\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A fost odat\u0103 un \u00eemp\u0103rat foarte bogat \u015fi puternic. Acest \u00eemp\u0103rat avea un fecior \u015fi o fat\u0103. \u00cent\u00e2mpl\u00e2ndu-se s\u0103-i moar\u0103 feciorul, \u00eel \u00eengrop\u0103 cu mare cinste \u015fi alai ca pe un \u00eemp\u0103rat. C\u00e2nd fu a duce mortul la biseric\u0103, fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului ceru a merge \u015fi d\u00e2nsa s\u0103-l petreac\u0103. A\u015fa de p\u0103zit\u0103 era fata aceasta de tat\u0103-s\u0103u, \u00eenc\u00e2t p\u00e2n\u0103 atunci nici soarele nu-i v\u0103zuse fe\u0163i\u015foara, nici v\u00e2ntul nu-i b\u0103tuse p\u0103ri\u015forul. Ea se \u00eembr\u0103c\u0103 \u00een negru \u015fi-\u015fi l\u0103s\u0103 p\u0103rul despletit pe spate, \u015fi a\u015fa merse de petrecu pe frate-s\u0103u la groap\u0103. \u015ei a\u015fa g\u0103tit\u0103 \u00eei \u015fedea \u015fi mai bine dec\u00e2t altminteri. C\u0103ci, nu e vorba ea era foarte frumoas\u0103. Crinii \u015fi viorelele r\u0103m\u0103seser\u0103 pe jos \u015fi nici la degetul cel mic al ei nu le punea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd o v\u0103zu a\u015fa de ginga\u015f\u0103 \u015fi de pl\u0103p\u00e2nd\u0103, r\u0103mase cu ochii zg\u00e2i\u0163i la d\u00e2nsa. \u015ei a\u015fa de pu\u0163intic\u0103 \u015fi dr\u0103g\u0103la\u015fe mai era, \u00eenc\u00e2t s-o sorbi \u00eentr-un pahar cu ap\u0103. Lumea uitase \u015fi mort \u015fi tot uit\u00e2ndu-se la d\u00e2nsa. Atunci veni un v\u00e2nti\u015for lin \u015fi u\u015for, de-i resfir\u0103 pletele; iar\u0103 ea sim\u0163i c\u0103 un fior rece i se strecoar\u0103 prin inim\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum, cum, \u00eengropar\u0103 mortul \u015fi toat\u0103 lumea se \u00eentoarse acas\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tot pe atunci \u00een cetatea aceea se afla o v\u0103duv\u0103 s\u0103rac\u0103. Ea avea un fiu. El era de treab\u0103, smerit \u015fi sfiicios ca o fat\u0103 mare. To\u0163i feciorii de boieri aveau pizm\u0103 pe d\u00e2nsul \u015fi-i puseser\u0103 g\u00e2nd r\u0103u. Nu-i g\u0103sea \u00eens\u0103 nici o pricin\u0103, ca s\u0103 puie m\u00e2na pe d\u00e2nsul. Fiul v\u0103duvei \u00eentrecuse pe to\u0163i boierii \u015fi \u00eemp\u0103ra\u0163ii la boi \u015fi la stat. El era ar\u0103tos nevoie mare. Ai fi pus ochii pe d\u00e2nsul d-ar fi fost \u00eentr-o mie. \u015e-apoi era dulce la cuv\u00e2ntare. Curgea graiul din gura lui ca mierea. Nu se mai s\u0103tura cineva de d\u00e2nsul ascult\u00e2ndu-l.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0De la moartea fratelui s\u0103u, fata nu se prea sim\u0163ea bine. Ba c-o fi una, ba c-o fi alta, ba c-o fi deochi, ba c-o fi s\u0103get\u0103tur\u0103, \u015fi toate desc\u00e2nt\u0103toresele \u015fi vracii nu-i putur\u0103 da de leac.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0M\u0103-sa b\u0103g\u0103 de seam\u0103 c\u0103 fie-sa era \u00eens\u0103rcinat\u0103. \u00cen zadar se jura fata c\u0103 nu \u015ftie la sufletul ei nimic cu prihan\u0103. Cine s\u0103 o creaz\u0103? Burta o da de gol. Ea \u00eens\u0103 nu spunea minciuni, se pomenise \u015fi ea a\u015fa. D-apoi c\u00e2nd afl\u0103 tat\u0103-s\u0103u c\u0103 fie-sa are s\u0103 fie mum\u0103, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 fi pus pirostriile pe cap? se f\u0103cu foc \u015fi p\u00e2rjol. Nu mai ascult\u0103 nici rug\u0103ciuni, nici nimic. A se dezvinov\u0103\u0163i \u00eenaintea lui nu era cu putin\u0163\u0103. Porunci deci ca numaidec\u00e2t s\u0103 se adune Sfatul \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei \u00een tain\u0103, ca s\u0103 ot\u0103rasc\u0103 pedeapsa ce s-ar cuveni fie-sei pentru o a\u015fa nelegiuire \u015fi ca s\u0103 se spele ru\u015finea ce adusese ea p\u0103rului c\u0103run\u0163it al tat\u0103lui s\u0103u.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Sfatul \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei g\u0103si cu cale c\u0103 spre a se sp\u0103la o a\u015fa grozav\u0103 necinste, fata cu moarte s\u0103 se omoare. Unii ziceau ca s\u0103 se arz\u0103 de vie. Al\u0163ii ca s\u0103-i scoat\u0103 ochii \u015fi s\u0103 se goneasc\u0103 \u00een pustiet\u0103\u0163i spre a fi m\u00e2ncat\u0103 de fiare s\u0103lbatice. Al\u0163ii iar\u0103 ziceau ca s\u0103 i se lege o piatr\u0103 de g\u00e2t \u015fi s\u0103 se dea pe Dun\u0103re.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tocmai pe atunci, din p\u0103cate, iat\u0103 c\u0103 \u015fi feciorul v\u0103duvei trecea pe acolo \u00een treaba lui. Cum \u00eel v\u0103zur\u0103 boierii, numaidec\u00e2t se \u00eenvoir\u0103, \u015fi hot\u0103r\u00e2rea fu gata, cam ce, adic\u0103, s\u0103 fac\u0103 cu fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0To\u0163i fur\u0103 \u00eentr-o gl\u0103suire ca fata s\u0103 se dea pierz\u0103rii. \u00cens\u0103 ca una ce este fat\u0103 de \u00eemp\u0103rat, \u015fi ca una ce trebuie s\u0103 fi s\u0103v\u00e2r\u015fit nelegiuirea cu un om, carele \u015fi acela trebuie s\u0103 piar\u0103, acel om s\u0103 fie fiul v\u0103duvei, deoarece fata nu vrea s\u0103 spuie pe adev\u0103ratul nelegiuit, \u015fi pentru c\u0103 Sfatul \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei nu poate s\u0103-l ghiceasc\u0103. Cum hot\u0103r\u00e2r\u0103, a\u015fa \u015fi f\u0103cur\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul porunci, \u015fi numaidec\u00e2t se aduse un boloboc mare; puse de-l smoli \u015fi, b\u0103g\u00e2nd \u00eentr-\u00eensul pe fata de \u00eemp\u0103rat cu fiul v\u0103duvei, porunci de \u00eenfund\u0103 bolobocul bine, \u015fi \u00eel dete pe Dun\u0103re.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pe c\u00e2nd \u00eens\u0103 dogarii \u00eenfundau bolobocul, una din roabele fetei de \u00eemp\u0103rat, mai miloas\u0103 la inim\u0103, se strecur\u0103 prin calabal\u00e2c \u015fi le dete pe sub ascuns o copaie de mere, dou\u0103 azime \u015fi un fedele\u015f cu ap\u0103. Noroc c\u0103 nu o v\u0103zu nimeni.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se duse butoiul pe Dun\u0103re trei zile \u015fi trei nop\u0163i, f\u0103r\u0103 a se opri undeva. Merindea din butoi se ispr\u0103vise. Biata fat\u0103 \u00ee\u015fi pl\u00e2ngea nevinov\u0103\u0163ia cu ni\u015fte graiuri de-\u0163i rupea b\u0103ierile inimei, iar\u0103 bietul b\u0103iat, \u015fi el nevinovat ca \u015fi d\u00e2nsa, o m\u00e2ng\u00e2ia \u015fi nu o l\u0103sa s\u0103-\u015fi piarz\u0103 n\u0103dejdea de la Dumnezeu. C\u00e2nd, ce s\u0103 vezi dumneata? A patra zi, dis-de-diminea\u0163\u0103, bolobocul se love\u015fte de un bu\u015ftean \u015fi se sparge. Pas\u0103mite bolobocul ajunsese la margine, adus fiind de talazurile Dun\u0103rii, \u015fi-l ciocni de bu\u015fteanul pe care tot apa \u00eel dase la margine.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ie\u015fir\u0103 deci la uscat dos\u0103di\u0163ii de ei, \u015fi dar\u0103 mul\u0163umir\u0103 lui Dumnezeu c\u0103 le-a sc\u0103pat zilele, \u015fi-i f\u0103cur\u0103 s\u0103 mai vaz\u0103 o dat\u0103 lumina.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Apucar\u0103 pe o potec\u0103 \u015fi intrar\u0103 \u00eentr-un bunget de p\u0103dure. Aci o luar\u0103 apoi pe o p\u00e2rtie, \u015fi merse, \u015fi merse, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce v\u0103zu c\u0103 se deschide o poieni\u0163\u0103. \u00cen ast\u0103 poieni\u0163\u0103 dete de ni\u015fte case foarte frumoase, b\u0103t\u0103tura c\u0103rora era c\u00e2mpul cu florile. Toate lucrurile \u00een aceast\u0103 cas\u0103 erau cu \u015fart. Nimic nu lipsea. Toate catrafusele \u00ee\u015fi aveau v\u0103taful lor \u015fi nimic nu era nerostit. C\u00e2nd voiai ceva, era destul numai s\u0103 porunce\u015fti \u015fi \u00eendat\u0103 se f\u0103cea. Aci era \u00een adev\u0103r: pune-te mas\u0103, ridic\u0103-te mas\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Trecur\u0103 mul\u0163i ani de la aceast\u0103 \u00eent\u00e2mplare. \u00cemp\u0103ratul \u00ee\u015fi uitase de fiica sa. Fata de \u00eemp\u0103rat \u015fi fiul v\u0103duvei se \u00eenvoiser\u0103 \u015fi se \u00eenso\u0163iser\u0103. Nici unul din am\u00e2ndoi nu s-a c\u0103it mai \u00een urm\u0103 pentru aceasta. Vezi c\u0103 el \u00een via\u0163a lui nu alunecase p\u00e2n\u0103 atunci, era curat, cum \u00eel f\u0103cuse m\u0103-sa; \u015fi pe fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului o g\u0103sise acas\u0103. Copilul cu care era \u00eens\u0103rcinat\u0103 fata c\u00e2nd o goni tat\u0103-s\u0103u se n\u0103scu, \u015fi se f\u0103cuse un b\u0103iat de s\u0103 nu te \u00eenduri de el. Iar\u0103 ei petrec\u00e2nd bine, \u00ee\u015fi uitaser\u0103 de necazurile cele trecute. Puterea lui Dumnezeu \u00eei ocrotea \u015fi-i ferea de rele. At\u00e2ta numai c\u0103 p-acolo nu se vedea nici pui de om. Parc-ar fi fost la sf\u00e2r\u015fitul p\u0103m\u00e2ntului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00centr-una din zile, \u00eemp\u0103ratul, tat\u0103l fetei, plec\u0103 la v\u00e2n\u0103toare. El se \u00eencumese a r\u0103zbi mai \u00een\u0103untru p\u0103durei dec\u00e2t alt\u0103 dat\u0103. \u015ei, din v\u00e2nat \u00een v\u00e2nat, el se r\u0103t\u0103ci. Orb\u0103c\u0103i \u00een sus, c\u0103ut\u0103 \u00een jos \u015fi peste poteca pe care s\u0103 ias\u0103 la lumin\u0103 nu putea s\u0103 dea. Se luase de g\u00e2nduri. C\u00e2nd, iac\u0103 d\u0103 \u00een poieni\u0163a cu casele. V\u0103zu \u015fi casele. El se minun\u0103 c\u00e2nd v\u0103zu a\u015fa cas\u0103 frumoas\u0103 \u00eentr-o astfel de s\u0103lb\u0103ticime de p\u0103dure. De voie, de nevoie, trebui s\u0103 se duc\u0103 acolo, c\u0103ci ochii nu-i dase \u00een gean\u0103 de nu \u015ftiu c\u00e2t timp.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mai \u00eent\u00e2i \u00ee\u015fi trimise sluga care nu se desp\u0103r\u0163ise de d\u00e2nsul nici c\u00e2t ai sc\u0103p\u0103ra. El se \u00eentoarse \u015fi spuse \u00eemp\u0103ratului c\u0103 este priimit a g\u0103zdui acolo cu drag\u0103 inim\u0103. Intr\u00e2nd \u00eemp\u0103ratul, \u00ee\u015fi trimise sluga la buc\u0103t\u0103rie s\u0103-i frig\u0103 dou\u0103 pot\u00e2rnichi din cele ce v\u00e2nase el. Dup\u0103 ce a\u015fez\u0103 pot\u00e2rnichile \u00een frigare \u015fi le puse la foc, acolo le uit\u0103: c\u0103ci ce v\u0103zu \u015fi auzi \u00eel buim\u0103cise.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Toate lucru\u015foarele vorbeau \u00een casa aceea, p\u00e2n\u0103 \u015fi oalele \u015fi v\u0103traiul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0La vatra aceea erau dou\u0103 oale puse la foc. Aceste oale se certau. Sluga \u00eemp\u0103ratului auzi cu urechile sale cum se ciorov\u0103iau aceste oale.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 F\u0103 buzato, d\u0103-te la o parte c\u0103 tu ai fiert destul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ba, d\u0103-te tu mai la o parte, scurto ce e\u015fti, c\u0103 au fiert \u015fi ma\u0163ele din tine.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei c\u0103sc\u00e2nd gura la d\u00e2nsele, sluga uit\u0103 \u015fi pot\u00e2rniche \u015fi tot. C\u00e2nd se de\u015ftept\u0103 sluga \u00eemp\u0103ratului, friptura se f\u0103cuse scrum.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se bocea biet \u015fi se t\u00e2nguia de-i pl\u00e2ngeai de mil\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului \u00eel lini\u015fti spuindu-i c\u0103 o s\u0103 roage pe \u00eemp\u0103ratul s\u0103-l ierte pentru aceast\u0103 gre\u015feal\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Apoi trimise \u015fi pofti pe \u00eemp\u0103ratul \u00een casa cea mare. Aci, st\u00e2nd de vorb\u0103, st\u0103p\u00e2nul casei porunci s\u0103 se puie masa. R\u0103mase \u00eemp\u0103ratul st\u00e2lpit c\u00e2nd v\u0103zu masa viind singur\u0103, talerele, lingurile \u015fi celelalte tac\u00e2muri cu v\u0103ta\u015fii lor \u015fi le a\u015fezau care\u015fi pre unde. Venir\u0103 bucatele \u015fi m\u00e2ncar\u0103. Dup\u0103 ce sf\u00e2r\u015fir\u0103 de m\u00e2ncat \u015fedeau la vorb\u0103, c\u00e2nd \u00een loc de a se str\u00e2nge masa, v\u0103zur\u0103 c\u0103 lingurile \u00eencep a s\u0103lta pe mas\u0103. V\u0103taful le suduia, dar\u0103 ele nu ascultau de cuv\u00e2ntul lui. \u00cemp\u0103ratul nu b\u0103g\u0103 de seam\u0103, c\u0103ci vorbea cu fiul gazdei, un copilandru dezghe\u0163at \u015fi sf\u0103tos, de te tr\u0103gea inima s\u0103 stai cu d\u00e2nsul de vorb\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Atunci gazda, ca s\u0103 fac\u0103 pace, zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu se poate ca \u00eemp\u0103ratul s\u0103 fi f\u0103cut o asemenea fapt\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 C\u0103 n-are la cine altul s\u0103 fie, r\u0103spunse v\u0103taful lingurilor. Trebuie s\u0103-l c\u0103ut\u0103m.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu mai tr\u0103nc\u0103ni, \u00eei mai zise gazda. Aide, ridic\u0103 masa \u015fi te car\u0103 de aci.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Auzind \u00eemp\u0103ratul cele ce se vorbir\u0103, ceru s\u0103 fie c\u0103utat, ca s\u0103-\u015fi ias\u0103 din b\u0103nuial\u0103, c\u0103ci el nu se \u015ftia vinovat.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Atunci, tr\u0103g\u00e2ndu-i \u00eenc\u0103l\u0163\u0103mintea, \u00eei c\u0103zu lingura pe care o c\u0103utau din cizma \u00eemp\u0103ratului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pas\u0103mite gazda se vorbise cu v\u0103taful lingurilor ca s\u0103-i joace renghiul \u0103sta.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul se f\u0103cu ca sfecla de ro\u015fu de ru\u015finea ce p\u0103\u0163i \u015fi zise \u00eenc\u00e2lcindu-se de ciud\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Arat\u0103-\u0163i, Doamne, minunea ta! Nu \u015ftiu la sufletul meu de nici un furt. N-am b\u0103gat eu lingura \u00een cizm\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cum nu \u015ftii dumneata, zise \u015fi gazda, despre lingur\u0103, asemenea nu \u015ftiu nici eu p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00een ziua de azi cu cine am f\u0103cut copila\u015ful \u0103sta.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Atunci, cunosc\u00e2ndu-se, se \u00eembr\u0103\u0163i\u015far\u0103 \u015fi se iertar\u0103 unul pe altul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata de \u00eemp\u0103rat mul\u0163umi apoi \u00eemp\u0103ratului c\u0103 i-a dat Dumnezeu \u00een g\u00e2nd de a pus \u00een boloboc \u00eempreun\u0103 cu d\u00e2nsa pe junele cu care ea s-a \u00eenso\u0163it mai pe urm\u0103; c\u0103ci el s-a \u00eendr\u0103gostit de d\u00e2nsa, a iubit-o \u015fi a \u00eengrijit-o ca pe o so\u0163ie credincioas\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul nu \u015ftia cum s-o mai m\u00e2ng\u00e2ie, cunosc\u00e2ndu-i nevinov\u0103\u0163ia. L\u0103ud\u0103 \u015fi pe so\u0163ul ei pentru buna sa purtare de grij\u0103, \u015fi cu to\u0163ii \u00eempreun\u0103 se \u00eentoarser\u0103 la scaunul \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei, d\u00e2nd m\u0103rire lui Dumnezeu c\u0103 nevinov\u0103\u0163ia a ie\u015fit deasupra ca untul de lemn.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A fost odat\u0103 un \u00eemp\u0103rat foarte bogat \u015fi puternic. Acest \u00eemp\u0103rat avea un fecior \u015fi o fat\u0103. \u00cent\u00e2mpl\u00e2ndu-se s\u0103-i moar\u0103 feciorul, \u00eel \u00eengrop\u0103 cu mare cinste \u015fi alai ca … <\/p>\n