\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 A fost odat\u0103 o bab\u0103 \u015fi un unchia\u015f. Ei p\u00e2n\u0103 la vreme de b\u0103tr\u00e2ne\u0163e nu avur\u0103 nici un copil. Ce nu f\u0103cur\u0103? Ce nu dreser\u0103? \u015ei ca s\u0103 aib\u0103 \u015fi ei m\u0103car o miar\u0163\u0103 de copil, nici c\u00e2t. Ba merser\u0103 pe la desc\u00e2nt\u0103toare, ba pe la me\u015fteri vr\u0103jitori, ba pe la cititori de stele \u015fi ca s\u0103 r\u0103m\u00e2ie baba grea, nici g\u00e2nd n-avea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ajun\u015fi la vreme de b\u0103tr\u00e2ne\u0163e, \u00eencepur\u0103 a se \u00eengrijura.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce ne facem noi, babo, zise \u00eentr-o zi unchia\u015ful, de vom ajunge niscaiva zile de neputin\u0163\u0103 ori de nevoie? Tu \u015ftii c\u0103 am f\u0103cut tot ce mi-a stat prin putin\u0163\u0103, \u015fi ca s\u0103 ne dea Dumnezeu \u015fi nou\u0103 un copila\u015f, care s\u0103 fie toiagul b\u0103tr\u00e2ne\u0163elor noastre, nu s-a \u00eendurat.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 De! unchia\u015f, cine e de vin\u0103? Tu \u015ftii c\u0103 am umblat \u015fi cruci\u015f \u015fi curmezi\u015f pe la me\u015fterese, pe la vraci, am f\u0103cut tot ce m-au \u00eenv\u0103\u0163at unii \u015fi al\u0163ii, \u015fi ca s\u0103 avem \u015fi noi o m\u00e2ng\u00e2iere pentru p\u00e2rdalnicele de b\u0103tr\u00e2ne\u0163e, c\u0103 grele mai sunt! a fost peste poate.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ia, s\u0103 apuc\u0103m noi doi \u00een dou\u0103 p\u0103r\u0163i, s\u0103 ne ducem unde ne-o lumina Dumnezeu, c\u0103ci tot degeaba st\u0103m noi la un loc am\u00e2ndoi, dou\u0103 nevoi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 S\u0103 ne desp\u0103r\u0163im unchia\u015f, dac\u0103 tu a\u015fa g\u0103se\u015fti de cuviin\u0163\u0103. Dar\u0103 bine, cine s\u0103 ne \u00eenchiz\u0103 ochii \u00een ceasul cel de pe urm\u0103?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 C\u0103 bine zici tu, babo; st\u0103i dar\u0103; ia s\u0103 iei tu basmaua mea care am avut-o \u00een ziua de cununie \u015fi eu \u015ftergarul cel v\u0103rg\u0103\u0163el ce mi-ai adus de zestre. \u00cen toate zilele s\u0103 ne uit\u0103m la d\u00e2nsele; \u015fi c\u00e2nd vom vedea pe ele c\u00e2te trei pic\u0103turi de s\u00e2nge, s\u0103 ne \u00eentoarcem acas\u0103. Acesta s\u0103 fie semnul c\u0103 moartea s-a apropiat de unul din noi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 A\u015fa s\u0103 facem unchia\u015f.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum ziser\u0103 \u015fi f\u0103cur\u0103. Se g\u0103tir\u0103 de drum, \u00ee\u015fi luar\u0103 fiecare des\u0103gu\u0163a d-a umeri, \u00een care baba puse pe fund basmaua b\u0103rbatului ei, iar\u0103 unchia\u015ful \u015ftergarul cel v\u0103rg\u0103\u0163el al neveste-sei, \u015fi apucar\u0103 unul spre r\u0103s\u0103rit, iar\u0103 altul spre apus.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nou\u0103 zile \u015fi nou\u0103 nop\u0163i se duser\u0103, se duser\u0103, \u015fi iar\u0103 se duser\u0103. \u00centrebar\u0103 \u015fi pe bun \u015fi pe r\u0103u, pe mare \u015fi pe mic ce ar face ei ca s\u0103 poat\u0103 avea un copil. Ceea ce le spuser\u0103 s\u0103 fac\u0103 ei r\u0103spunser\u0103 c\u0103 au tot f\u0103cut, dar\u0103 \u00een de\u015fert. Ei c\u0103utau s\u0103 le spuie cineva altceva, ce nu \u015ftiau ei, dar\u0103 nu-\u015fi g\u0103sir\u0103 omul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A zecea zi scul\u00e2ndu-se unchia\u015ful, ie\u015fi afar\u0103 s\u0103 se spele, ca s\u0103 porneasc\u0103 la drum mai departe. C\u00e2nd lu\u0103 \u015ftergarul s\u0103 se \u015ftearg\u0103 pe ochi, ce s\u0103 vaz\u0103? Trei pic\u0103turi de s\u00e2nge pe d\u00e2nsul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0El \u00ee\u015fi zise:”Trebuie s\u0103 m\u0103 \u00eentorc acas\u0103, c\u0103ci Dumnezeu \u015ftie ce va fi p\u0103\u0163it baba mea.”<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00centinse unchia\u015ful la drum. Nu mai c\u0103uta nici de m\u00e2ncare, nici de odihn\u0103, \u015fi se \u00eentoarse acas\u0103 cum plecase.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce \u0163i s-a \u00eent\u00e2mplat, babo? zise el, cum \u00ee\u015fi v\u0103zu jum\u0103tatea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce s\u0103 mi se \u00eent\u00e2mple, unchia\u015f? Iac\u0103 eu \u00eemi c\u0103utam de cale \u015fi \u00eentrebam \u00een dreapta \u015fi \u00een st\u00e2nga, rug\u00e2ndu-m\u0103 de to\u0163i s\u0103 m\u0103 \u00eenve\u0163e ceva ca s\u0103 putem avea un copil. Dar\u0103 \u00eentreb\u0103rile \u015fi rug\u0103min\u0163ile mele le f\u0103ceam \u00een sec, c\u0103ci \u00eemi r\u0103ceam gura de surda.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei tot merg\u00e2nd \u00eenainte, am ajuns \u00eentr-o p\u0103dure mare, mare, f\u0103r\u0103 seam\u0103n, \u015fi m-am r\u0103t\u0103cit prin bungetul acelei p\u0103duri, de nu mai \u015ftiam pe unde s\u0103 ies la oameni.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd, o dat\u0103 v\u0103z \u00eenaintea mea un mo\u015f, fleo\u015f de b\u0103tr\u00e2n, uitat de moarte \u015fi de Dumnezeu. Eu \u00eei spui dup\u0103 ce umblu \u015fi cum m-am r\u0103t\u0103cit. Mo\u015ful, \u00eenc\u0103rcat de zile cum era, se pune jos, st\u0103 de vorb\u0103 cu mine \u015fi, cu un grai blajin, \u00eemi ar\u0103t\u0103 drumul pe unde s\u0103 ies acas\u0103, \u015fi \u00eemi zice s\u0103 m\u0103 \u00eentorc, c\u0103ci r\u00e2vna noastr\u0103 a ascultat-o Dumnezeu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u015ei \u0103sta a fost semnul de pe \u015ftergarul meu?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Se vede c\u0103 asta.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Atunci \u015fi ei se hot\u0103r\u00e2r\u0103 ca s\u0103 nu se mai despar\u0163\u0103 \u015fi s\u0103 r\u0103m\u00e2ie s\u0103-\u015fi m\u0103n\u00e2nce amarul \u00eempreun\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nu trecu mult dup\u0103 asta, \u015fi baba spuse unchia\u015fului c\u0103 se simte \u00eengreoat\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Aoleo! Unde era Dumnezeu s\u0103 vaz\u0103 bucuria unchia\u015fului c\u00e2nd auzi d-o asemenea veste bun\u0103!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Umbla de colo p\u00e2n\u0103 colo de bucurie \u015fi nu mai \u015ftia pe ce s\u0103 puie m\u00e2na \u015fi ce s\u0103 fac\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei a\u015fa trecur\u0103 zilele una dup\u0103 alta p\u00e2n\u0103 la nou\u0103 luni, c\u00e2nd baba, cu ajutorul Maicii Domnului, n\u0103scu un dolofan de copil, de dr\u0103gule\u0163, \u015fi cu o carte \u00een m\u00e2n\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A treia sear\u0103 c\u00e2nd venir\u0103 ursitoarele, se \u00eent\u00e2mpl\u0103 ca unchia\u015ful s\u0103 fie de\u015ftept. Pe d\u00e2nsul, vezi, nu-l mai prindea somnul de bucurie, \u015fi de trei zile nu-i mai dase ochii \u00een gene, tot umbl\u00e2nd pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 bab\u0103 ca s-o \u00eengrij\u0103asc\u0103 \u015fi s-o caute la boal\u0103. D-aia \u015fi c\u00e2nd venir\u0103 ursitoarele, el nu dormea, ci sta st\u00e2rcit \u00eentr-un col\u0163, ca \u015fi c\u00e2nd ar fi fost Matracuca, sora doamnei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd \u00eencepur\u0103 ursitoarele s\u0103 urseasc\u0103, el se f\u0103cu numai urechi \u015fi auzi tot.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cea mai mare din ursitoare zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Acest copil are s\u0103 fie un F\u0103t-Frumos, \u015fi are s\u0103 ajung\u0103 bogat.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cea mijlocie zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Pe acest copil, c\u00e2nd va fi el de doisprezece ani, are s\u0103-l r\u0103peasc\u0103 duhurile rele.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cea mic\u0103 zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dac\u0103 va sc\u0103pa de duhurile rele, acest copil are s\u0103 ajung\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103rat.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0At\u00e2ta \u00eei trebui unchia\u015fului s\u0103 auz\u0103, ca s\u0103-i dea un cu\u0163it ascu\u0163it prin inim\u0103. El, vezi, nu se \u00eemp\u0103ca cu ceea ce zisese ursitoarea d-a doua. O grij\u0103 mare \u00eel cuprinse \u015fi, de pe acum chiar, \u00eencepu a pl\u0103nui cum s\u0103 fac\u0103 s\u0103-\u015fi scape copila\u015ful de un asemenea r\u0103u.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0P\u00e2n\u0103 una, alta, copilul cre\u015ftea, asculta pe p\u0103rin\u0163i \u015fi cartea cu care se n\u0103scuse din m\u00e2ini n-o l\u0103sa. Cetea, cetea mereu pe d\u00e2nsa \u015fi \u00eenv\u0103\u0163a, de se mira toat\u0103 lumea de silin\u0163a \u015fi \u00eenv\u0103\u0163\u0103tura d\u00e2nsului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd se f\u0103cu ca de nou\u0103 ani, \u015ftia c\u00e2te \u00een lun\u0103 \u015fi \u00een soare. El \u00eensu\u015fi ajunsese s\u0103 fie o carte, \u015fi to\u0163i megia\u015fii veneau la d\u00e2nsul \u015fi-l \u00eentrebau despre p\u0103surile lor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Unchia\u015ful se bucura, nu se bucura de fiul s\u0103u, dar\u0103 baba \u015ftiu c\u0103 nu mai putea de bucurie, v\u0103z\u00e2ndu-l \u015fi frumos, \u015fi cu at\u00e2ta procopseal\u0103 \u00eentr-\u00eensul. Unchia\u015ful, vezi, era cu cuiul la inim\u0103; \u015ftia el ce \u015ftia, dar\u0103 la nimeni nu spunea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B\u0103iatul de ce cre\u015ftea, d-aia se f\u0103cea mai frumos \u015fi mai \u00eenv\u0103\u0163at. Tot satul \u00eel cinstea \u015fi \u00eel asculta ca pe cine \u015ftie cine; iar\u0103 unchia\u015ful, de ce trecea timpul, d-aia se \u00eentrista.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd era aproape de a \u00eemplini b\u0103iatul doisprezece ani, nu mai putu unchia\u015ful s\u0103 \u0163ie, trebui s\u0103 r\u0103sufle. El g\u0103si de cuviin\u0163\u0103 s\u0103 spuie \u015fi alor s\u0103i ceea ce era s\u0103 se \u00eent\u00e2mple fiului lor. \u015ei astfel, \u00eentr-o sear\u0103, c\u00e2nd stau cu to\u0163ii la foc \u015fi povesteau \u015fi verzi \u015fi uscate, ca s\u0103 le treac\u0103 timpul, unchia\u015ful se apuc\u0103 de spuse tot ce auzise de la ursitoare.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0P-aci, p-aci era s\u0103 moar\u0103 baba, muma b\u0103iatului, de \u00eentristare, c\u00e2nd auzi unele ca acele; s\u0103rir\u0103 \u00eens\u0103 unchia\u015ful \u015fi fiul s\u0103u, o stropir\u0103 cu ap\u0103, \u015fi d-abia, d-abia o mai \u00eenviorar\u0103. Iar\u0103 b\u0103iatul se puse pe g\u00e2nduri.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei mai pl\u0103nui el ce mai pl\u0103nui, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce, dup\u0103 c\u00e2teva zile, spuse tat\u0103lui s\u0103u ceea ce izvodise el s\u0103 fac\u0103. Tat\u0103-s\u0103u, carele asculta la gura lui ca la o carte, se duse numaidec\u00e2t prin sat \u015fi dete gur\u0103 la to\u0163i megie\u015fii c\u0103 \u00een seara cutare \u015fi cutare, adec\u0103 c\u00e2nd era s\u0103 \u00eemplineasc\u0103 fiu-s\u0103u doisprezece ani, ei s\u0103 se adune to\u0163i cu totul la biseric\u0103, ca s\u0103 fac\u0103 rug\u0103ciune pentru fiul s\u0103u, spre a-l sc\u0103pa de duhurile cele rele. Vorbi \u015fi cu mo\u015f popa \u015fi to\u0163i cu totul se f\u0103g\u0103duir\u0103 c\u0103 va \u00eemplini cererea unchia\u015fului. \u015ei a\u015fa \u015fi f\u0103cur\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cen seara aceea, c\u00e2nd era b\u0103iatul unchia\u015fului s\u0103 \u00eemplineasc\u0103 doisprezece ani, to\u0163i oamenii din sat, b\u0103rba\u0163i, femei \u015fi copii, \u00eempreun\u0103 cu mo\u015f popa, se adunar\u0103 la biseric\u0103 pentru rug\u0103ciune. \u015ei viind mo\u015ful cu baba \u015fi cu fiul lor, tot cu cartea \u00een m\u00e2n\u0103, megia\u015fii \u00eei b\u0103gar\u0103 la mijloc, \u015fi rug\u0103ciunile \u00eencepur\u0103. Se rugar\u0103 ce se rugar\u0103, c\u00e2nd deodat\u0103 se pomenir\u0103 c\u0103 se umple biserica de o cea\u0163\u0103 groas\u0103. Atunci c\u0103zur\u0103 cu to\u0163ii \u00een genunche \u015fi scoaser\u0103 ni\u015fte rug\u0103ciuni fierbin\u0163i, de ar fi muiat inima nu \u015ftiu c\u0103rui duh r\u0103u. Cea\u0163a se risipi \u015fi ei r\u0103maser\u0103 teferi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A doua sear\u0103, c\u00e2nd erau la rug\u0103ciune tot pe acea vreme, unde se pomenir\u0103 c\u0103 se umple biserica de \u015foareci, de lilieci \u015fi de bufni\u0163e, \u015fi \u00eencepur\u0103 a chi\u0163\u0103i, de colo p\u00e2n\u0103 colo prin biseric\u0103, a se sui pe oameni \u015fi a-i ciupi de pe unde apuca.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0To\u0163i se speriar\u0103, p\u00e2n\u0103 \u015fi chiar mo\u015f popa. Atunci b\u0103iatul unchia\u015fului, cu cartea \u00een m\u00e2n\u0103, c\u0103zu \u00een genunchi \u015fi \u00eencepu a se ruga cu foc. A\u015fa f\u0103cur\u0103 \u015fi unchia\u015ful \u015fi mo\u015f popa, \u015fi to\u0163i megie\u015fii cari se aflau \u00een biseric\u0103. \u015eoarecii \u015fi toate lighioanele acelea pierir\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A treia sear\u0103 dac\u0103 se adunar\u0103 \u015fi se puser\u0103 la rug\u0103, se rugar\u0103, se rugar\u0103, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce c\u0103tre miezul nop\u0163ii o dat\u0103 \u00eencepu a se cutremura biserica \u015fi se auzir\u0103 ni\u015fte pocnete \u015fi tunete, bubuituri \u015fi duduituri \u00eengrozitoare, ca de tunet. C\u0103zur\u0103 \u015fi de ast\u0103 dat\u0103 \u00een genunchi, se rugar\u0103 \u015fi de ast\u0103 dat\u0103 cu toat\u0103 credin\u0163a \u00een Dumnezeu. \u00cens\u0103, ce s\u0103 vede\u0163i d-voastr\u0103? tocmai \u00een toiul rug\u0103ciunei, unde se cobor\u00ee un c\u0103lug\u0103r din turnul bisericii, apuc\u0103 pe b\u0103iatul unchia\u015fului de sub\u0163iori, \u00eel r\u0103pe\u015fte din mijlocul lor \u015fi se \u00eenal\u0163\u0103 cu d\u00e2nsul \u00een sus. N-apucar\u0103 oamenii s\u0103 bage bine de seam\u0103, \u015fi pierir\u0103 din ochii lor ca o n\u0103luc\u0103. Ba c\u0103 o fi r\u0103mas prin turn, ba c\u0103 o fi pe dup\u0103 biseric\u0103, ba c\u0103 o fi pe colo, ba pe dincolo. A\u015fi! El s-a dus cu c\u0103lug\u0103rul ce-l r\u0103pise, \u015fi dus a fost.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0To\u0163i r\u0103maser\u0103 ca c\u0103zu\u0163i din cer de spaim\u0103, dar unchia\u015ful \u015fi baba, mai cu asupra. Dup\u0103 ce se mai ast\u00e2mp\u0103rar\u0103 din spaim\u0103, \u015fi dup\u0103 ce biserica se lini\u015fti, oamenii ie\u015fir\u0103 \u015fi se duse fiecare \u00eentr-ale sale.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fiul unchia\u015fului, de\u015fi r\u0103pit de c\u0103lug\u0103r, dar\u0103 cartea din m\u00e2n\u0103 n-o l\u0103sa. Citea mereu \u015fi \u00een gura mare; iar\u0103 c\u00e2nd fu de ajunse pe la mijlocul c\u0103r\u0163ii, c\u0103lug\u0103rul nu-l mai putea \u0163ine. Vru s\u0103-i smuceasc\u0103 cartea din m\u00e2n\u0103; dar\u0103 b\u0103iatul o \u0163inea v\u00e2rtos. Lupt\u00e2ndu-se cu b\u0103iatul prin v\u0103zduh ca s\u0103-i ia cartea, c\u0103lug\u0103rul \u00eel sc\u0103p\u0103, \u015fi fiul unchia\u015fului c\u0103zu \u00eentr-o pr\u0103pastie ad\u00e2nc\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dumnezeu \u015ftie c\u00e2t a r\u0103mas el acolo, p\u00e2n\u0103 s-a dezmeticit din ame\u0163eala ce-i veni c\u0103z\u00e2nd. C\u00e2nd se pomeni, el era tot cu cartea \u00een m\u00e2n\u0103. Mul\u0163umi Domnului c\u0103 l-a scos din m\u00e2na duhurilor rele \u015fi c\u0103 este viu; dar\u0103 alt necaz acum! nu \u015ftia unde se afl\u0103. Se scoal\u0103 el d-acolo, \u015fi o porne\u015fte la drum. \u015ei aide, \u015fi aide p\u00e2n\u0103 ce d-abia ie\u015fi din pr\u0103pastie. Apoi o lu\u0103 \u00eentr-acolo unde mila Domnului l-o duce. \u015ei apuc\u00e2nd spre soare-scap\u0103t\u0103, se duse, se duse, zi de var\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103-n sear\u0103, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 dea de vrun sat \u015fi f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 vaz\u0103 pui de om; \u015fi mai merg\u00e2nd ce mai merse, dete de un copaci \u015fi mase acolo. Nem\u00e2ncat \u015fi neb\u0103ut nu putea s\u0103 doarm\u0103. \u015ei lupt\u00e2ndu-se cu foamea, cu setea \u015fi cu nesomnul, se socotea unde s-ar duce, ca s\u0103 ias\u0103 la lume. A doua zi o apuc\u0103 iar\u0103\u015fi spre soare-scap\u0103t\u0103, dup\u0103 cum pl\u0103nuia el, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce dete peste ni\u015fte gr\u0103mezi de c\u0103p\u0103\u0163\u00e2ni \u015fi oase de oameni.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei apuc\u00e2ndu-l ni\u015fte r\u0103cori reci de fric\u0103, \u00eencepu a citi pe c\u0103rticica lui, \u015fi \u00eenl\u0103tur\u0103 oarecum groaza ce sta gata s\u0103-l coprinz\u0103. \u00ce\u015fi lu\u0103 deci inima \u00een din\u0163i \u015fi porni \u00eenainte; de ce mergea mai-nainte, d-aceea gr\u0103mezile de oase de om se \u00eenmul\u0163eau. El se f\u0103cu c\u0103 nu le bag\u0103 de seam\u0103, \u015fi tot \u00eenainte mergea, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce ajunse la un ora\u015f mare, din care numai d\u0103r\u00e2m\u0103turi r\u0103m\u0103sese. Prea pu\u0163ine ziduri mai erau \u00een picioare. \u015ei mai merse ce mai merse, \u015fi dete de ni\u015fte palaturi foarte frumoase.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Acolo dac\u0103 ajunse, b\u0103tu \u00een poart\u0103. El cugeta s\u0103 cear\u0103 ceva dem\u00e2ncare, c\u0103 nu m\u00e2ncase nu \u015ftiu de c\u00e2te zile, \u015fi s\u0103-l lase s\u0103 m\u00e2ie acolo, c\u0103 era vreme de c\u00e2nd nu se odihnise ca lumea. Dar\u0103 nu-i r\u0103spunse nimeni.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mai b\u0103tu o dat\u0103. Dar ca s\u0103 r\u0103spund\u0103 cineva, ba.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cen sf\u00e2r\u015fit, b\u0103tu \u015fi a treia oar\u0103; dar\u0103 ni\u0163el mai t\u0103ricel. De ast\u0103 dat\u0103 se auzi un glas pi\u0163ig\u0103iat dinl\u0103untru c\u0103-l \u00eentreb\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cine este?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0El r\u0103spunse c\u0103 este om ca to\u0163i oamenii, \u015fi cere s\u0103-l g\u0103zduiasc\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dac\u0103 \u00eei deschise porti\u0163a, ce crede\u0163i c\u0103 mi-\u0163i v\u0103zu? O umbr\u0103 de om, un b\u0103tr\u00e2n cu barba p\u00e2n\u0103 la genunchi, slab \u015fi pipirnicit \u015fi coco\u015fat de parc\u0103 m\u00e2nca numai vinerea. El se cruci c\u00e2nd v\u0103zu pe F\u0103t-Frumos, \u015fi-i spuse c\u0103 n-a v\u0103zut om de c\u00e2nd era copilandru. Acest b\u0103tr\u00e2n era portarul cur\u0163ii, \u015fi l\u0103sat acolo s\u0103 p\u0103zeasc\u0103 palatul p\u00e2n\u0103 s-o g\u0103si cineva care s\u0103 desfac\u0103 f\u0103cutul locului aceluia.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dac\u0103 intr\u0103 F\u0103t-Frumos \u00een\u0103untru, b\u0103tr\u00e2nul \u00eei puse o mas\u0103 curat\u0103, \u015fi pe mas\u0103 ni\u015fte p\u00e2ine alb\u0103 ca z\u0103pada \u015fi ni\u015fte legum\u0103 bun\u0103 de m\u00e2ncare, \u00eens\u0103 g\u0103tit\u0103 f\u0103r\u0103 multe me\u015fte\u015fuguri.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B\u0103iatul \u00eembuca lupe\u015fte, c\u0103ci nici el nu mai \u015ftia de c\u00e2nd nu m\u00e2ncase. Dup\u0103 ce m\u00e2nc\u0103 \u015fi se s\u0103tur\u0103, se puse la vorb\u0103 cu unchia\u015ful.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Bine t\u0103tu\u0163ule, ca ce s\u0103 fie asta, de n-am \u00eent\u00e2lnit eu, cale de at\u00e2tea zile de c\u00e2nd viu, nici un sufle\u0163el de om p-aici pe la voi, f\u0103r\u0103 numai gr\u0103mezi, gr\u0103mezi de oase de oameni, risipite colea \u015fi colea? \u015e-apoi \u015fi aici la palaturile acestea, numai pe tine te g\u0103sesc cu sufletul \u00een oase, \u00eencolo parc\u0103 ar fi \u00een \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia mor\u0163ii?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ei, t\u0103ti\u015forule, povestea \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei acesteia este mare. Eu \u0163i-oi spune o c\u00e2tinic\u0103 din ea. S\u0103 vezi dumneata, nepo\u0163elu mo\u015fului, aceast\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ie a fost \u015fi ea odat\u0103 mare \u015fi puternic\u0103. \u00cemp\u0103ratul \u015fi \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa locului n-aveau copii. Ei, \u00een loc s\u0103 se roage lui Dumnezeu ca s\u0103 le dea un mo\u015ftenitor, se apucar\u0103 s\u0103 umble cu farmece. Umblar\u0103 ei ce umblar\u0103, \u015fi dete peste un fermec\u0103tor me\u015fter.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Acesta nu \u015ftiu ce f\u0103cu, nu \u015ftiu ce drese, c\u0103 numai iat\u0103 c\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa r\u0103m\u00e2ne grea, \u015fi dup\u0103 nou\u0103 luni n\u0103scu o fat\u0103 mai frumoas\u0103 dec\u00e2t nu \u015ftiu care z\u00e2n\u0103 din cer. Ea tr\u0103ie\u015fte \u015fi acum. Este at\u00e2t de frumoas\u0103, \u00eenc\u00e2t s-o vezi \u015fi s\u0103 n-o ui\u0163i \u00een toat\u0103 via\u0163a ta.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0La trei zile c\u00e2nd venir\u0103 ursitoarele, o ursir\u0103 ca ea s\u0103 nu se poat\u0103 m\u0103rita p\u00e2n\u0103 ce nu se va g\u0103si cineva care s\u0103 petreac\u0103 o noapte \u00een c\u0103mara ei \u015fi s\u0103 scape teaf\u0103r. Pas\u0103mite Dumnezeu pedepsea pe copil pentru p\u0103catul p\u0103rin\u0163ilor. Nu numai at\u00e2t, dar\u0103 ursitoarele \u00eentinse pedeapsa aceasta \u015fi asupra \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei. Ele zise c\u0103 din ziua c\u00e2nd va veni cel dint\u00e2i pe\u0163itor \u015fi nu va izbuti s\u0103 scape, toate ora\u015fele \u015fi toate satele s\u0103 se d\u0103r\u00e2me precum le-ai v\u0103zut \u015fi tu, \u015fi to\u0163i oamenii s\u0103 putrezeasc\u0103, s\u0103 le r\u0103m\u00e2ie numai oasele. Aceasta ca s\u0103 \u00eengrozeasc\u0103 pe juni, ca s\u0103 nu vie \u00een pe\u0163it. Vezi d-ta, \u015fi fermec\u0103torul acela care a f\u0103cut pe \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teas\u0103 s\u0103 nasc\u0103 fu pedepsit, c\u0103ci umbra lui este care vine noaptea de munce\u015fte \u015fi chinuie\u015fte pe bie\u0163ii tineri carii se \u00eencumet a r\u0103m\u00e2nea \u00een c\u0103mara domni\u0163ei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mul\u0163i tineri s-au \u00eencumes p\u00e2n\u0103 acum a face cercare, \u015fi to\u0163i au pierit.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Auzind unele ca acestea F\u0103t-Frumos, zise portarului c\u0103 ar dori s\u0103 vaz\u0103 \u015fi el pe fata de \u00eemp\u0103rat.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Fugi d-acolo, t\u0103ti\u015forule, nu-\u0163i mai b\u0103ga sufletul \u00een p\u0103cat. F\u0103-\u0163i cruce \u015fi te dep\u0103rteaz\u0103 de locurile acestea, ca s\u0103 nu-\u0163i pierzi via\u0163a. P\u0103cat de tinere\u0163ile tale.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0“Fie! \u00ee\u015fi zise b\u0103iatul, g\u00e2ndindu-se la cele ce p\u0103\u0163ise p\u00e2n\u0103 acum, tot n-am eu la ce mai tr\u0103i singur prin pustiit\u0103\u0163ile acestea”, \u015fi st\u0103rui ca s\u0103-l duc\u0103 \u00een c\u0103mara domni\u0163ei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Portarul, dac\u0103 v\u0103zu c\u0103 nu este chip s\u0103-l opreasc\u0103 de a merge, \u00eel duse la fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului. Ei, cum se v\u0103zur\u0103, se \u015fi pl\u0103cur\u0103. Se vede c\u0103 ei erau f\u0103cu\u0163i unul pentru altul. \u015ei de unde s\u0103 nu fie a\u015fa!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Biata fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului ar fi dorit s\u0103 r\u0103m\u00e2ie \u00een noaptea aceea b\u0103iatul \u00een c\u0103mara ei; dar\u0103 \u00eei era mil\u0103 de tinere\u0163ele lui, cum de s\u0103 se pr\u0103p\u0103deasc\u0103 o a\u015fa bun\u0103tate de june.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei \u00eempreun\u0103 cu portarul mai cercar\u0103 \u00eenc\u0103 o dat\u0103 s\u0103-l fac\u0103 a nu r\u0103m\u00e2nea. Dar\u0103 fu peste poate; c\u0103ci F\u0103t-Frumos era de aceia cari, c\u00e2nd \u00ee\u015fi pune \u00een g\u00e2nd s\u0103 fac\u0103 ceva, nici dracul nu i-o scoate din cap.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei a\u015fa, cum veni seara, el se duse cu c\u0103rticica lui \u00een m\u00e2n\u0103 \u015fi st\u0103tu \u00een priveghere. Ce f\u0103cu el, ce nu f\u0103cu, c\u0103 v\u0103zu albul zilei. A doua zi \u00eel g\u0103sir\u0103 tot cu cartea \u00een m\u00e2n\u0103 \u015fi searb\u0103d, \u015fi galben ca turta de cear\u0103, de pare c\u0103 muncise cine \u015ftie la ce lucruri grele, \u015fi cine \u015ftie c\u00e2te nop\u0163i, nem\u00e2ncat \u015fi neb\u0103ut.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se de\u015ftept\u0103 \u015fi fata de unde dormea ea, \u015fi cum \u00eel v\u0103zu \u00een carne \u015fi oase \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Tu s\u0103 fii so\u0163ul meu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Atunci o dat\u0103, ca din senin, \u00eencepur\u0103 a \u00eenvia oamenii de prin ora\u015fe \u015fi de prin sate slugile de prin curte, \u015fi toate c\u00e2te erau cu suflet, \u00een ziua c\u00e2nd veni cel \u00eent\u00e2i pe\u0163itor, \u00eencepu s\u0103 mi\u015fte \u015fi s\u0103 se scoale ca dintr-un somn ad\u00e2nc.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Oamenii \u00eencepur\u0103 la lucrul lor, o\u015ftirea a da \u00een t\u00e2mpine \u015fi \u00een surle, \u015fi a veni la curtea \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasc\u0103 s\u0103 se \u00eenchine cu slujba. De unde p\u00e2n\u0103 aci era t\u0103cere, moarte, acum te asurzeau strig\u0103tele \u015fi zgomotul ce f\u0103cea mul\u0163imea de oameni \u015fi de arga\u0163i merg\u00e2nd fiecare la lucrul s\u0103u.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Portarul se buim\u0103cise la cele ce vedea. Nu \u015ftia \u00eencotro s\u0103-\u015fi \u00eentoarc\u0103 privirea \u015fi la ce s\u0103 se uite mai \u00eent\u00e2i.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103t-Frumos \u015fi cu domni\u0163a ie\u015fir\u0103 \u015fi se ar\u0103tar\u0103 la lume. Mul\u0163imea striga de bucurie de se auzea \u00een cer strig\u0103tul lor, \u015fi din fiecare gur\u0103 ie\u015fea vorbele:”S\u0103 ne tr\u0103iasc\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103ratul \u015fi \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa noastr\u0103!”<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103t-Frumos, dac\u0103 se cunun\u0103 cu fata, se a\u015fez\u0103 \u00een scaunul \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei \u015fi-\u015fi tocmi o\u015ftile, boierimea \u015fi prostimea cum \u015ftia el \u00een legea lui. To\u0163i r\u0103maser\u0103 mul\u0163umi\u0163i de tocmelele lui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei petrecur\u0103 ce petrecur\u0103 cu fericire \u00een c\u0103s\u0103toria lor; c\u00e2nd, \u00eentr-una din zile, \u00ee\u015fi aduse aminte de tat\u0103l s\u0103u \u015fi de mum\u0103-sa, \u015fi se \u00eentrist\u0103 c\u0103 nu \u015ftia nimic de c\u0103p\u0103t\u00e2iul lor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103r\u0103teasa b\u0103g\u0103 de seam\u0103 \u00eentristarea lui, \u015fi ca unul ce-i era drag foarte, nu voia, vezi, s\u0103-l vad\u0103 nici o clip\u0103 de ochi m\u0103car f\u0103r\u0103 chef. Prinse a-l \u00eentreba. Iar\u0103 dac\u0103 \u00eei spuse, ea \u00eel \u00eendemn\u0103 s\u0103 se duc\u0103 s\u0103-\u015fi aduc\u0103 p\u0103rin\u0163ii, \u015fi s\u0103 tr\u0103iasc\u0103 cu to\u0163ii la un loc ca \u00een s\u00e2nul m\u0103-sii.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103t-Frumos asta \u015fi voia. \u015ei totu\u015fi nu se \u00eendura s\u0103-\u015fi lase so\u0163ia singur\u0103. \u015etia el, biet, ce va s\u0103 zic\u0103 singur\u0103tatea. Dar\u0103 \u00eente\u0163indu-l \u015fi \u00eencing\u00e2ndu-l dorul de p\u0103rin\u0163i, hot\u0103r\u00ee s\u0103 se duc\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cenainte \u00eens\u0103 de a pleca, \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa, so\u0163ia lui, \u00eei dete un inel, ce zicea c\u0103 \u00eel are de la mo\u015fi, de la str\u0103mo\u015fi, \u015fi \u00eei spuse c\u0103 are puterea, c\u00e2nd \u00eel scoate din deget, se uit\u0103 la d\u00e2nsul \u015fi dore\u015fte, s\u0103 se fac\u0103 un palat cum seam\u0103n pe lume s\u0103 nu aib\u0103. \u00cei dete \u015fi pe vizitiul cur\u0163ii, om vechi, credincios \u015fi iute la slujb\u0103, care s\u0103 nu se dezlipeasc\u0103 de st\u0103p\u00e2nul s\u0103u, nici c\u00e2t ai da \u00een amnar.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A\u015fa c\u0103puit \u015fi preg\u0103tit de drum, plec\u0103 spre satul unde tr\u0103iau p\u0103rin\u0163ii lui, dup\u0103 ce-\u015fi lu\u0103 ziua bun\u0103 de la \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa, de la boieri \u015fi de la osta\u015fi. Drumul \u00eei era s\u0103 treac\u0103 pe la \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia lui Sefer \u00eemp\u0103rat, pe la \u0163ara z\u00e2nelor \u015fi Dumnezeu mai \u015ftie pe unde.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Trei ani \u015fi trei luni \u015fi trei zile \u0163inu c\u0103l\u0103toria p\u00e2n\u0103 s\u0103 ajung\u0103 la satul p\u0103rin\u0163ilor lui. \u015ei trec\u00e2nd pe la \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia lui Sefer \u00eemp\u0103rat, l-a \u00eent\u00e2mpinat dreg\u0103torii cur\u0163ii \u015fi l-a petrecut cu dragoste. \u015ei trec\u00e2nd \u015fi pe la \u0163ara z\u00e2nelor, acestea se \u00eentreceau care de care s\u0103-i arate mai mult\u0103 cinste \u015fi s\u0103-l petreac\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dac\u0103 ajunse la satul p\u0103rin\u0163ilor s\u0103i, trase butca dinaintea bordeiului. Tat\u0103-s\u0103u \u015fi m\u0103-sa nu-l cunoscur\u0103. El dac\u0103 v\u0103zu a\u015fa, ceru s\u0103-l g\u0103zduiasc\u0103. B\u0103tr\u00e2nii priimir\u0103, \u015fi-\u015fi cerur\u0103 iert\u0103ciune c\u0103 nu pot s\u0103-i dea mai mult dec\u00e2t ceea ce au, adic\u0103 bordeiul lor. El se \u00eenvoi \u015fi mase acolo. Peste noapte se scoal\u0103, iese afar\u0103 bini\u015for \u015fi, uit\u00e2ndu-se la inel, \u00eei ar\u0103t\u0103 c\u0103 dore\u015fte s\u0103 se fac\u0103 un palat \u00eenfrico\u015fat \u00een locul bordeiului aceluia.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0N-apuc\u0103 s\u0103 ispr\u0103veasc\u0103 bine de g\u00e2ndit, \u015fi mi se ridic\u0103, neiculi\u0163\u0103, ni\u015fte palaturi m\u0103re\u0163e, \u00eempodobite cu de toate frumuse\u0163ile, cu gr\u0103dini falnice, cu izvoare limpezi, de s\u0103 te tot fi uitat la d\u00e2nsele \u015fi s\u0103 nu te saturi. Dar\u0103 \u00eenc\u0103mite pe din\u0103untru? Aci e aci. C\u0103m\u0103rile, l\u0103vi\u0163ile, a\u015fternuturile, numai scumpeturi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd se de\u015fteptar\u0103 a doua zi unchia\u015ful \u015fi cu baba \u015fi se v\u0103zur\u0103 muia\u0163i numai \u00een aur se speriar\u0103. Se frecau la ochi \u015fi se uitau \u00een toate p\u0103r\u0163ile, \u015fi nu le veneau a crede ochilor lor. Li se p\u0103reau c\u0103 viseaz\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Atunci intr\u0103 F\u0103t-Frumos la d\u00e2n\u015fii, \u00eei scoase din uimirea \u00een care c\u0103zuser\u0103 \u015fi se descoperi, spuindu-le c\u0103 el este fiul lor cel r\u0103pit, \u015fi c\u0103 a ajuns \u00eemp\u0103rat.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd auzir\u0103 de unele ca acestea, unchia\u015ful \u015fi baba murir\u0103 \u015fi \u00eenviar\u0103 de bucurie. Apoi \u00eel luar\u0103 \u015fi \u00eel pupar\u0103 \u015fi pe o parte \u015fi pe alta: iar\u0103 el le s\u0103rut\u0103 m\u00e2inile.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cendat\u0103 se f\u0103cu zvon \u00een sat c\u0103 unchia\u015ful \u015fi baba se procopsir\u0103 f\u0103r\u0103 \u015ftirea lui Dumnezeu, \u015fi alerga lumea dup\u0103 lume ca s\u0103 vaz\u0103 cu ochii lor minunea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ajung\u00e2nd \u015fi la urechile st\u0103p\u00e2nului mo\u015fiei acest zvon, se duse \u015fi el de v\u0103zu palaturile \u015fi r\u0103mase cu ochii zg\u00e2i\u0163i. Acest om era pizm\u0103tare\u0163 \u015fi z\u0103ca\u015f la inim\u0103. Nu voia, vezi, nici \u00een ruptul capului, s\u0103-l \u00eentreac\u0103 al\u0163ii, nici \u00een bog\u0103\u0163ie, nici \u00een procopseal\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se duse, deci, acolo, s\u0103 se \u00eencredin\u0163eze prin sine \u00eensu\u015fi de aceast\u0103 minune, \u015fi dac\u0103 v\u0103zu pe F\u0103t-Frumos, ar fi poftit dumnealui s\u0103-l ginereasc\u0103, fiindc\u0103 avea trei fete.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pofti pe F\u0103t-Frumos, ca s\u0103 vie \u015fi el pe la d\u00e2nsul p-acas\u0103, ca s\u0103 lege prietenie. F\u0103t-Frumos, cu inima curat\u0103 \u015fi f\u0103r\u0103 nici o vinov\u0103\u0163ie \u00eentr-\u00eensul, se duse, de! de datorie. Acolo, dac\u0103 \u00eel v\u0103zur\u0103, st\u0103p\u00e2nul mo\u015fiei aduse vorba de c\u0103s\u0103torie, \u015fi-i spuse c\u0103 ar fi bun bucuros s\u0103-i dea pe oricare va voi el s\u0103 ia din fetele lui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103t-Frumos le spuse curat c\u0103 el este \u00eensurat, \u015fi c\u0103 are de g\u00e2nd s\u0103 se \u00eentoarc\u0103 la nevast\u0103 peste pu\u0163in. Ba \u00eenc\u0103 le spuse \u015fi cu ce putere f\u0103cuse palaturile alea frumoasele dac\u0103 \u00eel \u00eentrebar\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pizm\u0103tare\u0163ul de st\u0103p\u00e2n al mo\u015fiei pl\u0103nui atunci cu fetele sale, cum s\u0103 fac\u0103 s\u0103 fure inelul din degetul lui F\u0103t-Frumos. Pentru aceasta, nu trecu multe zile, \u015fi poftir\u0103 pe F\u0103t-Frumos la mas\u0103 la d\u00e2n\u015fii ca s\u0103 se chefuiasc\u0103 \u015fi s\u0103 petreac\u0103 \u00eempreun\u0103, c\u0103ci, ziceau ei, mai avea-vor zile s\u0103 se mai vaz\u0103 au ba?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103t-Frumos, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103-i plesneasc\u0103 prin cap ce pl\u0103nuiser\u0103 ei, se duse. Dup\u0103 ce se chefuir\u0103 m\u00e2nc\u00e2nd \u015fi b\u00e2nd c\u00e2t le cerur\u0103 inima, c\u00e2nd fur\u0103 s\u0103 se scoale de la mas\u0103 z\u0103ca\u015ful de proprietar ceru s\u0103 le mai dea c\u00e2te un pahar s\u0103 bea, la botu calului, cum se zice. \u00cen paharul ce dete lui F\u0103t-Frumos, amestec\u0103, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 \u015ftie el ni\u015fte buruieni adormitoare.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum b\u0103u, \u00eel \u015fi fur\u0103 Aghiu\u0163\u0103. C\u0103zu \u00eentr-o amor\u0163eal\u0103 sor\u0103 cu moartea. Capul \u00eei b\u0103n\u0103n\u0103ia \u00eentr-o parte \u015fi \u00eentr-alta, de parc\u0103 \u00ee\u015fi rupsese junghetura. \u00cel luar\u0103, deci, bini\u015for, \u00eel puser\u0103 \u00eentr-un pat, \u015fi acolo r\u0103mase p\u00e2n\u0103 a doua zi. Pe c\u00e2nd dormea el dus, \u00eei scoaser\u0103 inelul din deget \u015fi \u00eel ascunser\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A doua zi dac\u0103 se de\u015ftept\u0103 F\u0103t-Frumos, \u00eei fu ru\u015fine de ceea ce f\u0103cuse. El se c\u0103ia \u015fi se c\u0103ina cum de s\u0103 fac\u0103 el fapte de care nu mai f\u0103cuse \u00een via\u0163a lui, s\u0103-\u015fi bea adec\u0103 \u015fi sim\u0163irile. El socotea, vezi, c\u0103 a b\u0103ut ca un nemernic, \u015fi d-aia se \u00eemb\u0103tase a\u015fa.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum se de\u015ftept\u0103 se \u015fi duse acas\u0103 f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 bage de seam\u0103 c\u0103 \u00eei lipse\u015fte inelul din deget. Acas\u0103 dac\u0103 ajunse, ia palatul de unde nu e. Pierise ca \u015fi c\u00e2nd n-ar fi mai fost, iar \u00een locul lui g\u0103si iar\u0103\u015fi bordeiul p\u0103rin\u0163ilor lui. Se mai c\u0103i el o toan\u0103 de neghiobia ce f\u0103cuse, dar acuma prinde orbul, scoate-i ochii, povestea \u0103luia.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se hot\u0103r\u00ee dar\u0103 s\u0103 se \u00eentoarc\u0103 la \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia lui, s\u0103 nu se mai \u00eent\u00e2lneasc\u0103 cu ni\u015fte asemenea oameni r\u0103i la suflet. El zise \u015fi p\u0103rin\u0163ilor lui s\u0103 mearg\u0103 cu d\u00e2nsul, s\u0103 tr\u0103iasc\u0103 ca \u00een rai. Dar\u0103 ei se mul\u0163umir\u0103 a le r\u0103m\u00e2nea oasele \u00een s\u0103tuceanul \u00een care se n\u0103scuser\u0103, \u015fi poftir\u0103 fiului lor o via\u0163\u0103 lin\u0103 \u015fi f\u0103r\u0103 de sup\u0103r\u0103ri diavole\u015fti.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Bietul F\u0103t-Frumos, trist c\u0103-\u015fi pierduse inelul, trist c\u0103 p\u0103rin\u0163ii s\u0103i nu voiesc a merge s\u0103 tr\u0103iasc\u0103 cu d\u00e2nsul, sta cu capul rezemat pe m\u00e2n\u0103 \u015fi se g\u00e2ndea cum s\u0103 fac\u0103 ca toate s\u0103-i ias\u0103 \u00eende bine. C\u00e2nd, deodat\u0103, se \u00eenf\u0103\u0163i\u015feaz\u0103 \u00eenainte-i vizitiul ce-i dase \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce ai, st\u0103p\u00e2ne, de e\u015fti a\u015fa trist, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 te m\u00e2ng\u00e2i?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Au doar\u0103 priimit-ai niscaiva \u015ftiri rele de la \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ie?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ba \u015ftiri rele de la \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ie n-am priimit, dragul meu. Dar\u0103 iac\u0103, iac\u0103, iac\u0103 ce mi s-a \u00eent\u00e2mplat.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei-i spuse tot, din fir p\u00e2n\u0103-n a\u0163\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ia las\u0103, st\u0103p\u00e2ne, nu te mai m\u00e2hni a\u015fa pentru at\u00e2ta lucru de nimic.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce stai tu de vorbe\u015fti, omule? Apoi de nimic lucru iei tu c\u0103 am pierdut inelul, a\u015fa scul\u0103 rar\u0103? \u015ei de pu\u0163in lucru socote\u015fti tu c\u0103 este a m\u0103 desp\u0103r\u0163i de p\u0103rin\u0163i f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 mai n\u0103d\u0103jduiesc a-i vedea?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ba nu, st\u0103p\u00e2ne; dar\u0103 ia s\u0103 ne \u00een\u0163elegem la cuvinte.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0P\u0103rin\u0163ii \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei tale, dac\u0103 nu vor s\u0103 vie s\u0103 tr\u0103iasc\u0103 pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 d-ta, po\u0163i s\u0103-i faci s\u0103 tr\u0103iasc\u0103 bine \u015fi aci, l\u0103s\u00e2ndu-le o sumuli\u0163\u0103 bunicic\u0103 de bani, de care ai, mul\u0163umit\u0103 Domnului, destui. C\u00e2t pentru inel, apoi \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa doamna noastr\u0103 a avut de grij\u0103 \u015fi pentru aceasta. La plecare, ea mi-a dat acest inel, cu porunc\u0103 stra\u015fnic\u0103 ca s\u0103 \u0163i-l dau numai atunci c\u00e2nd voi vedea c\u0103 m\u00e2hnirea umbl\u0103 s\u0103 te biruie. \u015ei tocmai acum mi se pare c\u0103 e timpul. Poftim!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei \u00eendat\u0103 sco\u0163\u00e2nd din s\u00e2n un inel, ca \u015fi cel\u0103lalt de frumos, i-l dete, mai ad\u0103og\u00e2nd a zice c\u0103 inelul acesta are darul, ca, uit\u00e2ndu-te la el \u015fi dorind, \u00eendat\u0103 se va \u00eenf\u0103\u0163i\u015fa \u00eenaintea dumitale doi arapi, cari vor face orice le vei porunci.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tocmai atunci trecea p-acolo \u015fi st\u0103p\u00e2nul mo\u015fiei, cel cu pricina, \u00eentr-o c\u0103ru\u0163\u0103 cu patru telegari, merg\u00e2nd \u00een treaba lui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103t-Frumos, cum lu\u0103 inelul \u00een m\u00e2n\u0103, se uit\u0103 la el, \u015fi pofti s\u0103 ias\u0103 cei doi arapi. \u00cendat\u0103 se pomeni cu doi arapi negri ca fundul ceaunului, c\u0103 stau dinaintea lui, ageri \u015fi sprinteni ca ni\u015fte pardo\u015fi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce porunce\u015fti, st\u0103p\u00e2ne? ziser\u0103 ei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 S\u0103-mi lua\u0163i pe chir \u0103la care trece \u00een c\u0103ru\u0163\u0103 \u015fi s\u0103 nu-l sl\u0103bi\u0163i p\u00e2n\u0103 nu va scoate inelul ce mi-a tras din deget mi\u015fele\u015fte.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Vezi c\u0103 el pricepuse c\u0103 be\u0163ia aia d-atuncea nu fusese lucru curat; dar\u0103 n-avusese ce-\u015fi face capului, d-aia \u015fi t\u0103cuse din gur\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Unde mi se repezir\u0103, neiculene, \u0103i arapi, ca ni\u015fte zmei \u015fi ca ni\u015fte lei paralei, de nu-i puteai ajunge cu pra\u015ftia! \u00centr-o clip\u0103 fur\u0103 acolo, \u015fi unul apuc\u0103 caii de d\u00e2rlogi \u015fi mi \u0163i-i opri ca pe ei, \u015fi altul apuc\u0103 pe pizm\u0103tare\u0163ul de st\u0103p\u00e2n al mo\u015fiei de piept, \u015fi c\u00e2t te-ai \u015fterge la ochi, fu \u015fi dat jos; \u015fi unde mi \u0163i-l \u00eencepur\u0103 a-l r\u0103suci \u015fi a-l buchisi \u00eenfundat, de-\u0163i era mai mare mila de d\u00e2nsul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dac\u0103 \u00eei cerur\u0103 arapii inelul, el t\u0103g\u0103duia ca un nemernic. Se pusese diavolul c\u0103lare pe inima lui \u015fi nu-l l\u0103sa nicidecum s\u0103 scoat\u0103 inelul la iveal\u0103. Dar\u0103 ce crede\u0163i c\u0103 arapii mi-l l\u0103sar\u0103 numai a\u015fa, cu una, dou\u0103? Nici s\u0103 v\u0103 g\u00e2ndi\u0163i.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cel luar\u0103 din nou la t\u0103rb\u0103ceal\u0103. Umbla prin m\u00e2inile lor, de la unul la altul, ca o minge. \u00cel mai f\u0103\u0163uir\u0103, \u00eel mai trudir\u0103, \u00eel luar\u0103 din nou la rapanghele, \u015fi-l mai dar\u0103 c\u0103\u0163eaua, de credeai c\u0103 se pierde prin m\u00e2inile lor, \u015fi, ca s\u0103 spuie, nici c\u00e2t.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dac\u0103 v\u0103zur\u0103 arapii a\u015fa, c\u0103 se \u00eenc\u00e2inase \u015fi nu vrea s\u0103 dea inelul, \u00eel puser\u0103 jos, unul \u00eel \u0163inea \u015fi altul scoase un cu\u0163it de la br\u00e2u, \u00eel dete pe masat, \u015fi se f\u0103cea c\u0103 vrea s\u0103-l jupoaie de viu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0V\u0103zu \u0103la c\u0103 nu e glum\u0103, c\u0103-i sta via\u0163a numai \u00eentr-un fir de a\u0163\u0103, \u015fi ca s\u0103 scape de moarte, spuse c\u0103 la el este inelul \u015fi-l scoase de-l dete arapilor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ar fi voit oamenii lui, vizitiul \u015fi argatul, s\u0103 sar\u0103 s\u0103-\u015fi scape st\u0103p\u00e2nul din m\u00e2na arapilor. Dar cine se putea apropia de d\u00e2n\u015fii? Numai c\u00e2te un br\u00e2nci le da ace\u015ftia, \u015fi se duceau peste cap, de se sculau schilozi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103t-Frumos privea \u015fi cre\u015ftea carnea pe el de mul\u0163umire, c\u00e2nd vedea c\u0103 freac\u0103 ridichea becisnicului de z\u0103ca\u015f, dup\u0103 cum i se cuvenea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Priimindu-\u015fi inelul F\u0103t-Frumos, \u00eel b\u0103g\u0103 \u00een deget l\u00e2ng\u0103 cellalt, \u015fi se hot\u0103r\u00ee a se \u00eentoarce \u00eenapoi la \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia sa. Dete p\u0103rin\u0163ilor lui vro dou\u0103, trei pungi de galbeni, fiindc\u0103 nu voir\u0103 a merge cu d\u00e2nsul, se g\u0103ti de drum, se urc\u0103 \u00een butc\u0103 \u015fi porni.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar\u0103 c\u00e2nd se desp\u0103r\u0163ir\u0103? Pl\u00e2ngea \u015fi lemnele \u015fi pietrele de jalea unchia\u015fului \u015fi a babei. Vezi c\u0103 pricepur\u0103 ei c\u0103 n-are s\u0103 se mai vaz\u0103. Poate c\u0103 \u00een cer, dar aci pe p\u0103m\u00e2nt, de leac!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei se duse, \u015fi se duse F\u0103t-Frumos cale lung\u0103 dep\u0103rtat\u0103, care de aci \u00eenainte se g\u0103te\u015fte, basmu mai frumos gr\u0103ie\u015fte, se duse p\u00e2n\u0103 ajunse la o poian\u0103 frumoas\u0103, de marginea c\u0103reia curgea un r\u00e2ule\u0163. Aci \u00ee\u015fi c\u0103ut\u0103 el loc de popas. Fie, c\u0103-l \u015fi g\u0103sise, c\u0103ci era o frumuse\u0163e de nu te \u00eendurai s\u0103 te dep\u0103rtezi de d\u00e2nsa.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Licheaua de st\u0103p\u00e2n al mo\u015fiei, nici una nici alta, voia cu dinadinsul s\u0103 aib\u0103 pentru d\u00e2nsul inelul lui F\u0103t-Frumos \u015fi mai multe nu. Se lu\u0103 dup\u0103 d\u00e2nsul, \u015fi cugeta c\u0103, mai cu marghiolii, mai cu \u015foalda, mai cu pref\u0103c\u0103torii, s\u0103 \u00een\u015fele pe F\u0103t-Frumos \u015fi s\u0103-i dea pui de giol la inel.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dac\u0103 v\u0103zu F\u0103t-Frumos c\u0103 vrea s\u0103 poposeasc\u0103, se opri \u015fi el mai c\u00e2t colea, dup\u0103 un m\u0103r\u0103cini\u015f, \u015fi a\u015ftept\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 s\u0103 adoarm\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103t-Frumos, nici c\u0103 se g\u00e2ndea la ni\u015fte astfel de mi\u015felii, el \u00eentinse pe paji\u015fte ni\u015fte scoar\u0163e scumpe ce le avea, se a\u015fez\u0103 pe d\u00e2nsele, m\u00e2nc\u0103 \u015fi se culc\u0103. Vizitiul lui cel credincios st\u0103tu de paz\u0103 o bun\u0103 bucat\u0103 de timp, \u015fi dac\u0103 v\u0103zu c\u0103 nici apele nu se mai mi\u015fc\u0103, \u015fi fiind \u015fi ajuns de osteneala drumului, puse \u015fi el capul jos \u015fi-l fur\u0103 somnul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd v\u0103zu c\u0103 am\u00e2ndoi dorm du\u015fi, \u0103la ie\u015fi din cr\u00e2ng bini\u015for, \u015fi p\u00e2\u015f, p\u00e2\u015f, ca o m\u00e2\u0163\u0103 c\u00e2nd p\u00e2nde\u015fte la \u015foareci, se apropie \u00eenceti\u015for de F\u0103t-Frumos, \u00eei trage inelele din deget \u015fi p-aici \u0163i-e drumul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Iar\u0103 dac\u0103 se scul\u0103 F\u0103t-Frumos \u015fi v\u0103zu c\u0103-i lipsesc inelele, crezu c\u0103 vizitiul i le-o fi luat, ca s\u0103 le puie bine, de team\u0103 s\u0103 nu le piarz\u0103 dormind, \u015fi-l \u00eentreb\u0103. Vizitiul r\u0103spunse c\u0103, Doamne fere\u015fte! nu i le-a luat el. Acum \u00een\u0163elese c\u0103 vreun fur i le-a \u015fters \u015fi se \u00eentrist\u0103, nevoie mare.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A\u015fa sup\u0103rat, porunci de \u00eenh\u0103m\u0103 caii la butc\u0103 \u015fi porni. El nu \u015ftia ca cine s\u0103 i le fi luat, \u015fi n-avea pe cine apuca de ele. \u015ei merg\u00e2nd el a\u015fa \u015fi ciudindu-se \u015fi fr\u0103m\u00e2nt\u00e2ndu-se de m\u00e2hnire, se g\u00e2ndea ca se s\u0103 r\u0103spund\u0103 el \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesei, c\u00e2nd l-o \u00eentreba de inele. Nu-i venea lui, vezi, o dat\u0103 cu capul, s\u0103-l creaz\u0103 ne\u015ftine c\u0103 este neharnic, mototol \u015fi adormit.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tocmai pe c\u00e2nd p\u0103rerea de r\u0103u \u00eel ajunsese \u015fi mai \u015fi dec\u00e2t p\u00e2n\u0103 aci, erau trec\u00e2nd printr-o p\u0103dure mare \u015fi deas\u0103. Dodat\u0103 auzi ni\u015fte balauri de l\u0103utari tr\u0103g\u00e2nd din viori, de g\u00e2ndeai c\u0103 m\u0103n\u00e2nc\u0103 foc, \u015fi din ce \u00een ce se apropiau. Nu trecu mult \u015fi iat\u0103 c\u0103 l\u0103utarii trecur\u0103 pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 butca lui F\u0103t-Frumos, tot c\u00e2nt\u00e2nd, \u015fi-i deter\u0103 bun\u0103-ziua.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103t-Frumos le mul\u0163umi \u015fi prinse a-i \u00eentreba:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dar\u0103 de unde veni\u0163i, bre, oameni buni, \u015fi unde v\u0103 duce\u0163i?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0L\u0103utarii r\u0103spunser\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ne ducem s\u0103 c\u00e2nt\u0103m la nunta \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesei tale.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cum s\u0103 c\u00e2nta\u0163i la nunta \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesei mele? \u00eentreb\u0103 F\u0103t-Frumos, c\u0103ruia \u00eei s\u0103ri inima de fric\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Apoi, s\u0103 vezi dumneata. Un \u00eemp\u0103rat din vecin\u0103tate, v\u0103z\u00e2nd c\u0103 este at\u00e2ta diastim\u0103 de vreme de c\u00e2nd ai plecat \u015fi nu te-ai mai \u00eentors s-a sculat cu oaste asupra \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei tale, ca s\u0103 sileasc\u0103 pe \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa a lua de so\u0163 pe fiul s\u0103u. \u00cemp\u0103r\u0103teasa s-a \u00eempotrivit foarte, \u015fi de dou\u0103 ori s-au lovit o\u015ftile \u015fi de dou\u0103 ori acel \u00eemp\u0103rat a fost biruitor. \u00cen cele din urm\u0103, nici \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa nu mai tr\u0103gea n\u0103dejde c-o s\u0103 te \u00eentorci. \u015ei de mil\u0103, ca s\u0103 nu se mai pr\u0103p\u0103deasc\u0103 ora\u015fele \u015fi satele \u015fi at\u00e2ta sumedenie de oaste, s-a \u00eenduplecat a asculta cererea \u00eemp\u0103ratului, \u015fi m\u00e2ine le este nunta.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cum se poate una ca asta?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Iaca, se poate \u015fi se prea poate. Dar\u0103 fiindc\u0103 te \u00eentorci, \u015fi dac\u0103 voie\u015fti s\u0103 ajungi \u00eenaintea nun\u0163ii, las\u0103-\u0163i butca s\u0103 vie pe urm\u0103, \u015fi tu aide\u0163i cu noi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103t-Frumos n-a\u015ftept\u0103 s\u0103-i mai zic\u0103 \u00eenc\u0103 o dat\u0103. Se dete bini\u015for jos din butc\u0103, \u015fi porni cu l\u0103utarii la drum. Unul din l\u0103utari \u00eel lu\u0103 \u00een c\u00e2rc\u0103, \u015fi c\u00e2nd \u00ee\u015fi f\u0103cu v\u00e2nt, se arunc\u0103 drept \u00een slava cerului, \u015fi mergea ca v\u00e2rtejul. Ar fi voit el s\u0103 mearg\u0103 ca g\u00e2ndul, dar\u0103 \u00eei fu team\u0103 s\u0103 nu plesneasc\u0103 fierea \u00een F\u0103t-Frumos.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Odat\u0103 \u00eencepu F\u0103t-Frumos s\u0103 strige:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 St\u0103i, m\u0103, s\u0103-mi iar c\u0103ciula, c\u0103 mi-a c\u0103zut din cap.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce stai dumneata de vorbe\u015fti? Las-o \u00eencolo, la nevoile, c\u0103ciula, c\u0103 ea acum o fi cale de \u015fase luni de departe, s\u0103 mergi cu piciorul p\u00e2n\u0103 acolo, unde a c\u0103zut ea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei mai merse ce mai merse \u015fi se cobor\u00e2r\u0103 la scara palatului \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei sale.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Aci dac\u0103 ajunse, \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa \u015fi to\u0163i boierii \u015fi toat\u0103 oastea ie\u015fir\u0103 \u00eentru \u00eent\u00e2mpinarea lui. Dup\u0103 ce-\u015fi dar\u0103 bun-g\u0103sit \u015fi bun-venit, \u00eei povestir\u0103 cum \u00eemp\u0103ratul vecin s-a sculat cu r\u0103zboi asupra lor, cum oastea lui a spart oastea \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei lui de dou\u0103 ori, \u015fi cum se g\u0103tesc pentru a treia lovire.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Apoi \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa \u00eei spuse c\u0103 ea a f\u0103cut acele me\u015fte\u015fuguri cu l\u0103utarii, ca s\u0103-l aduc\u0103 mai cur\u00e2nd, c\u0103 \u015ftie cum a pierdut inelele \u015fi ce-a p\u0103\u0163it.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pe c\u00e2nd vorbeau \u00eenc\u0103, iac\u0103 un curier c\u0103 se \u00eenf\u0103\u0163i\u015feaz\u0103 \u00eenaintea lor \u015fi d\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesei inelele cu pricina \u015fi \u00eemp\u0103ratului c\u0103ciula ce-i c\u0103zuse din cap.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ea \u00eei spuse c\u0103 doi din acei l\u0103utari ce a v\u0103zut el \u00een p\u0103dure a avut porunca: unul s\u0103-l aduc\u0103 pe d\u00e2nsul, \u015fi altul inelele.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul se veseli o toan\u0103; dar\u0103 era sup\u0103rat foarte cum de s\u0103 \u00eendr\u0103zneasc\u0103 vecinul lor \u00eemp\u0103rat s\u0103 se scoale cu r\u0103zboi asupra \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei sale.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei auzind gloatele de venirea lui F\u0103t-Frumos veneau droaie s\u0103 se scrie la oaste. Se scular\u0103, deci, cu mic cu mare, \u015fi f\u0103cu oaste ca frunza \u015fi ca iarba. F\u0103t-Frumos le tocmi \u015fi le \u00eenv\u0103\u0163\u0103 cum s\u0103 mearg\u0103 la r\u0103zboi. \u015ei-l ascultau gloatele, c\u0103-l iubeau nevoie mare. D-apoi boierii? Nu se l\u0103sau nici ei mai prejos. Vezi c\u0103 \u015fi el era drept, \u00eendur\u0103tor \u015fi viteaz.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pornind la r\u0103zboi cu o sil\u0103 a\u015fa de mare \u015fi de grozav\u0103 sparse \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia vecinului lor cutez\u0103tor. Prinse \u00een r\u0103zboi \u015fi pe acel \u00eemp\u0103rat vr\u0103jma\u015f, \u00eempreun\u0103 cu fiul s\u0103u, \u015fi \u00eei aduse de-i t\u0103iar\u0103 dinaintea \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Apoi \u00eentinz\u00e2nd coprinsul s\u0103u \u015fi asupra acelei \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ii \u015fi mai puind la cale toate cum s\u0103 ajung\u0103 supu\u015fii s\u0103i s\u0103 fie ferici\u0163i, se puse pe trai, \u015fi tr\u0103ir\u0103 veac de om nesup\u0103ra\u0163i de nimeni.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 A fost odat\u0103 o bab\u0103 \u015fi un unchia\u015f. Ei p\u00e2n\u0103 la vreme de b\u0103tr\u00e2ne\u0163e nu avur\u0103 nici un copil. Ce nu f\u0103cur\u0103? Ce nu dreser\u0103? \u015ei ca … <\/p>\n