acolo.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei, ajung\u00e2nd la locuin\u0163a zmeului, merse f\u0103r\u0103 fric\u0103 drept la c\u0103mara unde \u015fedea logodnica sa, c\u0103zi zmeul se ducea la v\u00e2nat, de unde se \u00eentorcea tocmai seara.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata de \u00eemp\u0103rat, cum \u00eel v\u0103zu, nu mai putu de bucurie. P\u00e2n\u0103 una alta, el o rug\u0103 s\u0103 \u00eentrebe pe zmeu \u00een ce \u00eei st\u0103 puterea, iar\u0103 fiul de \u00eemp\u0103rat se \u00eentoarse la curtea babei \u015fi mase acolo peste noapte.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Venind zmeul acas\u0103, fata \u00eel \u00eentreb\u0103 unde \u00eei st\u0103 puterea? El \u00eei trase o palm\u0103 ca la Urla\u0163i. Ea, pref\u0103c\u00e2ndu-se a pl\u00e2nge \u015fi a fi bolnav\u0103, zmeul se c\u0103i c\u0103 s-a iu\u0163it \u015fi \u00eei spuse o minciun\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Puterea mea, zise el, st\u0103 \u00een st\u00e2lpul por\u0163ii.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A doua zi spuse lui F\u0103t-Frumos, \u015fi el nu crezu. Fata, pref\u0103c\u00e2ndu-se m\u00e2hnit\u0103 c\u0103 nu \u015ftie \u00een ce \u00eei st\u0103 puterea, p\u0103\u0163i \u00eens\u0103 ca \u015fi r\u00e2ndul trecut, apoi zmeul \u00eei spuse \u00eenc\u0103 o minciun\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dac\u0103 v\u0103zu \u015fi v\u0103zu c\u0103 fiul de \u00eemp\u0103rat nu crede, vezi c\u0103 \u015ftia el ce \u015ftia, ea se f\u0103cu bolnav\u0103. C\u00e2nd veni zmeul a treia zi de la v\u00e2nat, g\u0103si pe fat\u0103 \u00een pat. Se duse el s-o \u00eentrebe ce are, \u015fi ea \u00eei r\u0103spunse:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Am c\u0103zut la pat de \u00eentristare, pentru c\u0103 tu t\u0103inuie\u015fti de mine \u00een ce st\u0103 puterea ta.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Zmeul trase fetei \u015fi de ast\u0103 dat\u0103 o calcavur\u0103 de auzi c\u00e2inii \u00een Giurgiu. Atunci ea se pref\u0103cu a\u015fa de bolnav\u0103, \u00eenc\u00e2t zmeul crezu c\u0103 o s\u0103 dea m\u00e2na cu moartea. \u015ei c\u0103indu-se de ceea ce f\u0103cuse, \u015fi voind s-o m\u00e2ng\u00e2ie, \u00eei spuse drept:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Puterea mea, zise el, st\u0103 \u00eentr-o scroaf\u0103 care se t\u0103v\u0103le\u015fte c\u00e2t e ziulica \u00eentr-o l\u0103covi\u015fte de lapte dulce. Acea l\u0103covi\u015fte nu este tocmai departe de aci. \u00cen scroaf\u0103 este un iepure, \u00een iepure o prepeli\u0163\u0103, \u015fi \u00een prepeli\u0163\u0103 sunt trei viermi. Ace\u015ftia sunt puterea mea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0At\u00e2ta voi \u015fi fata s\u0103 \u015ftie.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum se f\u0103cu ziu\u0103 \u015fi zmeul se duse la v\u00e2nat, iat\u0103 ci vine \u015fi fiul de \u00eemp\u0103rat s\u0103 cerceteze despre cele ce aflase fata de la zmeu, c\u0103ci dorul de a-\u015fi vedea cu un ceas mai nainte logodnica acas\u0103, nu-i da r\u0103gaz s\u0103 z\u0103boveasc\u0103 mai mult. Fata \u00eei spuse tot ce afl\u0103, din fir p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00een a\u0163\u0103; iar\u0103 el plec\u0103 numaidec\u00e2t. De mil\u0103 de sil\u0103, lu\u0103 el \u015fi ni\u0163ele merinde ce-i dase fata; dar\u0103 lui nu-i ardea de m\u00e2ncare.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Merse, merse, \u015fi iar\u0103 merse. Merindele se sf\u00e2r\u015fi. El merse voinice\u015fte p\u00e2n\u0103 ce \u00eende sear\u0103 ajunse lihnit de foame, \u015fi setos, de s\u0103 fereasc\u0103 Dumnezeu, \u00eentr-un codru, unde dete de o colib\u0103. Intr\u0103 \u00een\u0103untru \u015fi g\u0103si un om orb ce-\u015fi m\u00e2nca m\u0103m\u0103ligu\u0163\u0103 cu lapte dulce. Se apropie \u015fi el bini\u015for: f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 prinz\u0103 de veste orbul, \u015fi m\u00e2nc\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 ce-\u015fi momi foamea oarecum. Orbul b\u0103g\u0103 de seam\u0103 c\u0103 prea se sf\u00e2r\u015fe\u015fte cur\u00e2nd leguma de pe mas\u0103. Se mir\u0103. El \u015ftia c\u0103 de alt\u0103dat\u0103 \u00eei era de-ajuns m\u00e2ncarea; de ast\u0103dat\u0103 \u00eens\u0103 nu se s\u0103turase.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cen\u0163elese el c\u0103 trebuie s\u0103 se joace vreo dr\u0103cie la mijloc. Atunci \u00eentreb\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cine este de-mi ajut\u0103 la m\u00e2ncare? De este om bun, fie binevenit, iar\u0103 de este om r\u0103u, s\u0103 se dep\u0103rteze, c\u0103 nu va fi bine de el.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Om bun, mo\u015ficule; sunt c\u0103l\u0103tor, \u015fi p\u00e2n\u0103 una alta, a\u015f voi s\u0103 g\u0103sesc ceva de lucru.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Unchia\u015ful cel orb priimi bucuros s\u0103 intre la d\u00e2nsul \u00een slujb\u0103. \u00cel puse s\u0103-i duc\u0103 tumuli\u0163a de oi la p\u0103\u015fune; dar\u0103 avu grij\u0103 a-i spune s\u0103 nu care cumva s\u0103 treac\u0103 peste hotarele mo\u015fiei lui, pe locul scroafei din l\u0103covi\u015fta de lapte dulce, c\u0103 va fi vai de capul lui, \u015fi va pierde \u015fi oile.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului se f\u0103g\u0103dui c\u0103 va asculta de cuv\u00e2ntul orbului; dar\u0103 chiar \u00een ziua dint\u00e2i trecu, \u015fi oile, p\u0103scur\u0103 iarba cea mare \u015fi moale ca m\u0103tasea ce se afla pe mo\u015fia scroafei cu nesa\u0163. C\u00e2nd veni seara acas\u0103, laptele ce deter\u0103 oile fu de-ajuns pentru am\u00e2ndoi, \u015fi \u00eenc\u0103 r\u0103mase. Orbul se minun\u0103 \u015fi zise fie-sei s\u0103 se ia dup\u0103 d\u00e2nsul a doua zi \u015fi s\u0103 vaz\u0103 d-a minune ce face argatul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum plec\u0103 cu oile argatul \u00een diminea\u0163a urm\u0103toare, fata f\u0103cu precum \u00eei zisese tat\u0103-s\u0103u. El se duse drept, ca pe ciripie, tocmai pe mo\u015fia scroafei cu oile la p\u0103\u015fune. Fata se sperie, dar\u0103 se piti \u015fi t\u0103cu din gur\u0103, s\u0103 vaz\u0103 ce se va \u00eent\u00e2mpla.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ce s\u0103 vede\u0163i d-voastr\u0103? Unde veni scroafa cu o falc\u0103 \u00een cer \u015fi cu una \u00een p\u0103m\u00e2nt, \u015fi n\u0103val\u0103 la argatul orbului s\u0103-l sf\u00e2\u015fie, \u015fi mai multe nu. Fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului sta \u0163an\u0163o\u015f cu palo\u015ful \u00een m\u00e2n\u0103, \u015fi se luar\u0103 la lupt\u0103; \u015fi lupte-se, \u015fi lupte-se, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce am\u00e2ndoi obosir\u0103 de abia se mi\u015fcau.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Atunci zise scroafa:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dac-ar fi cineva s\u0103-mi dea ni\u0163el l\u0103star de trestie \u015fi un ciob de lapte din l\u0103covi\u015ftea mea de lapte dulce, \u0163i-a\u015f ar\u0103ta eu cum s\u0103 cutezi a-mi c\u0103lca hotarele.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dac-ar fi cineva s\u0103-mi dea \u015fi mie un colac s\u0103-mbuc, \u015fi o b\u0103rdac\u0103 de ap\u0103 de izvor s\u0103 beau, \u0163i-a\u015f ar\u0103ta \u015fi eu \u0163ie cine sunt eu, zise \u015fi fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd, iac\u0103 fata unchia\u015fului celui orb, care privea la lupta lor, c\u0103 vine \u015fi d\u0103 fiului de \u00eemp\u0103rat s\u0103 \u00eembuce colacul ce \u015fi-l luase ea, ca s\u0103 aib\u0103 ce m\u00e2nca la p\u00e2nd\u0103, \u015fi fuga se repezi de-i aduse \u015fi o b\u0103rdac\u0103 de ap\u0103 de la izvor. Fl\u0103c\u0103ul m\u00e2nc\u0103 \u015fi b\u0103u, \u015fi prinz\u00e2nd putere, r\u0103sturn\u0103 pe scroaf\u0103, se puse c\u0103lare pe d\u00e2nsa, \u015fi-i t\u0103ie capul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Apoi o spintec\u0103 \u015fi \u00eengriji s\u0103 nu scape iepurele. Puse m\u00e2na pe d\u00e2nsul \u015fi spintec\u00e2nd \u015fi iepurele, prinse prepeli\u0163a. \u015ei sco\u0163\u00e2nd din r\u0103runchii prepeli\u0163ei cei trei viermi, \u00eei b\u0103g\u0103 \u00een s\u00e2n dup\u0103 ce le suci ni\u0163el g\u00e2turile.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00centorc\u00e2ndu-se la unchia\u015f, \u00ee\u015fi lu\u0103 ziua bun\u0103 de la orb \u015fi de la fat\u0103, spuindu-le c\u0103 \u00een cur\u00e2nd va afla despre d\u00e2nsul, \u015fi \u00eentr-un suflet se \u00eentoarse la curtea zmeului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Aci dac\u0103 ajunse \u00ee\u015fi schimb\u0103 vestmintele, se f\u0103cu doftor, \u015fi \u00eencepu a striga:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Leacuri de v\u00e2nzare, leacuri!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Zmeul cu auzi, trimise de-l chem\u0103, c\u0103 lui nu-i prea era bine. De c\u00e2teva zile, g\u0103inea a\u015fa l\u00e2ncezind. Nu-i era to\u0163i boii acas\u0103, vezi bine, c\u0103 puterea lui se afla acum \u00een s\u00e2nul fiului de \u00eemp\u0103rat. Se \u00eemboln\u0103vise.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dac\u0103 veni fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului \u015fi \u00eel \u00eentreb\u0103 zmeul de poate s\u0103-l fac\u0103 s\u0103n\u0103tos, pref\u0103cutul doftor \u00eei spuse c\u0103 se va \u00eens\u0103n\u0103to\u015fa, dac\u0103 se va sc\u0103lda \u00een lapte de iepe. Zmeul porunci numaidec\u00e2t \u015fi i se f\u0103cu o baie din laptele iepelor lui, pe care le pusese d\u00e2nsul de le mulse. C\u00e2nd intr\u0103 \u00een baie zmeul, fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului mai r\u0103suci o toan\u0103 g\u00e2turile viermilor; iar zmeul odat\u0103 s\u0103ri \u00een sus, zic\u00e2nd:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Acum mi-e bine ca \u015fi c\u00e2nd eram la s\u00e2nul mamei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei d\u00e2nd doftorului daruri scumpe, \u00eel pofti la mas\u0103. Vezi c\u0103 zmeul nu cuno\u015ftea cine era doftorul. Osp\u0103t\u00e2ndu-se \u015fi st\u00e2nd el la taifas, fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului \u00eentreb\u0103 pe zmeu:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 De ce treab\u0103 sunt bicele alea ce le \u0163ii at\u00e2rnate fiecare \u00een cuiul s\u0103u pe p\u0103retele din fund?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cu unul, r\u0103spunse zmeul, dac\u0103 voi plesni o dat\u0103, toate turmele mele se fac o nuc\u0103. Dac\u0103 voi plesni cu al doilea, toate coprinsurile mele se fac un m\u0103r. Iar\u0103 cu al treilea bici c\u00e2nd plesnesc la spatele oric\u0103rui lucru, \u00eel schimb \u00een stan\u0103 de piatr\u0103 \u015fi c\u00e2nd plesnesc cu el \u00een fa\u0163\u0103, se desface f\u0103cutul, \u015fi vine la adev\u0103rata lui fiin\u0163\u0103 lucrul \u00eempietrit.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum afl\u0103 despre asta fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului, ie\u015fi afar\u0103 \u015fi suci de tot g\u00e2turile viermilor iar\u0103 zmeul cr\u0103p\u0103 \u00eendat\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Apoi lu\u0103 bicele, plesni cu unul \u015fi toate turmele \u015fi cirezile zmeului le f\u0103cu o nuc\u0103, pe care o b\u0103g\u0103 \u00een s\u00e2n; \u015fi plesnind cu altul, toate coprinsurile zmeului se schimbar\u0103 \u00eentr-un m\u0103r, pe care iar\u0103\u015fi \u00eel b\u0103g\u0103 \u00een s\u00e2n. \u015ei lu\u00eendu-\u015fi logodnica, se duse la orb, dar\u0103 nu-l mai g\u0103si, c\u0103ci murise; lu\u0103 deci cu d\u00e2nsul pe fat\u0103; \u015fi merg\u00e2nd la cur\u0163ile babei, lu\u0103 \u015fi pe fata ce slujea zmeoaicei \u015fi se \u00eentoarse cu toatele acas\u0103 la \u00eemp\u0103ratul socrul lui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei merg\u00e2nd \u00een fa\u0163a carelor \u015fi cailor care r\u0103m\u0103seser\u0103 stane de piatr\u0103, de c\u00e2nd r\u0103pise zmeul pe fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului, plesni de trei ori \u00een fa\u0163a lor \u015fi se f\u0103cur\u0103 la loc cum erau \u00een ziua c\u00e2nd merseser\u0103 la cununie ei \u015fi to\u0163i cei de prin c\u0103ru\u0163e.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cele dou\u0103 fete ce le adusese cu sine fiul de \u00eemp\u0103rat le dete de neveste fra\u0163ilor lui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei se f\u0103cu o nunt\u0103 \u00eenfrico\u015fat\u0103, d-alea \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103te\u015ftile, cum seam\u0103n nu mai avu pe fa\u0163a p\u0103m\u00e2ntului, \u015fi se f\u0103cu o veselie de o \u0163inur\u0103 minte c\u00e2t tr\u0103ir\u0103 locuitorii acelei \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ii.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Am fost \u015fi eu acolo \u015fi am v\u0103zut toate chefurile, c\u0103ci de n-a\u015f fi fost, de unde a\u015f fi \u015ftiut eu s\u0103 v\u0103 povestesc.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0O lingur\u0103 scurt\u0103 pe la nasul cui n-ascult\u0103.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A fost odat\u0103 un \u00eemp\u0103rat. El avea trei feciori. C\u00e2nd fu la ceasul mor\u0163ii, \u00ee\u015fi chem\u0103 feciorii \u015fi le zise: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Fe\u0163ii mei, sunt cu sufletul la gur\u0103, precum … <\/p>\n