\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A fost odat\u0103 un \u00eemp\u0103rat mare \u015fi puternic. Abia la vremea c\u0103runte\u0163ei dob\u00e2ndi \u015fi el un copil. Bucuria lui fu nespus\u0103 c\u00e2nd se v\u0103zu \u015fi el tat\u0103, \u015fi toat\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia lui fu vesel\u0103 dinpreun\u0103 cu d\u00e2nsul, c\u0103ci acest \u00eemp\u0103rat era bun, drept \u015fi tem\u0103tor de Dumnezeu. Pentru aceasta, el f\u0103cu mult bine poporului s\u0103u. \u015ei to\u0163i \u00eentr-un g\u00e2nd \u015fi \u00eentr-o gl\u0103suire dete m\u0103rire Domnului c\u0103 s-a \u00eendurat a le da un mo\u015ftean al \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Acest \u00eemp\u0103rat puse de g\u00e2nd ca pe fiul s\u0103u s\u0103-l dea s\u0103 \u00eenve\u0163e toate meseriile \u015fi toat\u0103 procopseala c\u0103rturarilor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului cre\u015ftea \u00eentr-o lun\u0103 c\u00e2t al\u0163ii \u00eentr-un an. C\u00e2nd fu de opt ani, p\u0103rea c\u0103 este de optsprezece.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dac\u0103 v\u0103zu a\u015fa, tat\u0103-s\u0103u, \u00eemp\u0103ratul, \u00eel dete la carte; dup\u0103 ce \u00eenv\u0103\u0163\u0103 filosofia \u015fi citirea pe stele, de la cei mai iscusi\u0163i dasc\u0103li, \u00eel dete la cel mai me\u015fter vraci, de \u00eenv\u0103\u0163\u0103 \u015fi me\u015fte\u015fugul leacurilor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0V\u0103z\u00e2nd tat\u0103-s\u0103u, \u00eemp\u0103ratul, c\u0103 fiu-s\u0103u are \u0163inere de minte grozav\u0103 \u015fi ia \u00een cap u\u015for cele ce i se arat\u0103, se umplu de mul\u0163umire sufleteasc\u0103, c\u0103ci Dumnezeu \u00eei dase un copil tocmai dup\u0103 g\u00e2ndul s\u0103u.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cenv\u0103\u0163\u00e2nd el toat\u0103 cartea, \u00eemp\u0103ratul a \u00eenceput a trimite pe fiu-s\u0103u din cetate \u00een cetate s\u0103 \u00eenve\u0163e toate meseriile. Cum auzea c\u0103 \u00een cutare cetate este c\u00e2te vrun me\u015fter mai dibaci \u015fi c\u0103 acea meserie nu se afl\u0103 pe la d\u00e2nsul, \u00eendat\u0103 \u00eel trimitea s\u0103 \u00eenve\u0163e \u015fi acea meserie.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Astfel umbl\u0103 fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului din \u0163ar\u0103 \u00een \u0163ar\u0103, ca \u015fi un pribeag, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce \u00eenv\u0103\u0163\u0103 toate meseriile de pre p\u0103m\u00e2nt. \u015ei \u00eentorc\u00e2ndu-se la palaturile tat\u0103lui s\u0103u, socotea c\u0103 acum s-a sf\u00e2r\u015fit; are s\u0103 se str\u00e2ng\u0103 de pre drumuri.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0De bucurie c\u0103 are un fiu a\u015fa de procopsit \u015fi de iscusit, tat\u0103l s\u0103u f\u0103cu o mas\u0103 mare, unde chem\u0103 pe to\u0163i \u00eemp\u0103ra\u0163ii, vecinii lui, ca s\u0103 le arate fiul s\u0103u procopseala.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00censu\u015fi fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului porunci la buc\u0103tari \u015fi le ar\u0103t\u0103 cum s\u0103 fac\u0103 bucatele. Mesenii nu \u015ftiau cum s\u0103 mai laude gustul acestor bucate. C\u00e2nd, iat\u0103 c\u0103 vine \u015fi fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului la mas\u0103. Se chefuir\u0103, deci, \u015fi \u015ftii, vorba \u0103luia, vorba vorb\u0103 aduce. \u00cencepur\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103ra\u0163ii a-\u015fi povesti despre judec\u0103\u0163ile \u015fi drept\u0103\u0163ile ce f\u0103cuse fiecare \u00een \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia sa. \u00centre altele, unul spuse c\u0103 se va c\u0103i c\u00e2t va tr\u0103i el, pentru c\u0103 a os\u00e2ndit pe un om drept, \u00eenvinov\u0103\u0163it fiind c\u0103 ar fi furat ni\u015fte lucruri, pe c\u00e2nd altul a fost ho\u0163ul, precum se dovedi mai \u00een urm\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum auzi \u00eemp\u0103ratul care dedese osp\u0103\u0163ul, se \u00eentoarse c\u0103tre fiul s\u0103u \u015fi zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u015etiu c\u0103, dac\u0103 un \u00eemp\u0103rat voie\u015fte s\u0103 fie drept \u015fi adev\u0103rat st\u0103p\u00e2nitor supu\u015filor s\u0103i, trebuie s\u0103 \u015ftie toate meseriile, ca s\u0103 cunoasc\u0103 prin \u00eensu\u015fi ochii s\u0103i p\u0103surile fiec\u0103ruia. De aceea, f\u0103tul meu, te-am dat s\u0103 \u00eenve\u0163i toate me\u015fte\u015fugurile. Nu mi-a venit \u00een g\u00e2nd c\u0103 \u015fi ho\u0163ia este un me\u015fte\u015fug. Aceasta \u00ee\u0163i r\u0103m\u00e2ne s\u0103 mai \u00eenve\u0163i, dup\u0103 care te vei face un \u00eemp\u0103rat ca Solomon \u00eemp\u0103rat \u015fi cum altul nu va mai fi pe lume.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ii! tat\u0103, r\u0103spunse fiul de \u00eemp\u0103rat, carele se ru\u015fin\u0103 \u015fi se ro\u015fise ca o sfecl\u0103, cum de m\u0103 os\u00e2nde\u015fti astfel ca pe un vinovat de codru?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei scul\u00e2ndu-se de la mas\u0103, se duse unde se duse el, \u015fi se \u00eentoarse numaidec\u00e2t, peste a\u015fteptarea tuturor, cu o slug\u0103 a lui credincioas\u0103, aduc\u00e2nd ni\u015fte sc\u00e2nduri, stinghii, drugi, odgoane \u015fi p\u00e2nze. Cu aceste se apuc\u0103, ajutat de sluga lui, de cl\u0103di un fel de foi\u015for.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0G\u0103tindu-se foi\u015forul, se urc\u0103 \u00eentr-\u00eensul \u015fi, \u00eenv\u00e2rtind ni\u015fte \u015furuburi \u015fi ni\u015fte v\u00e2rtejuri la ni\u015fte me\u015fte\u015fuguri ce avea acest foi\u015for, \u00eencepu a pluti \u00een v\u00e2nt \u015fi, pe c\u00e2nd se tot urca, el \u00ee\u015fi lu\u0103 ziua bun\u0103 de la to\u0163i cei de fa\u0163\u0103, cari r\u0103m\u0103seser\u0103 cu gurile c\u0103scate \u015fi cu ochii bleojdi\u0163i la d\u00e2nsul. Mum\u0103-sa c\u00e2t p-aci era s\u0103-i vie r\u0103u de inim\u0103 rea; dar\u0103 \u00ee\u015fi \u0163inu firea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce \u00eel pierdur\u0103 din ochi, mesenii se scular\u0103 \u015fi se \u00eempr\u0103\u015ftiar\u0103 ca puii de pot\u00e2rniche, nemaivoind a ad\u0103oga m\u00e2hnirea \u00eemp\u0103ratului, care se vedea de pe fa\u0163\u0103 c\u0103 era prea mare.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului, dup\u0103 ce c\u0103l\u0103tori c\u00e2tva timp prin v\u0103zduh, prinse a se cobor\u00ee. Ce s\u0103 vezi dumneata? Or\u00e2nda \u00eel duse a se l\u0103sa tocmai dinaintea unei cocioabe de bordei s\u0103r\u0103c\u0103cios.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Era seara. B\u0103tu la u\u015fe. Cei din\u0103untru, o pereche de oameni jig\u0103ri\u0163i, \u00eentreb\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cine e acolo?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Om bun, le r\u0103spunse fiul de \u00eemp\u0103rat. Deschide\u0163i, c\u0103 sunt un c\u0103l\u0103tor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cei deschiser\u0103. C\u00e2nd intr\u0103 \u00een bordei, el b\u0103g\u0103 de seam\u0103 c\u0103 muierea aruncase ceva sub pat.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dar\u0103 ce v\u00e2nt te aduce pe la noi?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Sunt strein. Acum am sosit din alte \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ii. Rogu-v\u0103 s\u0103 m\u0103 g\u0103zdui\u0163i.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Bucuros, cu ce vom putea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Foarte v\u0103 mul\u0163umesc, le mai zise el. Nu v\u0103 va fi degeaba. Dar\u0103 de ce v\u0103 stinghiri\u0163i din lucru? Lucra\u0163i, nu v\u0103 opri\u0163i pentru mine. Am b\u0103gat de seam\u0103 c\u0103 f\u0103cea\u0163i ceva c\u00e2nd am venit!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Muierea vru s\u0103 \u00eendruge c\u00e2teva minciuni. Dar\u0103 b\u0103rbatul \u00eei lu\u0103 din gur\u0103 \u015fi zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 S\u0103-\u0163i spunem drept. Dumneata e\u015fti oaspetele nostru, \u015fi crez c\u0103 nu ne vei da pe m\u00e2na st\u0103p\u00e2nirei. Eu sunt ho\u0163. Meseria acesta nu mai are c\u0103utare, de c\u00e2nd \u00eemp\u0103ratul a pus ni\u015fte slujba\u015fi ai dracului de stra\u015fnici \u015fi de aspri pentru unii ca noi. Abia ne mai \u0163inem zilele, cu c\u00e2te o g\u0103in\u0103 sau alt\u0103 pas\u0103re ce putem s\u0103 ciordim de pe ici, de colo. \u015ei tocmai jumulea o g\u00e2sc\u0103 nevast\u0103-mea c\u00e2nd ai venit d-ta.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Tocmai ce c\u0103utam \u015fi eu. Dumnezeu m-a adus la voi. Scoate\u0163i g\u00e2sca de sub pat \u015fi face-v\u0103-\u0163i me\u015fte\u015fugul. De azi \u00eencolo sunt al vostru. M\u0103 bag ucenic la d-ta s\u0103 m\u0103 \u00eenve\u0163i acest me\u015fte\u015fug.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei p\u00e2n\u0103 jumuli \u015fi g\u0103ti g\u00e2sca, fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului ie\u015fi afar\u0103, \u00ee\u015fi str\u00e2nse foi\u015forul, desf\u0103c\u00e2ndu-l din toate \u00eencheieturile, \u015fi-l puse bine, unde s\u0103 nu dea nimeni peste d\u00e2nsul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se puser\u0103, deci, la mas\u0103 \u015fi se chefuir\u0103, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce coco\u015fii \u00eencepur\u0103 a vesti c\u0103 vine alba \u00een sat.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A doua zi se \u00een\u0163eleseser\u0103 ei la cuvinte, \u015fi fiul de \u00eemp\u0103rat r\u0103mase sub ascultarea ho\u0163ului, ca s\u0103 \u00eenve\u0163e me\u015fte\u015fugul de la d\u00e2nsul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Tot me\u015fte\u015fugul este, zise ho\u0163ul \u00eentr-una din zile, s\u0103 ciorde\u015fti, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 te prinz\u0103 cineva; s\u0103 buzun\u0103re\u015fti \u015fi pe dracul, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 te vaz\u0103 nici pui de om sau alt\u0103 gadin\u0103; s\u0103 n-apuce s\u0103 caz\u0103 \u015fi tu s\u0103 g\u0103se\u015fti; orice \u0163i s-o p\u0103rea c\u0103 nu este pus bine de altul, tu s\u0103 iei \u015fi s\u0103 p\u0103strezi; marghiolia, vicle\u015fugul, \u00eendr\u0103zneala, iste\u0163imea, \u015fotia \u015fi cu tot neamul lor, s\u0103 fie uneltele tale.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fiul de \u00eemp\u0103rat asculta \u015fi b\u0103ga la cap.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 trecere de timp, \u00een care fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului se \u00eendeletnicise la me\u015fte\u015fugul ho\u0163iei, v\u0103z\u00e2nd el c\u0103 lucrurile \u00eei merg strun\u0103, zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Me\u015ftere, c\u00e2nd ai de g\u00e2nd s\u0103 m\u0103 sco\u0163i calf\u0103?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 C\u00e2nd mi-oi fura ip\u00e2ngeaua de pe mine.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce mai trecu, merser\u0103 \u00eentr-o zi la v\u00e2nat. Acolo \u00een p\u0103dure, st\u00e2nd s\u0103 fac\u0103 popas, se tol\u0103nir\u0103 fiecare pe ce avea, la umbr\u0103 de copaci \u015fi la r\u0103coare, ca s\u0103-\u015fi aromeze oarecum. Ho\u0163ul \u00ee\u015fi a\u015fternuse ip\u00e2ngeaua.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Deodat\u0103 ho\u0163ul auzi mierc\u0103itul unui iepure, ca \u015fi c\u00e2nd \u00eel apucase ogarul. Se scul\u0103, se uit\u0103 prin prejur, \u015fi nu vede nimic. So\u0163ul s\u0103u, fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului, adormise, \u015fi-i da ni\u015fte sfor\u0103ieli de p\u0103rea c\u0103 m\u00e2n\u0103 porcii. Se culc\u0103 iar\u0103\u015fi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nu \u015fezu mult, \u015fi tocmai c\u00e2nd era s\u0103-l fure \u015fi pe el somnul, auzi \u00eenc\u0103 o dat\u0103 acela\u015fi mierc\u0103it \u015fi cu totul p-aproape.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Odat\u0103 s\u0103ri drept \u00een sus.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce naiba, trebuie s\u0103 fie ceva. M\u0103 repez s\u0103 v\u0103z ce dracovenie s\u0103 fie aceea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei fiind un cr\u00e2ngule\u0163 \u00eentr-o dep\u0103rtare c\u00e2t arunci cu piatra, se duse \u00eentr-acolo, de unde i se p\u0103ru lui c\u0103 vine mierc\u0103itul iepurelui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pe c\u00e2nd se ducea ho\u0163ul, fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului se scoal\u0103 bini\u015for, \u015fi p\u00e2\u015f! p\u00e2\u015f! \u00eei ia ip\u00e2ngeaua frumu\u015fel, o \u00eendoie\u015fte \u015fi o ascunde \u00eentr-o scorbur\u0103 de copaci \u015fi iar\u0103\u015fi se culc\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Acestea le f\u0103cu el mai iute dec\u00e2t ai g\u00e2ndi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ho\u0163ul, dac\u0103 v\u0103zu c\u0103 nu este nimic \u00een cr\u00e2ng, dete tuturor r\u0103ilor \u015fi iepure \u015fi tot, \u015fi se \u00eentoarse s\u0103 se odihneasc\u0103. C\u00e2nd, ia ip\u00e2ngeaua de unde nu e. Se uit\u0103 prin prejur, \u015fi nici o frunzuli\u0163\u0103 m\u0103car nu se mi\u015fca. Fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului horc\u0103ia de socoteai c\u0103 o s\u0103 de\u015ftepte \u015fi pe mor\u0163i.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Bietul ho\u0163 r\u0103mase ca lovit de tr\u0103snet. Sim\u0163i c\u0103 alt n-are cine s\u0103-i fi jucat renghiul acesta, dec\u00e2t ucenicul lui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se suci, se \u00eenv\u00e2rti, dete t\u00e2rcoale prejmetelor; ip\u00e2ngeaua nu e. \u00cen cele de pe urm\u0103, dup\u0103 ce \u00eel \u00eenecase necazul, se duse s\u0103-\u015fi de\u015ftepte ucenicul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Acesta dormea mort. \u00cel zgudui, \u00eel scutur\u0103, ca de c\u00e2nd \u00eencepui s\u0103 v\u0103 povestesc \u015fi abia, abia se de\u015ftept\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Somnoros cum era, \u015fi tot frec\u00e2ndu-se la ochi, \u00eencepu s\u0103 se jeluiasc\u0103 c\u0103 n-are parte s\u0103 doarm\u0103 \u015fi el m\u0103car un somn, \u015fi c\u0103 din pricina asta o s\u0103 se duc\u0103 de la un asemenea st\u0103p\u00e2n, cre nu-i d\u0103 r\u0103gaz c\u00e2t ar aromi cineva.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ho\u0163ul v\u0103zu c\u0103 ucenicul lui are s\u0103-l \u00eentreac\u0103, \u015fi zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ia las\u0103 astfel de vorbe, ci d\u0103-mi ip\u00e2ngeaua, c\u0103 acum e\u015fti calf\u0103, ai sc\u0103pat de ucenicie.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd auzi fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului de unele ca acestea, se duse \u00eentr-un suflet de-i aduse ip\u00e2ngeaua, \u015fi legar\u0103 am\u00e2ndoi tov\u0103r\u0103\u015fie pe bine \u015fi pe r\u0103u.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cencepuse a mi\u015fca bini\u015for la meseria lor, de c\u00e2nd se f\u0103cur\u0103 tovar\u0103\u015fi. Vezi c\u0103 fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului era mai ager de m\u00e2n\u0103, mai iste\u0163 \u015fi mai \u00eendr\u0103zne\u0163.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00centr-una din zile, feciorul de \u00eemp\u0103rat se duse la v\u00e2nat, ia a\u015fa cam \u00een dorul lelii, fiindc\u0103 n-avea alt\u0103 treab\u0103. Umbl\u00e2nd el prin p\u0103dure, odat\u0103 aude un groh\u0103it de porc p-aproape de d\u00e2nsul; c\u0103ut\u0103 \u015fi, mai iute dec\u00e2t ai g\u00e2ndi, fu \u015fi acolo. C\u00e2nd, ce s\u0103-i vaz\u0103 ochii? Un mistre\u0163 c\u00e2t toate zilele de mare pr\u0103v\u0103lise pe un fl\u0103c\u0103u t\u00e2n\u0103r la fa\u0163\u0103, \u015fi se silea a-\u015fi descurca col\u0163ii din arcul fl\u0103c\u0103ului spre a-l sf\u00e2\u015fia.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului \u00ee\u015fi scoase cu\u0163itul de v\u00e2n\u0103toare \u015fi, cu un curaj nemaiauzit, se repede asupra mistre\u0163ului, \u00eei \u00eenfige cu\u0163itul drept \u00een ochi \u015fi \u00eel d\u0103 tumba peste cap, \u00eei mai d\u0103 vro dou\u0103 lovituri bune \u00een cap \u015fi-l las\u0103 mort acolo locului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103cu ce f\u0103cu \u015fi aduse ni\u0163ic\u0103 ap\u0103 \u00een c\u0103ciul\u0103, stropi pe fl\u0103c\u0103ul care le\u015finase, \u015fi \u00eel mai \u00eenvior\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Acesta, c\u00e2nd se de\u015ftept\u0103 \u015fi v\u0103zu pe izb\u0103vitorul s\u0103u, zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cere-mi oric\u00e2t vei voi \u015fi-\u0163i voi da, pentru aceast\u0103 facere de bine.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Bani au \u015fi \u0163iganii, \u00eei r\u0103spunse fiul de \u00eemp\u0103rat, dar\u0103 cinste nu. S\u0103 nu socote\u015fti c\u0103 pentru bani am f\u0103cut ce am f\u0103cut eu acum pentru tine.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se ru\u015fin\u0103 oarecum fl\u0103c\u0103ul cu pricina; dar\u0103 mai prinz\u00e2nd limb\u0103, \u00eei spuse \u015firitenia, cum venise \u00een v\u00e2n\u0103toare cu mai mul\u0163i tovaro\u015fi, cum z\u0103rise mistre\u0163ul \u015fi se luase dup\u0103 d\u00e2nsul, \u015fi cum nu-l lovise bine, \u015fi el se n\u0103pustise asupra lui \u015fi-l pr\u0103v\u0103lise de era s\u0103-l trimi\u0163\u0103 pe lumea cealalt\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pas\u0103mite \u015fi acesta era fiu de \u00eemp\u0103rat, \u015fi \u00eenc\u0103 fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului locului aceluia.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se \u00eemprietenir\u0103 \u015fi se duser\u0103 la palaturile \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103te\u015fti. \u00cemp\u0103ratul nu \u015ftia cum s\u0103 mul\u0163umeasc\u0103 streinului c\u0103 i-a sc\u0103pat copilul de la moarte. \u00cei dete voie ca s\u0103 vie \u00een palat oric\u00e2nd va voi, fiindc\u0103 el nu priimi nici o alt\u0103 r\u0103spl\u0103tire.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Streinul fiu de \u00eemp\u0103rat, de c\u00e2te ori mergea la \u00eemp\u0103ratul, de at\u00e2tea ori el cerceta \u015fi b\u0103ga de seam\u0103 la tot ce era pe acolo.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 c\u00e2t\u0103va vreme, el zise odat\u0103 tovaro\u015fului s\u0103u:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Tovaro\u015fe, mi s-a ur\u00e2t cu borf\u0103\u015fia, s\u0103 facem \u015fi noi o ho\u0163ie care s\u0103 se mai sim\u0163\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce vrei s\u0103 facem?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Iaca, s\u0103 mai mergem \u015fi pe la haznaua \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasc\u0103, c\u0103 doar\u0103 n-o fi foc.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Da ce stai d-ta de vorbe\u015fti, omule? D-apoi acolo, aoleo! ce de p\u0103zitori mai sunt!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Noi s\u0103 mergem pe unde nu sunt p\u0103zitori.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se hot\u0103r\u00e2r\u0103, \u015fi \u00eentr-o noapte \u015fi plecar\u0103. Ei \u00ee\u015fi luar\u0103 \u015fi uneltele trebuincioase. \u015ei fiindc\u0103 fiul de \u00eemp\u0103rat \u015ftia toate me\u015fte\u015fugurile, el cuno\u015ftea \u015fi zid\u0103ria. Se apuc\u0103 \u015fi, numai din dou\u0103 cazmale, scase c\u00e2teva c\u0103r\u0103mizi, c\u00e2t putea omul s\u0103 intre. Aceasta pe de la uli\u0163\u0103, pre unde nu p\u0103zea nimeni. El intr\u0103, umplu dou\u0103 c\u0103ciuli cu galbeni \u015fi ie\u015fi. Apoi potrivi c\u0103r\u0103mizile la loc, ca s\u0103 nu se cunoasc\u0103 pe unde au intrat.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nu se poate spune bucurie ce avur\u0103 c\u00e2nd se v\u0103zur\u0103 cu at\u00e2ta c\u0103c\u0103l\u0103u de bani. Venir\u0103 acas\u0103 \u015fi dormir\u0103, ca \u015fi c\u00e2nd usturoi nu m\u00e2ncase \u015fi gurile nu le miroseau.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A doua zi mare v\u00e2lv\u0103 se f\u0103cu \u00een ora\u015f c\u00e2nsd se afl\u0103 c\u0103 s-a spart visteria \u00eemp\u0103ratului. To\u0163i se minunau \u015fi se cruceau, nedomirindu-se pe unde s\u0103 fi intrat t\u00e2lharii.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nu mai pu\u0163in \u015fi \u00eemp\u0103ratul intr\u0103 la chibzuiri, cum ar face s\u0103 prinz\u0103 pe ace\u015fti ho\u0163i cutez\u0103tori.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului, cel ce f\u0103cuse bosmaua, se duse ca totdauna pe la \u00eemp\u0103ratul, se f\u0103cu \u015fi el c\u0103 se mir\u0103 de at\u00e2ta cutezare, \u015fi zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cel ce a f\u0103cut o asemenea ho\u0163ie \u00eendr\u0103znea\u0163\u0103 nu se poate s\u0103 mai vie m\u0103car \u00eenc\u0103 o dat\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul locului puse tot felul de paznici la visteria lui \u015fi a\u015ftepta.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ho\u0163ii, dup\u0103 c\u00e2teva zile, c\u00e2nd se mai potoli v\u00e2lva, venir\u0103 iar\u0103\u015fi, fiindc\u0103 se dedulciser\u0103 ca calul la t\u0103r\u00e2\u0163e, scoase c\u0103r\u0103mizile \u015fi fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului zise tovaro\u015fului s\u0103u:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 De r\u00e2ndul trecut am intrat eu; acum intr\u0103 tu. A\u015fa mi se pare c\u0103 cere dreptatea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tovaro\u015ful n-avu ce zice, c\u0103ci a\u015fa era. Intr\u0103 deci \u00een hazna \u015fi, fiind mai lacom, lu\u0103 c\u00e2\u0163i galbeni putu el duce \u015fi-i aduse tovaro\u015fului la gaur\u0103. Acesta \u00eei priimi. C\u00e2nd s\u0103 ias\u0103 \u015fi el, h\u00e2\u015f! \u00een sus, h\u00e2\u0163! \u00een jos, se sim\u0163i c\u0103 este prins \u00een la\u0163, \u015fi c\u0103 nu poate ie\u015fi. Fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului n-avea timp de pierdut, ce s\u0103 fac\u0103? Se apuc\u0103 \u015fi el de-i t\u0103ie capul, \u00eel lu\u0103 cu d\u00e2nsul \u015fi p-aici \u0163i-e drumul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar\u0103 c\u00e2nd ajunse acas\u0103? aoleo! Unde era Dumnezeu s\u0103 vaz\u0103 bocetele \u015fi vaietele muierii, c\u00e2nd \u00eei ar\u0103t\u0103 capul b\u0103rbatului ei? \u0162ipa de socoteai c\u0103 o pune \u00een \u0163eap\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului \u00eei puse m\u00e2na la gur\u0103 \u015fi-i zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0-St! c\u0103 ne-am topit. S\u0103 nu te auz\u0103 cineva, c\u0103 nu e bine de noi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei dup\u0103 ce \u00eei spuse toat\u0103 \u015firetenia pricinii, o \u00eemp\u0103c\u0103 spuindu-i c\u0103-i las\u0103 ei to\u0163i banii ce au furat, \u015fi \u00eei mai f\u0103g\u0103dui c\u0103-i va aduce \u015fi trupul b\u0103rbatului, ca s\u0103-l \u00eengroape ca oamenii \u015fi cu toat\u0103 r\u00e2nduiala.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Iar\u0103 dac\u0103 se f\u0103cu ziu\u0103, slujitorii \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103te\u015fti g\u0103sir\u0103 trupul f\u0103r\u0103 cap \u015fi-l duser\u0103 la \u00eemp\u0103ratul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Acesta se da de ceasul mor\u0163ii \u015fi mai multe nu, cum de s\u0103 nu prinz\u0103 pe t\u00e2lhar viu, nev\u0103t\u0103mat.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului se duse \u015fi el pe la palat \u015fi, auzind cele ce se pl\u0103nuiau, se preg\u0103ti \u015fi el a-\u015fi \u0163ine f\u0103g\u0103duiala ce dase nevestei tovaro\u015fului s\u0103u.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Sf\u0103tuind cei doisprezece boieri, socotir\u0103 cu mintea lor c\u0103 t\u00e2lharii trebuie s\u0103 fie cel pu\u0163in doi; c\u0103 cel viu este peste poate s\u0103 nu vie a lua \u015fi trupul mortului. G\u0103sir\u0103, deci, cu cale a pune trupul cel f\u0103r\u0103 cap \u00een mijlocul pie\u0163ei, pe o schel\u0103 cu trei trepte, \u015fi de jur-\u00eemprejur slujitori \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103te\u015fti, cari s\u0103 p\u0103zeasc\u0103 toat\u0103 noaptea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A\u015fa \u015fi f\u0103cur\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului, ho\u0163ul, se duse \u015fi el de cump\u0103r\u0103 o m\u00e2r\u0163oag\u0103 de cal r\u0103pciugos \u015fi bubos, \u015fi slab, de era numai pielea \u015fi osul, mai cump\u0103r\u0103 o odoroag\u0103 de c\u0103ru\u0163\u0103 \u015fi un butoi de rachiu. \u015ei dup\u0103 ce \u00eenc\u0103rc\u0103 c\u0103ru\u0163a, \u00eenh\u0103m\u0103 la d\u00e2nsa rabla lui de cal \u015fi o porni \u00eenspre locul unde era pus trupul mortului spre vedere.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0P-aci prin prejur era o uli\u0163\u0103 noroioas\u0103. P-acolo avu poft\u0103 el a trece. C\u00e2nd, ce s\u0103 vede\u0163i dumneavoastr\u0103, cinsti\u0163i boieri? Unde mi se \u00eennomoli a o\u0163opin\u0103 de cal, de nu mai putea nici picioarele s\u0103 \u015fi le mi\u015fte, necum s\u0103 mai t\u00e2rasc\u0103 \u015fi c\u0103ru\u0163ul cu butoiul de rachiu. Hi! \u00een sus, h\u0103\u0163! \u00een jos; s\u0103 se mi\u015fte din loc calul, ba.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei unde mi-\u0163i \u00eencepu a face o g\u0103l\u0103gie, de credeai c\u0103 s-a aprins t\u00e2rgul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u0103petenia p\u0103zitorilor trimise pe unul s\u0103 vaz\u0103 ce pacoste a mai dat peste nevoia\u015ful \u0103la de om, carele are de g\u00e2nd s\u0103 scoale tot ora\u015ful \u00een gura lui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0V\u0103z\u00e2ndu-l p\u0103zitorul cum se nevoia a-\u015fi scoate calul \u015fi c\u0103ru\u0163a din noroi, i se f\u0103cu mil\u0103 de el.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului, cum \u00eel v\u0103zu, \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Du-te, neiculi\u0163\u0103, de mai ado vro c\u00e2\u0163iva oameni de-mi ajuta\u0163i s\u0103 ies din acest noroi, \u015fi v\u0103 voi cinsti ca pe ni\u015fte oameni de treab\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cendat\u0103 venir\u0103 mai mul\u0163i p\u0103zitori, \u00eei luar\u0103 \u015fi cal, \u015fi telegu\u0163\u0103, \u015fi butoi \u015fi tot, pe sus, de-l scoaser\u0103 din glodul unde se nomolise.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0El nu \u015ftia cum s\u0103 le mul\u0163umeasc\u0103 mai bine; \u00ee\u015fi fr\u0103m\u00e2nta m\u00e2inile de bucurie \u015fi prinse a da cep butoiului. Le dete de b\u0103u c\u00e2t poftir\u0103, \u015fi duse \u015fi celor ce r\u0103m\u0103seser\u0103 de paz\u0103 pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 trupul mortului cel f\u0103r\u0103 cap.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nu trecu mult \u015fi to\u0163i p\u0103zitorii fur\u0103 coprin\u015fi de un somn sor\u0103 cu moartea. Unde \u00eemi mai sfor\u0103ia voinicii no\u015ftri de paznici, de pare c\u0103 era cine \u015ftie ce mare turm\u0103 de r\u00e2m\u0103tori. Pas\u0103mite rachiul din butoi era cu afion.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului, cum \u00eei v\u0103zu lungi\u0163i \u015fi tr\u00e2nti\u0163i ca cine \u015ftie ce blende, se apuc\u0103 de-i dezbr\u0103c\u0103 de hainele lor \u015fi \u00eei \u00eembr\u0103c\u0103 \u00een haine c\u0103lug\u0103re\u015fti. Apoi, lu\u00e2nd trupul mortului, se duse \u00een treaba lui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd v\u0103zu femeia trupul, iar\u0103 \u00eencepu a se boci. El iar\u0103 \u00eei puse m\u00e2na la gur\u0103 \u015fi o opri de a face zgomot, c\u0103ci, de se va afla, nu va fi bine de ei. Ea t\u0103cu dup\u0103 ce v\u0103zu c\u0103 nu e glum\u0103, \u015fi priimi \u015fi cea mai mare parte din suma furat\u0103. \u00cen chiar aceea\u015fi noapte, ei se puser\u0103 \u015fi \u00eengropar\u0103 mortul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd se de\u015fteptar\u0103 p\u0103zitorii \u015fi se v\u0103zur\u0103 \u00eembr\u0103ca\u0163i \u00een haine c\u0103lug\u0103re\u015fti, nu puteau crede celor ce li se arat\u0103. Se mai frecar\u0103 la ochi, se mai uitar\u0103, \u015fi v\u0103zur\u0103 c\u0103 a\u015fa este. Cel ce se de\u015fteptase mai \u00eent\u00e2i se duse la tovaro\u015ful de l\u00e2ng\u0103 d\u00e2nsul \u015fi, \u00eencep\u00e2nd a-l \u00eenghioldi, \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Mo\u015f c\u0103lug\u0103ra\u015f, mo\u015f c\u0103lug\u0103ra\u015f, ca ca\u0163i tu aci?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dar\u0103 tu, c\u0103lug\u0103re, ce cau\u0163i? \u00eei r\u0103spunse.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Atunci to\u0163i deodat\u0103 \u00eencepur\u0103 a r\u0103cni unul la altul:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce cau\u0163i aci, c\u0103lug\u0103re? ar\u0103t\u00e2ndu-se cu degetul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei se f\u0103cu o tulburare \u015fi o r\u0103scoal\u0103 \u00eentre d\u00e2n\u015fii, de nu-i putea da nimeni de c\u0103p\u0103t\u00e2i. Ei! tocmai t\u00e2rziu se dezmeticir\u0103 \u015fi se domirir\u0103 c\u0103 omul cu rachiul de ast\u0103-noapte n-a fost lucru curat.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar\u0103 c\u00e2nd \u00eemi v\u0103zur\u0103 c\u0103 trupul lipse\u015fte? atunci, atunci; unde \u00eemi \u00eencepur\u0103 o ceart\u0103 \u015fi o h\u0103l\u0103laie \u00eentre d\u00e2n\u015fii, de-\u0163i venea s\u0103-\u0163i iei c\u00e2mpii. Se \u00eenvinov\u0103\u0163eau ca dracii unii pe al\u0163ii.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ba c\u0103 tu e\u015fti de pricin\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ba c\u0103 tu ne-ai f\u0103cut s\u0103 bem rachiu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ba c\u0103 tu ne-ai \u00eendemnat s\u0103 ne ducem s\u0103-i ajut\u0103m.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ba c\u0103 tu ai fost cel dint\u00e2i care ai b\u0103ut.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Toate erau cum erau. Dar\u0103 cum \u015fi c\u00e2nd s-au c\u0103lug\u0103rit ei? \u015ei cum s\u0103 se \u00eenf\u0103\u0163i\u015feze ei la \u00eemp\u0103ratul?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0N-avu \u00eencotro. A\u015fa se duser\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul se lu\u0103 cu am\u00e2ndou\u0103 m\u00e2inile de barb\u0103 c\u00e2nd v\u0103zu c\u0103 vine la d\u00e2nsul o ceat\u0103 de c\u0103lug\u0103ri. El nu \u015ftia, vezi, cine sunt \u015fi ce vreau.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd afl\u0103 c\u0103 sunt paznicii lui, unde mi-l umfl\u0103 un r\u00e2s d-alea cu lacr\u0103mi, \u015fi r\u00e2se p\u00e2n\u0103 ce se str\u00e2mb\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Paznicii, biet, deter\u0103 \u00een genunchi \u015fi-\u015fi cerur\u0103 iertare. Ei spuser\u0103 toat\u0103 \u015firitenia.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cei iert\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103ratul de vro os\u00e2nd\u0103, chipul; dar\u0103 intr\u0103 la mai mare grij\u0103. El se temea ca nu carecumva acest ho\u0163 at\u00e2t de iscusit s\u0103 nu-i ia \u015fi domnia. Nu mai chem\u0103 Sfatul \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei, fiindc\u0103 \u00eencepuse a-l cam b\u0103nui \u015fi pe d\u00e2nsul, ci \u00ee\u015fi fr\u0103m\u00e2nta cugetul, ca ce ar face s\u0103 puie m\u00e2na pe ho\u0163, spre a-i face de petrecanie.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Hot\u0103r\u00ee dar\u0103, el cu mintea lui, ca s\u0103 iscodeasc\u0103 \u015fi pe mari \u015fi pe mici, s\u0103 ispiteasc\u0103 \u015fi prin boierime \u015fi prin prostime, ca doar, doar\u0103 va ajunge s\u0103 puie m\u00e2na pe un a\u015fa t\u00e2lhar vestit care \u00eel pusese pe a\u015fa g\u00e2nduri negre.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pentru aceasta puse s\u0103 se g\u0103teasc\u0103 un osp\u0103\u0163 \u00eenfrico\u015fat, la care pofti numai boierime neao\u015fe. La acest osp\u0103\u0163 fu poftit, f\u0103r\u0103 doar \u015fi poate, \u015fi fiul de \u00eemp\u0103rat cel strein.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0La ziua hot\u0103r\u00e2t\u0103 se adunar\u0103 to\u0163i oaspe\u0163ii. Veseliile se \u00eentinser\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 noaptea t\u00e2rziu. C\u0103ci, dup\u0103 ce se scular\u0103 de la mas\u0103, se puser\u0103 pe joc. \u015ei trage-i la dan\u0163uri, la hori, la br\u00e2uri p\u00e2n\u0103 ce, c\u00e2nd se de\u015fteptar\u0103, ajunseser\u0103 pe la c\u00e2ntatul coco\u015filor de miezul nop\u0163ii.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd s\u0103 se sparg\u0103 adunarea, \u00eemp\u0103ratul veni la mijloc \u015fi zise cu grai cam poruncitor:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Boieri dumneavoastr\u0103, noaptea este \u00eenaintat\u0103, \u015fi ca s\u0103 nu se \u00eent\u00e2mple cuiva vreo meteahn\u0103 de la niscaiva duhuri necurate, ori f\u0103c\u0103tori de rele, eu am g\u0103sit cu cale \u00een mintea mea s\u0103 m\u00e2ne\u0163i aci p\u00e2n\u0103 la ziu\u0103. C\u0103mara este mare; v\u0103 \u00eencape pe to\u0163i. Al\u0103turi de aci este c\u0103mara fiicei mele. Fi\u0163i f\u0103r\u0103 grij\u0103 \u015fi v\u0103 repauza\u0163i de ostenelile dan\u0163ului \u015fi s\u0103lt\u0103rilor din ast\u0103 noapte. Domnul s\u0103 privegheze asupra voastr\u0103 a tuturor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A\u015fa zise \u00eemp\u0103ratul, \u015fi a\u015fa trebuia s\u0103 se fac\u0103. C\u0103 h\u00e2r, c\u0103 m\u00e2r, pace; zisa \u00eemp\u0103ratului nu se putea deszice.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Vai de mine, tat\u0103, cum s\u0103 m\u0103 culc eu cu u\u015fa descuiat\u0103, al\u0103turi cu c\u0103mara unde are s\u0103 doarm\u0103 at\u00e2\u0163ia b\u0103rba\u0163i streini? zise fata tat\u0103lui s\u0103u.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu numai at\u00e2t, fata mea, dar\u0103 \u00eenc\u0103 s\u0103 fii cu lum\u00e2narea stins\u0103 \u015fi s\u0103 ai la \u00eendem\u00e2n\u0103 ni\u0163el muc de lum\u00e2nare. De va veni cineva la tine, tu s\u0103-l m\u00e2ng\u00e2i cu m\u00e2na pe obraz, rug\u00e2ndu-l s\u0103 mai stea; \u015fi m\u00e2ng\u00e2indu-l s\u0103-l m\u00e2nje\u015fti ni\u0163el cu muc de lum\u00e2nare, \u015fi aceasta, draga mea copil\u0103, cu at\u00e2t mai mult trebuie s\u0103 o faci, cu c\u00e2t ea este pentru m\u00e2ntuirea \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pas\u0103mite \u00eemp\u0103ratul umbla s\u0103 prinz\u0103 pe ho\u0163 prin viclenie. Asta fu chemarea boierilor la osp\u0103\u0163. C\u0103ci, \u00ee\u015fi zicea \u00eemp\u0103ratul, de va fi dintre boieri un asemenea om iste\u0163, trebuie s\u0103 fie \u015fi \u00eendr\u0103zne\u0163. De nu va fi dintre boieri, apoi, tot cu tertipuri, prin tagma prostimei s\u0103-l caut.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Hot\u0103r\u00e2rea \u00eemp\u0103ratului se puse \u00een lucrare \u00eentocmai. Se culcar\u0103 to\u0163i cu totul \u015fi adormir\u0103. Numai pleoapele fetei de \u00eemp\u0103rat nu putur\u0103 da \u00een gene, c\u00e2tu\u015fi de c\u00e2t.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fiul de \u00eemp\u0103rat cel ho\u0163, nici el nu adormi m\u0103car c\u00e2t ai da \u00een cremene. El \u00ee\u015fi tot r\u0103sucea musta\u0163a \u015fi se \u00eencumetea, duce-se-va, or ba? Iar\u0103 c\u00e2nd fu cam dup\u0103 miezul nop\u0163ii, c\u00e2nd \u015fi apele dorm, se scul\u0103 bini\u015for, se uit\u0103 pe la so\u0163ii s\u0103i, carii to\u0163i dormeau bumbeni, \u015fi p\u00e2\u015f! trecu \u00een c\u0103mara fetei de \u00eemp\u0103rat, o s\u0103rut\u0103 \u015fi se \u00eentoarse apoi s\u0103 se culce \u015fi el.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului \u00ee\u015fi f\u0103cu dresurile cum o \u00eenv\u0103\u0163ase tat\u0103l s\u0103u, \u00eemp\u0103ratul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ho\u0163ul, p\u00e2n\u0103 a nu se culca, se duse la doni\u0163\u0103 s\u0103 bea ni\u0163ic\u0103 ap\u0103, c\u0103ci \u00eei era sete. Uit\u00e2ndu-se \u00een doni\u0163\u0103, el v\u0103zu c\u0103 pe obrazul lui din st\u00e2nga sunt ni\u015fte pete negre. \u00cen c\u0103mara unde dormeau oaspe\u0163ii \u00eemp\u0103ratului lum\u00e2narea arse toat\u0103 noaptea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 E! a\u015fa mi \u0163i-a fost povestea? zise el \u00eenceti\u015for, stai m\u0103i, dar\u0103, s\u0103-\u0163i ar\u0103t eu cu cine ai de a face.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei cu inima t\u00e2c\u00e2ind\u0103, \u015fi umbl\u00e2nd mai u\u015for dec\u00e2t o pisic\u0103 c\u00e2nd p\u00e2nde\u015fte la \u015foareci, lu\u0103 muc de lum\u00e2nare \u015fi m\u00e2nji pe to\u0163i oaspe\u0163ii cari dormeau, pe obraz la fel cu m\u00e2njitura lui de pe fa\u0163\u0103, apoi se culc\u0103 \u015fi el.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul se scul\u0103 mai de diminea\u0163\u0103 dec\u00e2t to\u0163i. \u015ei \u00een rev\u0103rsat de zori vine prin c\u0103mara unde dormeau oaspe\u0163ii, spre a se uita la d\u00e2n\u015fii, nu carecumva este vreunul din ei m\u00e2njit dup\u0103 cum \u00ee\u015fi pov\u0103\u0163uise fata.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd colo, ce s\u0103-i vaz\u0103 ochii? To\u0163i erau m\u00e2nji\u0163i. Speriat, se duse \u00eentr-un suflet \u00een c\u0103mara unde dormea fie-sa; \u015fi cu grai nelini\u015ftit zise fie-sei:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Bine, frate drag\u0103, to\u0163i te-au s\u0103rutat?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ba nu, tat\u0103, unul numai a venit, pe care l-am m\u00e2njit, dup\u0103 cum mi-ai poruncit dumneata.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u015ei-l cuno\u015fti?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ba nu, c\u0103ci era \u00eentunerec.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul \u00ee\u015fi mu\u015fc\u0103 buzele. Apoi porunci p\u0103zitorilor s\u0103 nu lase pe nici unul din oaspe\u0163i care ar voi s\u0103 plece.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce se facu ziu\u0103 bine, veni \u00eemp\u0103ratul iar\u0103\u015fi \u00een mijlocul oaspe\u0163ilor \u015fi zise cu glas mare:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Boieri dumneavoastr\u0103, ho\u0163ul care a tulburat o \u0163ar\u0103 prin iscusin\u0163a, m\u0103iestria \u015fi iste\u0163imea lui, \u015fi care mi-a r\u0103pit odihna sufletului meu, se afl\u0103 \u00een mijlocul domniei voastre, \u015fi \u00eel rog s\u0103 se dea pe1 fa\u0163\u0103; pe f\u0103g\u0103duiala mea de \u00eemp\u0103rat c\u0103 nu-i voi face nimic.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0To\u0163i boierii \u00eencepur\u0103 a-\u015fi scutura hainele \u015fi a se lep\u0103da ca de satana de o astfel de n\u0103paste, zic\u00e2nd:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Departe de noi o astfel de b\u0103nuial\u0103. Noi nu \u015ftim la sufletul nostru nici o fapt\u0103 neomenoas\u0103 s\u0103 fi s\u0103v\u00e2r\u015fit, nici cu \u015ftiin\u0163\u0103, nici cu ne\u015ftiin\u0163\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Acum nu este vorb\u0103 nici ce ocar\u0103, nici de pedeaps\u0103. Totul este s\u0103 se dea pe fa\u0163\u0103, \u015fi m\u0103 jur pe viul Dumnezeu \u015fi pe stema mea de \u00eemp\u0103rat c\u0103 nu numai nu-i voi face nimic r\u0103u, dar\u0103 \u00eei voi da pe fata mea dup\u0103 d\u00e2nsul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Atunci ie\u015fi \u00een fa\u0163\u0103 streinul fiu de \u00eemp\u0103rat \u015fi zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Eu sunt.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0P\u0103ru mult bine \u00eemp\u0103ratului c\u00e2nd \u00eel v\u0103zu. Iar\u0103 el \u00ee\u015fi ceru voie s\u0103 ias\u0103 afar\u0103, \u015fi se jur\u0103 pe cuv\u00e2ntul lui de cruce de voinic c\u0103 se va \u00eentoarce \u00eenainte de namiezi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul crezu \u015fi-i dete voie. El se \u00eentoarse, cu mai mul\u0163i oameni \u00eens\u0103x\u0103na\u0163i cu buc\u0103\u0163elele foi\u015forului s\u0103u. \u015ei acolo de fa\u0163\u0103 cu to\u0163ii, a\u015fez\u0103 fiecare lemni\u015for la \u00eembuc\u0103tura lui \u015fi cl\u0103di foi\u015forul din nou. Apoi, viind \u00eenaintea \u00eemp\u0103ratului, \u00eei s\u0103rut\u0103 m\u00e2na, \u015fi ceru ca so\u0163ia lui, fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului, s\u0103 se urce cu d\u00e2nsul \u00een foi\u015for, ca de acolo s\u0103 m\u0103rturiseasc\u0103 cine este \u015fi ce a f\u0103cut.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul priimi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum se suir\u0103 \u00een foi\u015for, fiul \u00eemp\u0103ratului prinse a \u00eentoarce v\u00e2rtejele; \u015fi, pe c\u00e2nd foi\u015forul \u00eencepu a se sui \u00een slav\u0103 \u015fi a pluti \u00een aer, el zise cu grai l\u0103murit:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 S\u0103 \u015fti\u0163i c\u0103 sunt fiu de \u00eemp\u0103rat, c\u0103 mi-a fost dat s\u0103-mi fur nevasta, ceea ce \u015fi f\u0103cui, \u015fi c\u0103 acum m\u0103 duc la \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia tat\u0103lui meu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Astfel vorbind, foi\u015forul se urca mereu p\u00e2n\u0103 c\u00e2nd se pierdu din ochii tuturor, ce r\u0103maser\u0103 cu gurile c\u0103scate uit\u00e2ndu-se la d\u00e2nsul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Iar\u0103 dac\u0103 se cobor\u00ee la palaturile tat\u0103lui s\u0103u \u015fi-\u015fi ar\u0103t\u0103 cartea de me\u015fter de ho\u0163ie, precum \u015fi nevasta ce-\u015fi aduse tot prin furti\u015fag, se \u00eenveseli tat\u0103l s\u0103u \u015fi, cobor\u00e2ndu-se din scaun, \u00een\u0103l\u0163\u0103 pe fiul s\u0103u, zic\u00e2nd:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u015etiu acum c\u0103 are s\u0103 se duc\u0103 pomina de domnia fiului meu peste \u0163ar\u0103. \u015etiu c\u0103 popoarele au s\u0103 \u015ftie \u015fi ele acum ce este dreptatea, c\u0103ci a fi bun domnitor \u015fi drept, trebuie s\u0103 \u015ftii totul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce se \u00eensc\u0103un\u0103, trimise sol la socrul s\u0103u cu carte prin care \u00eei spunea c\u0103 s-a urcat \u00een scaunul t\u0103t\u00e2ne-s\u0103u, \u015fi mult se bucur\u0103 acel \u00eemp\u0103rat de norocul ce dase peste fie-sa.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Iar\u0103 eu \u00eenc\u0103lecai p-o \u015fea \u015fi v-o spusei dumneavoastr\u0103 a\u015fa.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A fost odat\u0103 un \u00eemp\u0103rat mare \u015fi puternic. Abia la vremea c\u0103runte\u0163ei dob\u00e2ndi \u015fi el un copil. Bucuria lui fu nespus\u0103 c\u00e2nd se v\u0103zu \u015fi el tat\u0103, \u015fi toat\u0103 … <\/p>\n