A fost un \u00eemp\u0103rat \u015f-o \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teas\u0103. Ei aveau numai o fat\u0103 \u015fi o p\u0103zea ca lumina ochilor lor. Ea n-avea voie s\u0103 ias\u0103 nici p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00een gr\u0103din\u0103 f\u0103r\u0103 d\u0103daca ei. Aceasta o \u0163inea de aproape \u015fi n-o sc\u0103pa din vedere nici c\u00e2t ai da \u00een cremene. Fata, tot \u015fez\u00e2nd la fereastr\u0103, vedea pe un june fluier\u0103-v\u00e2nt de colo p\u00e2n\u0103 colo. \u00centr-o zi uit\u00e2ndu-se la el, o v\u0103zu \u015fi el \u015fi, \u0163intind ochii \u00een ochii ei, ea sim\u0163i un fior, apoi ca o sc\u00e2nteie de foc o arse ceva la inim\u0103. Se trase fata de la fereastr\u0103 \u015fi spuse d\u0103dac\u0103-sei ce i se \u00eent\u00e2mpl\u0103. Atunci d\u0103daca ei \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ci ca fugi \u015fi d-ta de la fereastr\u0103! Ce tot te zg\u00e2ie\u015fti \u015fi te ui\u0163i la to\u0163i d-alde taie c\u00e2inilor frunz\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nu trecu mult \u015fi fata \u00eencepu a nu se sim\u0163i bine. Pas\u0103mite luase \u00een p\u00e2ntece, f\u0103r\u0103 \u015ftirea lui Dumnezeu. Spuse d\u0103dac\u0103-sei. Aceasta se da de ceasul mor\u0163ii de ciud\u0103, cum de s\u0103 se \u00eent\u00e2mple una ca asta, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 \u015ftie fata de b\u0103rbat. Frica ce le cuprinsese pe am\u00e2ndou\u0103 era de nepovestit.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ca ce o s\u0103 zic\u0103 tat\u0103-t\u0103u acum c\u00e2nd va afla, se v\u0103ieta d\u0103daca, ce o s\u0103-i r\u0103spunz eu, c\u00e2nd m\u0103 va \u00eentreba?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cum o s\u0103 m\u0103 \u00eenf\u0103\u0163i\u015fez eu acum \u00eenaintea tat\u0103-meu cu bor\u0163ul la gur\u0103, zise \u015fi fata, c\u00e2nd numai unul Dumnezeu \u015ftie c\u00e2t sunt de nevinovat\u0103?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei \u00een adev\u0103r c\u0103 tat\u0103-s\u0103u era un om aspru. Nu le-ar fi iertat o dat\u0103 cu capul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se duser\u0103, deci, \u015fi povesti \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesei toat\u0103 \u00eent\u00e2mplarea, \u015fi se rugar\u0103 de d\u00e2nsa, ca s\u0103 intre ea la \u00eemp\u0103ratul cu mijlocire de iertare.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd auzi \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa de cele ce se \u00eent\u00e2mplase, se lu\u0103 cu m\u00e2inile de p\u0103r. Ea zicea c\u0103 este peste poate ca s\u0103 r\u0103m\u00e2ie cineva \u00eens\u0103rcinat\u0103 din vedere. Vezi c\u0103 ea \u015ftia cum merg lucrurile \u00een lume. \u015ei la o minune ca aceasta nici c\u0103 se a\u015ftepta.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Lucrurile nu puteau r\u0103m\u00e2nea mult timp acoperite. \u00cemp\u0103r\u0103teasa, de sil\u0103, de mil\u0103, fu nevoit\u0103 a spune \u00eemp\u0103ratului toat\u0103 \u015firetenia.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd auzi \u00eemp\u0103ratul de ast\u0103 n\u0103past\u0103, se f\u0103cu foc m\u00e2nie. R\u0103cnea ca un leu:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cine s\u0103 fie acel neomenit carele mi-a necinstit perii cei albi ai b\u0103tr\u00e2ne\u0163elor mele? Cu moarte s\u0103 se omoare. \u00cen furci s\u0103-l at\u00e2rne. Praf \u015fi pulbere s\u0103 se aleag\u0103 de capul lui!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103r\u0103teasa \u00eel lu\u0103 cu bini\u015forul \u015fi-l mai domoli olecu\u0163\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Vezi c\u0103 el nu punea crez\u0103m\u00e2nt pe spusele fiicii sale \u015fi ale d\u0103dacei. El \u015ftia c\u0103 astfel de \u00eent\u00e2mplare nu se mai auzise. Dup\u0103 ce dojeni cu dojan\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasc\u0103 pe d\u0103dac\u0103, oropsi pe fie-sa cu urgie. Porunci de f\u0103cu o cor\u0103bioar\u0103, puse pe fat\u0103 \u00eentr-\u00eensa, \u015fi l\u00e2ng\u0103 ea cinci p\u00e2ini \u015fi un urciora\u015f cu ap\u0103, \u015fi \u00eei dete drumul pe g\u00e2rl\u0103 spre a se duce unde mila Domnului o va scoate.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Merg\u00e2nd cor\u0103bioara pe ap\u0103, ea se ruga lui Dumnezeu cu zdrobire de r\u0103runchi ca s\u0103 o scoat\u0103 la liman bun, ca unul ce cunoa\u015fte nevinov\u0103\u0163ia ei, \u015fi ca pe una ce nu se \u015ftia la sufletul ei cu nici o prihan\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2teva zile se b\u0103l\u0103b\u0103ni ea a\u015fa cu valurile apelor. \u00cen ziua a treia \u00eei veni ceasul na\u015fterii, \u015fi f\u0103cu un dolofan de copil ca un \u00eengera\u015f. Biata femeie! c\u0103ci n-avu ea nici un ajutor omenesc \u00een ziua necazului, dec\u00e2t suferin\u0163ele ei, \u015fi alin\u0103tor pe Dumnezeu! se m\u00e2ng\u00e2ia oarecum \u00een sufletul ei c\u0103 se \u015ftia nep\u00e2ng\u0103rit\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei vr\u00e2nd Dumnezeu cu d\u00e2nsa, cor\u0103bioara, \u00eentr-una din nop\u0163i, se opri. Ea sim\u0163i c\u0103 corabia nu mai merge; sta pe loc. P\u00e2n\u0103 la ziu\u0103, \u00eei t\u00e2c\u00e2i inima de fric\u0103, ne\u015ftiind pe ce \u0163\u0103rmuri se va fi oprit. C\u00e2nd se lumin\u0103, v\u0103zu c\u0103 cor\u0103bioara poposise de marginea unei p\u0103duri. Ie\u015find la uscat cu copila\u015ful \u00een bra\u0163e, r\u0103t\u0103ci \u00eencoa \u015fi-ncolo prin p\u0103dure. Apoi se a\u015fez\u0103 \u00een scorbura unui copaci mare \u015fi gros ca butia. Acolo stete ea mai mul\u0163i ani, hr\u0103nindu-se cu ierburi \u015fi r\u0103d\u0103cini, ori cu roadele unor copaci. Ea \u00ee\u015fi cre\u015ftea copilul cu drag.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ea f\u0103cu din ramurile unui copaci un leag\u0103n \u00een care \u00ee\u015fi punea copilul ziua; iar\u0103 noaptea nu-l dep\u0103rta de la s\u00e2nul ei, \u015fi, pentru sc\u0103ld\u0103toare, se ducea la vadul de la albia unui p\u00e2r\u00e2ia\u015f ce curgea p-aproape d-acolo. Acoper\u0103m\u00e2nt le era cerul cu stelele; tovar\u0103\u015f de juc\u0103rii copilului \u00eei era florile c\u00e2mpului, paserile cerului, flutureii \u015fi g\u00e2ng\u0103niile.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce se f\u0103cu mai m\u0103ricel, m\u0103-sa \u00eel \u00eenv\u0103\u0163\u0103 la v\u00e2nat \u015fi-i spunea cu lacr\u0103mile \u00een ochi cum a fost ea crescut\u0103 \u015fi cum este nevoit\u0103 s\u0103-l creasc\u0103 pe d\u00e2nsul. Iar\u0103 el asculta \u015fi b\u0103ga la cap toate cele ce \u00eei spunea m\u0103-sa.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mai m\u0103rindu-se el oleac\u0103, \u00eencepu a c\u0103ta v\u00e2nat mai pe departe de locuin\u0163a lor. Iar\u0103 \u00eentr-una din zile z\u0103ri un palat \u00een dep\u0103rtare. El \u00ee\u015fi aduse aminte de cele ce \u00eei spusese m\u0103-sa despre palaturile tat\u0103-s\u0103u \u015fi i se p\u0103ru c\u0103 se cam aseam\u0103n\u0103. Dete fuga \u015fi spuse m\u0103-sii ceea ce descoperise. A doua zi plec\u0103 cu m\u0103-sa de m\u00e2n\u0103 \u015fi, ajung\u00e2nd la acele palaturi, mum\u0103-sa \u00eei spuse c\u0103 acelea nu sunt ale tat\u0103lui ei; dar\u0103 c\u0103 tot cam a\u015fa sunt \u015fi ale \u00eemp\u0103ra\u0163ilor din lume.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mai trecu ce mai trecu \u015fi mai m\u0103rindu-se \u015fi d\u00e2nsul, \u00eentr-una din zile, duc\u00e2ndu-se iar\u0103\u015fi la v\u00e2nat, cum, cum, el se pomeni iar\u0103\u015fi dinaintea acelui palat; cu toroipanul la spinare, el \u00ee\u015fi lu\u0103 inima \u00een din\u0163i \u015fi intr\u0103 \u00een curte. Pas\u0103mite palatul acela era al unor zmei. Fl\u0103c\u0103iandrul nostru cel viteaz, carele nu \u015ftia ce este frica, intr\u0103 \u015fi \u00een palat. P-aci, p-aci era s\u0103-\u015fi ias\u0103 din min\u0163i de mirare \u015fi s\u0103-\u015fi piarz\u0103 cump\u0103tul d\u00e2nd de at\u00e2tea lucruri, ce nu mai v\u0103zuse el \u00een via\u0163a lui. C\u00e2nd, ce s\u0103 vezi d-ta? o dat\u0103 \u00eei ie\u015fi \u00eenainte trei zmei. Ace\u015ftia era st\u0103p\u00e2nii palatului. \u015ei unde se repezir\u0103 la d\u00e2nsul de pare c\u0103 s\u0103-l ia \u00een unghii, \u015fi cu grai r\u0103stit, dojenindu-l, \u00eei ziser\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cum de ai cutezat, spurcatule, s\u0103 ne calci casa?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Voinicul nu zise nici c\u00e2rc! ci, aduc\u00e2nd toroipanul, mai iute dec\u00e2t fulgerul, p\u0103li pe unul la dreapta, pe altul la st\u00e2nga, de nu \u015ftiur\u0103 de unde le veni tr\u0103snetul, \u015fi \u00eei culc\u0103 la p\u0103m\u00e2nt. \u015ei nici c\u0103 se mai mi\u015fcar\u0103 din loc, fiindc\u0103 \u00eei lovise cu n\u0103dejde.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Al treilea zmeu, v\u0103z\u00e2nd cum merge treaba, pieri dinaintea lui ca o n\u0103luc\u0103, \u015fi se duse de se ascunse \u00een pivni\u0163\u0103. V\u0103zu el c\u0103 nu poate da piept cu un asemenea viteaz, \u015fi se hot\u0103r\u00ee a-i purta s\u00e2mbetele.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Voinicul de rom\u00e2na\u015f, \u00een d\u00e2rdora luptei, nu b\u0103g\u0103 de seam\u0103 ce se f\u0103cu al treilea zmeu. A\u015ftept\u0103 ce a\u015ftept\u0103 \u015fi dac\u0103 v\u0103zu c\u0103 nu mai vine nimeni, el se \u00eentoarse, lu\u0103 pe mum\u0103-sa, o duse \u00een acele palaturi \u015fi se a\u015fez\u0103 acolo.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Umbl\u00e2nd din c\u0103mar\u0103 \u00een c\u0103mar\u0103, dete peste armele zmeilor \u015fi se minun\u0103. M\u0103-sa \u00eei spuse c\u0103 v\u0103zuse \u00een casa tat\u0103lui s\u0103u asemenea arme, \u015fi \u00eei ar\u0103t\u0103 cum se \u00eentrebuin\u0163eaz\u0103. \u00cei prinse bine, c\u0103ci v\u0103zu c\u0103 \u00eei merge mai lesne la v\u00e2nat. Acum \u00eencepu a s\u0103geta la c\u0103prioare \u015fi la ciute, c\u0103ci p\u00e2n\u0103 acum v\u00e2na numai p\u0103s\u0103rele cu la\u0163ul, \u015fi \u00eei era cu greu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ajunsese ca el s\u0103 fie tare \u015fi mare \u00een p\u0103dure. Nu era cine s\u0103-i stea \u00eempotriv\u0103. De multe ori nu venea cu zilele p-acas\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00centr-una din zile, zmeul ie\u015fi din pivni\u0163\u0103 \u015fi veni milogindu-se la muma voinicului ca s\u0103-\u015fi fac\u0103 poman\u0103 cu el s\u0103-l primeasc\u0103 la curtea ei, c\u0103ci zicea el c\u0103 pribege\u015fte nu \u015ftiu de c\u00e2t timp orb\u0103c\u0103ind prin acel bunget de p\u0103dure. Spuse c\u0103 un nenorocit carele se r\u0103t\u0103cise, umbl\u00e2nd dup\u0103 v\u00e2nat, \u015fi da laud\u0103 Domnului c\u0103 l-a \u00eenvrednicit a mai da peste fiin\u0163e de oameni.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ea, biet, care \u015ftia ce este necazul \u015fi lipsa, \u00ee\u015fi plec\u0103 urechea la rug\u0103ciunile cele viclene ale zmeului \u015fi, f\u0103c\u00e2ndu-i-se mil\u0103 de nenorocirile lui, \u00eei f\u0103g\u0103dui c\u0103 va vorbi fiului ei de d\u00e2nsul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum veni fiul s\u0103u de unde era dus, ea \u00eei spuse toat\u0103 \u015firetenia nenorocirei omului ce n\u0103zuia la mila lor, \u015fi \u00eel rug\u0103 s\u0103 aib\u0103 mil\u0103 de tic\u0103lo\u015fia lui, c\u0103ci, zicea ea, nu \u015ftim cum ne va mai aduce \u015fi pe noi Dumnezeu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Voinicului \u00eei p\u0103ru bine de ast\u0103 \u00eent\u00e2mplare, mai cu seam\u0103, g\u00e2ndea el, c\u0103 va fi barim o slug\u0103 \u00een curte care s\u0103 \u0163ie de ur\u00e2t m\u0103-sii, \u00een lipsa lui, \u015fi s\u0103-i dea ajutor \u00een trebile casei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nu-l cunoscu c\u0103 este zmeu, c\u00e2nd \u00eel v\u0103zu, at\u00e2t de bine \u015ftiu procletul a se schimba. \u00cei spuse ce are de f\u0103cut \u015fi \u00eel primi s\u0103 \u015feaz\u0103 la curtea lui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Multele lipsuri, multele necazuri, multa m\u00e2hnire ce suferise mama viteazului \u015fi dorul cel mare de \u0163ara ei, iar\u0103 mai cu seam\u0103 suferin\u0163ele ei c\u00e2nd se g\u00e2ndea la ru\u015finea ce r\u0103m\u0103sese asupra numelui s\u0103u \u00een casa p\u0103rin\u0163ilor ei, ea fiind nevinovat\u0103, o f\u0103cu de l\u00e2ncezea \u015fi se topea d-a-n picioarele. V\u0103z\u00e2nd-o zmeul a\u015fa searb\u0103d \u015fi tot f\u0103r\u0103 voie-bun\u0103, se \u00eencumetase \u00eentr-una din zile, pe c\u00e2nd voinicul era la v\u00e2n\u0103toare, \u015fi o \u00eentreb\u0103, dar\u0103 se pref\u0103cu c\u0103 vorbe\u015fte cu sfial\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cum bag de seam\u0103, st\u0103p\u00e2n\u0103, nu prea \u0163i-e bine?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu mi-e bine, m\u0103 b\u0103iete, c\u0103ci mi-e dor d-alde tata \u015fi d-alde mama, \u015fi de \u0163ara mea. Vezi c\u0103 eu sunt fat\u0103 de \u00eemp\u0103rat, \u015fi pentru o n\u0103paste ce a c\u0103zut pe capul meu pribegesc de sunt at\u00e2\u0163i mari de ani.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Eu \u015ftiu un leac pentru boala dumitale, st\u0103p\u00e2n\u0103; dar\u0103 n-are cine se duce s\u0103-l aduc\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei \u00eei spuse o sumedenie de minuni ce f\u0103cuse leacul ce zicea c\u0103 ar fi bun pentru ea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd se \u00eentoarse de la v\u00e2n\u0103toare fiul ei, ea \u00eei spuse c\u0103 auzise de la sluga lor, cum c\u0103 de va m\u00e2nca mere din m\u0103rul ro\u015fu se va face s\u0103n\u0103toas\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0El fu bucuros c\u0103 auzise un leac care s\u0103 fac\u0103 pe m\u0103-sa s\u0103n\u0103toas\u0103, \u015fi se hot\u0103r\u00ee a se duce tocmai acolo s\u0103-i aduc\u0103 leacul. \u00ce\u015fi lu\u0103 ziua bun\u0103 \u015fi plec\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar \u00eencotro s-apuce? c\u0103ci nici nu mai auzise p\u00e2n\u0103 atunci de a\u015fa ceva. Apuc\u0103 \u015fi el \u00eentr-un noroc spre r\u0103s\u0103rit \u015fi, merg\u00e2nd prin desi\u015furile p\u0103durii, z\u0103ri un palat mai frumos dec\u00e2t acela \u00een care \u015fedeau ei. Se duse drept acolo. Aci locuia o z\u00e2n\u0103 m\u0103iastr\u0103. Cum o v\u0103zu, \u00eei c\u0103zu cu drag. Dar\u0103 m\u0103iastra, ie\u015findu-i \u00eenainte, \u00eel priimi dup\u0103 cum i se cuvenea, \u00eel b\u0103g\u0103 \u00een palat \u015fi \u00eel omeni ca pe un oaspe.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Din una, din alta, se \u00een\u0163eleser\u0103 la cuvinte. Vezi c\u0103, m\u0103re, aceasta era scrisa lui. El nu mai v\u0103zuse p\u00e2n\u0103 atunci alt chip de muiere, dec\u00e2t p-al m\u0103-sii. \u015e-apoi era at\u00e2t de frumoas\u0103 \u015fi de ginga\u015fe, ca o floare!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ea \u00eenc\u0103 avea la ce se uita la el; c\u0103ci era un brad de rom\u00e2na\u015f.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0El se uitase acolo la d\u00e2nsa. C\u00e2nd \u00ee\u015fi aduse aminte c\u0103 el plecase s\u0103 aduc\u0103 mume-sei mere de la m\u0103rul ro\u015fu, voi s\u0103 o zbugheasc\u0103. Dar\u0103 z\u00e2na m\u0103iastr\u0103 \u00eel opri \u015fi-l \u00eentreb\u0103 unde se duce.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Voinicul \u00eei spuse din fir p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00een a\u0163\u0103 toat\u0103 \u015firetenia. Z\u00e2na pricepu viclenia zmeului \u015fi t\u0103cu. Apoi \u00eel \u00eendrept\u0103 ea spre locul acela cu m\u0103rul ro\u015fu, \u015fi-l \u015fi \u00eenv\u0103\u0163\u0103 cum s\u0103 fac\u0103 ca s\u0103 ia merele.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce-\u015fi lu\u0103 ziua-bun\u0103 \u015fi de la m\u0103iastr\u0103 \u015fi-i f\u0103g\u0103dui c\u0103 se va \u00eentoarce pe la d\u00e2nsa, porni; \u015fi aide, aide, merse cale lung\u0103 \u015fi mai lung\u0103, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce, trec\u00e2nd \u0163\u0103ri \u015fi m\u0103ri, ajunse la o gr\u0103din\u0103 ocolit\u0103 numai de trandafiri. Intr\u0103 \u00een\u0103untru \u015fi dete peste m\u0103rul ro\u015fu, carele era s\u0103dit \u00een mijlocul gr\u0103dinei. El cerc\u0103 a se al\u0103tura de pom, dar pomul \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu te apropia de mine, voinice, c\u0103 \u00ee\u0163i vei pierde via\u0163a \u015fi e p\u0103cat de d\u00e2nsa.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fl\u0103c\u0103ia\u015ful, ce nu \u015ftia de fric\u0103, \u00eei r\u0103spunse cum \u00eel \u00eenv\u0103\u0163ase z\u00e2na:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu te teme, pom oropsit, c\u0103 te voi cur\u0103\u0163a de omizi \u015fi de usc\u0103turi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei dup\u0103 ce-i t\u0103ie usc\u0103turile \u015fi \u00eei lu\u0103 omizile, culese trei meri\u015foare ca cele din rai \u015fi se \u00eentoarse \u00eenapoi. Ajung\u00e2nd \u00een p\u0103dure, dete pe la z\u00e2na. Aceasta cum \u00eel v\u0103zu, \u00eel priimii cu bucurie, \u00eel puse \u00eentr-o c\u0103mar\u0103 s\u0103 se odihneasc\u0103 ni\u0163el, \u015fi p\u00e2n\u0103 una, alta, \u00eei schimb\u0103 merele \u015fi \u00eei puse altele \u00een locul lor. C\u00e2nd se scul\u0103 voinicul, se gr\u0103bi a se \u00eentoarce la m\u0103-sa cu slujba f\u0103cut\u0103. Lu\u0103 deci merele \u015fi porni.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cen vremea aceasta, procletul de zmeu se lingu\u015fea pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 mama b\u0103iatului \u015fi, cu ispite \u015fi cu marghiolii, umbla s\u0103 o dea \u00een cap s\u0103 se planiseasc\u0103 lui. Ea, biet, nu \u015ftia unde bate diavolul de zmeu. Nu cuno\u015ftea la sufletul ei ce sunt ispitele \u015fi cursele dragostei, \u015fi prin urmare nu da nas spurcatului s\u0103 se \u00eentinz\u0103. Ea \u015ftia una \u015fi bun\u0103: se topea de dor dup\u0103 fiul s\u0103u, dup\u0103 p\u0103rin\u0163ii ei \u015fi dup\u0103 \u0163ara \u00een care se n\u0103scuse. C\u00e2nd o c\u0103utai, era cu ochii sc\u0103lda\u0163i \u00een lacr\u0103mi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum v\u0103zu pe fiu-s\u0103u, s\u0103lt\u0103 de bucurie. I se p\u0103ru a \u00eenviora olecu\u0163\u0103. M\u00e2nc\u0103 din meri\u015foarele ce-i aduse, \u015fi i se p\u0103ru bune.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce mai trecu, ea c\u0103zu iar\u0103\u015fi \u00een piroteala de mai-nainte.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Voinicul, v\u0103z\u00e2nd c\u0103 s\u0103n\u0103tatea m\u0103-sei t\u00e2nje\u015fte, nu \u015ftia ce s\u0103-i mai fac\u0103 spre a o mai \u00eenveseli. Iar\u0103 dracul de zmeu at\u00e2t de harnic se ar\u0103ta \u00een ale slujbei, \u00eenc\u00e2t n-apuca s\u0103 ias\u0103 bine vorba din gura voinicului, \u015fi el o ghicea; apoi se f\u0103cea luntre \u015fi punte, ca s\u0103-i \u00eendeplineasc\u0103 voile. Voinicul b\u0103g\u0103 el de seam\u0103 tragerea de inim\u0103 ce avea sluga spre a-i sluji cu credin\u0163\u0103, \u015fi nu se c\u0103ia de loc c\u0103 l-a priimit la curtea sa, ba \u00eenc\u0103 \u00eencepuse a-l privi cu ochi buni.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00centr-una din zile, pe c\u00e2nd voinicul era cu voie-bun\u0103, zmeul se apropie de el \u015fi, cu grai milogit, \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 St\u0103p\u00e2ne, cunosc iubirea ce ai pentru m\u0103muli\u0163a d-tale. L\u00e2ncezeala de care p\u0103time\u015fte, mie nu-mi prea place. De vei vrea s\u0103 m\u0103 ascul\u0163i, nu vei gre\u015fi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u015etii tu ceva leacuri? spune, c\u0103 te ascult.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u00cen \u0163ara de unde sunt eu, oamenii p\u0103tima\u015fi de asemenea boal\u0103 fac tot ce se poate de aduc ap\u0103 vie \u015fi ap\u0103 moart\u0103 de la mun\u0163ii ce se bat \u00een capete. Aceast\u0103 ap\u0103 este leacul cel mai bun. Te v\u0103z c\u0103 e\u015fti un mare viteaz \u015fi am credin\u0163\u0103 \u00een sufletul meu c\u0103 d-tale \u00ee\u0163i va fi mai u\u015for dec\u00e2t altora a o aduce.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0N-apuc\u0103 s\u0103 ispr\u0103veasc\u0103 vorba \u015fi viteazul se duse la m\u0103-sa. Fiind acolo, el \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Mam\u0103, te v\u0103z tot gale\u015f\u0103, \u015fi te pierzi d-a-n picioarele. M\u0103 duc, mam\u0103, s\u0103-\u0163i aduc leacuri. La mun\u0163ii ce se bat \u00een capete este ap\u0103 vie \u015fi ap\u0103 moart\u0103. Tocmai acolo m\u0103 voi duce, s\u0103-\u0163i aduc ap\u0103 de aceea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu te duce, dragul mamei; mila Domnului este cu noi; de va vrea el s\u0103 fiu bolnav\u0103, m\u0103car orice fel de ap\u0103 \u00eemi vei aduce, \u00een de\u015fert va fi. Nu m\u0103 mai l\u0103sa singur\u0103. Destul mi-a ros r\u0103runchii singur\u0103tatea. M\u00e2ng\u00e2ierea mea acum tu e\u015fti, f\u0103tul meu, de voi mai fi lipsit\u0103 \u015fi de d\u00e2nsa, voi pieri.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Fii b\u0103rbat\u0103, mam\u0103, \u0163ine-\u0163i firea p\u00e2n\u0103 m\u0103 voi \u00eentoarce, \u015fi ai s\u0103 fii vesel\u0103 \u015fi s\u0103n\u0103toas\u0103 ca piatra, dup\u0103 ce vei bea ap\u0103 vie.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nu fu cu putin\u0163\u0103 a-l \u0163ine. Se g\u0103ti \u015fi plec\u0103. \u00cen cale dete \u015fi pe la z\u00e2na m\u0103iastr\u0103. Din una, din alta, veni vorba c\u0103 se duce \u00een c\u0103l\u0103torie, \u015fi-i \u015fi spuse unde se duce.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Z\u00e2mbi z\u00e2na c\u00e2nd auzi \u015fi v\u0103zu urcioarele ce-i dase zmeul. Nu zise \u00eens\u0103 nimic care s\u0103-i dea vro b\u0103nuial\u0103, ci \u00eei dete dou\u0103 borcane, cu care s\u0103 ia ap\u0103 mai \u00een grab\u0103, \u015fi \u00eel \u00eenv\u0103\u0163\u0103 cum s\u0103 fac\u0103. \u00cei zise c\u0103 tocmai la amiazi, c\u00e2nd va fi soarele \u00een cruci, s\u0103 \u00eenal\u0163e o pr\u0103jin\u0103 \u015fi \u00een v\u00e2rful ei s\u0103 puie o mahram\u0103 ro\u015fie. Mun\u0163ii or c\u0103ta la ea cu ochii bleojdi\u0163i; iar\u0103 el, p\u00e2n\u0103 s-or de\u015ftepta ei din buim\u0103ceal\u0103, s\u0103 se repeaz\u0103 iute a lua ap\u0103 cu borcanele din ambele f\u00e2nt\u00e2ne. \u00cei p\u0103ru mult bine voinicului pentru \u00eenv\u0103\u0163\u0103tura ce-i dete. Apoi lu\u00e2ndu-\u015fi ziua-bun\u0103, plec\u0103. Merse, merse, merse, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce, dup\u0103 o c\u0103l\u0103torie silit\u0103, ajunse la locul cu pricina.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103cu precum \u00eel \u00eenv\u0103\u0163ase z\u00e2na; iar\u0103 el, d-a-n c\u0103larele, se repezi printre mun\u0163i \u015fi umplu borcanele. C\u00e2nd fu a se \u00eentoarce, mun\u0163ii prinsese de veste c\u0103 oarecine a luat ap\u0103 din f\u00e2nt\u00e2n\u0103, \u015fi \u00eencepu a se bate iar\u0103\u015fi \u00een capete. Tocmai atunci \u015fi voinicul se \u00eentorcea. \u015ei dac\u0103 nu se gr\u0103bea a ie\u015fi mai iute, acolo \u00eel pr\u0103p\u0103dea. Sc\u0103p\u0103 \u00eens\u0103 cu fa\u0163a curat\u0103. Numai coada calului o apuc\u0103 \u015fi acolo r\u0103mase de jum\u0103tate. De atunci, vezi, este calul cu coada jum\u0103tate de carne \u015fi jum\u0103tate de p\u0103r.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd se \u00eentoarse acas\u0103, dete iar\u0103\u015fi pe la z\u00e2na. Ea, ca \u015fi de la r\u00e2nd, \u00eel rug\u0103 s\u0103 se dea ni\u0163el odihnei; \u015fi \u00een acel timp \u00eei schimb\u0103 apa, puindu-i alta \u00een locul celei ce adusese el.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Scul\u00e2ndu-se dup\u0103 somn, lu\u0103 borcanele cu ap\u0103 \u015fi veni acas\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0At\u00e2ta \u00eei fuse m\u0103-sii, ca s\u0103-l vaz\u0103. Nu \u015ftia ce mai f\u0103cea de bucurie. \u00cel s\u0103ruta \u015fi p-o parte \u015fi pe alta. Apoi dup\u0103 ce b\u0103u din apa ce-i aduse, ei \u00eei p\u0103ru c\u0103 mai prinse ni\u0163el suflet. Vorb\u0103 s\u0103 fie! Ea nu b\u0103ga de seam\u0103, vezi, c\u0103 bucuria pentru vederea fiului s\u0103u o face s\u0103 fie oarecum mai sprinten\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Zmeul se da de ceasul mor\u0163ii c\u00e2nd \u00eel v\u0103zu c\u0103 s-a \u00eentors cu isprava f\u0103cut\u0103. El (\u00ee\u015fi) b\u0103tuse capul mult \u015fi bine s\u0103 dea \u00een cap pe fata \u00eemp\u0103ratului, \u00een lipsa fiului s\u0103u, dar\u0103 toate mrejele lui r\u0103m\u0103seser\u0103 de r\u00e2s; c\u0103ci ea nu dete \u00een clapca \u00een care o \u00eempingea spurcatul. Ea nu-\u015fi putea da seam\u0103 de ce tot umbl\u0103 el pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 d\u00e2nsa cu \u015fo\u015fele, cu momele. Nici c\u0103 visa despre ce avea de g\u00e2nd procletul de zmeu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pas\u0103mite zmeului \u00eei era fric\u0103 s\u0103 se ia la lupt\u0103 pe fa\u0163\u0103 cu voinicul. Ci voia s\u0103-l piarz\u0103 prin viclenie, \u015fi apoi s\u0103-\u015fi bat\u0103 joc \u015fi de m\u0103-sa, ca s\u0103-\u015fi izb\u00e2ndeasc\u0103 pentru moartea fra\u0163ilor s\u0103i.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar\u0103 nu-i ajut\u0103 Dumnezeu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Voinicul din c\u00e2nd \u00een c\u00e2nd mergea la v\u00e2n\u0103toare, \u015fi da \u015fi c\u00e2te o rait\u0103 pe la z\u00e2na. Nu trecu mult \u015fi b\u0103g\u0103 de seam\u0103 c\u0103 m\u0103-sa nu se \u00eendrepteaz\u0103, ci g\u0103ineaz\u0103 \u015fi se tope\u015fte de pe picioare. Se \u00eentrista \u00een inima lui c\u00e2nd vedea c\u0103 nu-i d\u0103 \u00eende bine \u015fi c\u0103 nu-i poate da nici un ajutor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pacostea de zmeu b\u0103g\u0103 de seam\u0103 c\u0103 voinicul se fr\u0103m\u00e2nt\u0103 cu firea pentru s\u0103n\u0103tatea m\u0103-sii, se apropie de d\u00e2nsul \u00eentr-o zi \u015fi-i mai zise \u00eentr-o doar\u0103; c\u0103ci se temea spurcatul a-l mai \u00eendemna. Teama lui era s\u0103 nu se de\u015ftepte voinicul \u015fi s\u0103-i ghiceasc\u0103 cugetele lui cele viclene.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Am auzit \u015fi eu, st\u0103p\u00e2ne, pe c\u00e2nd eram copil, c\u0103 oamenii mari c\u00e2nd sunt p\u0103tima\u015fi de l\u00e2ngezeal\u0103 \u015fi copiii c\u00e2nd bolesc de boal\u0103 c\u00e2ineasc\u0103 se t\u0103m\u0103duiesc de va m\u00e2nca un purcel de la scroafa de sub p\u0103m\u00e2nt. Mi se rupe inima din mine c\u00e2nd v\u0103z pe buna mea st\u0103p\u00e2n\u0103 cum i se stinge via\u0163a din sine. Dar\u0103 nici pe d-ta nu te \u00eendemn a te duce, c\u0103ci mare primejdie va c\u0103dea pe capul aceluia ce se va cerca a fura purcelul, de nu va izbuti.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu sporov\u0103i mai mult, \u00eei r\u0103spunse voinicul, eu nu \u015ftiu ce este primejdie \u015fi fric\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Numaidec\u00e2t \u015fi puse la cale cele de trebuin\u0163\u0103 pentru o c\u0103l\u0103torie mai lung\u0103. M\u0103-sii \u00eei spuse c\u0103 se duce la v\u00e2n\u0103toare. Plec\u0103 \u015fi dete \u015fi pe la z\u00e2n\u0103, c\u0103reia \u00eei spuse ce avea de g\u00e2nd s\u0103 fac\u0103. El \u015ftia, vezi, c\u0103 sfaturile ei \u00eei prinsese mult bine.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Z\u00e2na, dup\u0103 ce \u00eel \u00eenv\u0103\u0163\u0103 cum s\u0103 fac\u0103 s\u0103 izbuteasc\u0103, \u00eei dete un s\u0103pun, un pieptene \u015fi o perie, ca s\u0103-i fie de slujb\u0103. El plec\u0103 \u015fi merse, merse, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce ajunse la o p\u0103dure deas\u0103 \u015fi \u00eentunecoas\u0103, de abia putea s\u0103 r\u0103zbeasc\u0103. B\u00e2jb\u00e2i el p-acolo p\u00e2n\u0103 ce dete de ghizuina scroafei. Cum s\u0103 se apropie el? C\u0103ci ghizuina era \u00eencongiurat\u0103 de bu\u015fteni \u015fi de rascote, de nu se putea atinge nici pas\u0103re m\u0103iastr\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Voinicul f\u0103cu precum \u00eel \u00eenv\u0103\u0163ase z\u00e2na. S\u0103p\u0103 un \u015fan\u0163 ad\u00e2nc p\u00e2n\u0103 ce ajunse sub culcu\u015ful scroafei. Intr\u0103 acolo \u015fi a\u015ftept\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 ce veni scroafa s\u0103 se culce. Purceii erau to\u0163i \u00een p\u0103r la ugerul scroafei \u015fi sugeau. Mai-nainte de a r\u0103s\u0103ri luceaf\u0103rul porcilor, c\u00e2nt to\u0163i porcii se de\u015fteapt\u0103, adormi\u0163i fiind purceii cu \u0163\u00e2\u0163a \u00een gur\u0103, voinicul b\u0103g\u0103 m\u00e2na bini\u015for \u015fi apuc\u0103 un purcel, dar a\u015fa de bini\u015for \u00eel apuc\u0103 \u015fi a\u015fa de u\u015for \u00eel trase, \u00eenc\u00e2t sc\u0103p\u0103 \u0163\u00e2\u0163a din gur\u0103 f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 sim\u0163\u0103. \u00eel apuc\u0103 numaidec\u00e2t de bot ca s\u0103 nu gui\u0163e, \u015fi p-aici \u0163i-e drumul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dracul de scroaf\u0103 b\u0103g\u0103 de seam\u0103 c\u0103 o \u0163\u00e2\u0163\u0103 i se r\u0103ce\u015fte. Se de\u015ftept\u0103 \u015fi v\u0103zu c\u0103 un purcel \u00eei lipse\u015fte. Se lu\u0103 dup\u0103 voinic. \u015ei cu toate c\u0103 telegarul voinicului era un zmeu de cal, scroafa \u00eel ajunse. C\u00e2nd v\u0103zu c\u0103 are s\u0103-l \u00eenha\u0163e cu col\u0163ii ei, voinicul arunc\u0103 s\u0103punul. Atunci unde se f\u0103cu un noroi cleios \u015fi puturos, de \u0163i se scutura carnea de pe tine. Calul fugea de da cu burta de p\u0103m\u00e2nt.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Scroafa f\u0103cu ce f\u0103cu, se zv\u00e2rcoli prin \u0103l noroi \u015fi se t\u0103rb\u0103ci de nu o mai cuno\u015fteai, scroaf\u0103 e, ori ce dracu e. Sc\u0103p\u0103 din nomol \u015fi se lu\u0103 dup\u0103 voinic. \u00centr-o clip\u0103 \u00eel ajunse. C\u00e2nd v\u0103zu zorul, voinicul arunc\u0103 pieptenele. \u015ei unde se f\u0103cu un zid nalt, nalt, d-a curmezi\u015ful drumului ei, de nu fu cu putin\u0163\u0103 s\u0103-l sar\u0103. Atunci scroafa se puse cu col\u0163ii s\u0103i \u015fi sparse zidul, f\u0103c\u00e2nd o gaur\u0103 numai c\u00e2t putea ea s\u0103 treac\u0103. \u015ei s\u0103 te \u0163ii dup\u0103 d\u00e2nsul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dac\u0103 v\u0103zu voinicul c\u0103 scroafa iar\u0103 s-a apropiat, arunc\u0103 \u015fi peria. Deodat\u0103 se f\u0103cu o p\u0103dure nalt\u0103 \u015fi deas\u0103, de nu se putea strecura nici pui de pas\u0103re. Cum v\u0103zu una ca asta, scroafa se puse \u015fi roase, \u015fi roase la copaci, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce-\u015fi f\u0103cu drum, \u015fi dup\u0103 d\u00e2nsul! p\u00e2n\u0103 ce, c\u00e2nd fu a-l ajunge, voinicul intrase \u00een curte la z\u00e2na. Aceasta ie\u015fi numaidec\u00e2t, \u00eentinse m\u00e2na \u015fi strig\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u00cenapoi, scroaf\u0103 ru\u015finoas\u0103, \u015fi teme-te de urgia tat\u0103lui meu!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd \u00eei auzi glasul, scroafa r\u0103mase \u00eencremenit\u0103 \u015fi plin\u0103 de ru\u015fine se \u00eentoarse. Mergea \u015fi se tot uita \u00eend\u0103r\u0103t; pare c\u0103 tot nu-i venea a crede ceea ce v\u0103zuse \u015fi auzise.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se culc\u0103 \u015fi de ast\u0103 dat\u0103 ni\u0163el voinicul, ca s\u0103 se odihneasc\u0103, iar\u0103 z\u00e2na \u00eei schimb\u0103 purcelul, puindu-i altul \u00een locul lui. Dup\u0103 ce se de\u015ftept\u0103, se \u00eentorcea la m\u0103-sa cu voie-bun\u0103, de isprava ce f\u0103cuse.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Venea, nene, cu c\u0103ciula \u00eentr-o parte, cu purcelul \u00een bra\u0163e \u015fi c\u00e2nt\u00e2nd din frunz\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd iat\u0103 c\u0103 se \u00eent\u00e2lne\u015fte cu trei in\u015fi. Pas\u0103mite era V\u00e2ntul, C\u0103ldura \u015fi Gerul. El \u00ee\u015fi lu\u0103 c\u0103ciula din cap, \u015fi cu mult\u0103 plec\u0103ciune \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Noroc bun s\u0103 dea Dumnezeu, nea V\u00e2ntule.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cale bun\u0103, dragul meu, \u00eei r\u0103spunse V\u00e2ntul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Da ce, m\u0103, numai V\u00e2ntului te plocone\u015fti? \u00eei zise C\u0103ldura. Nu \u015ftii tu oare c\u0103 eu pot s\u0103 las o z\u0103pu\u015feal\u0103 \u015fi o ar\u015fi\u0163\u0103, de s\u0103 fiarb\u0103 ma\u0163ele din tine?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu-mi pas\u0103 de nimic, r\u0103spunse voinicul, numai V\u00e2ntul s\u0103-mi bat\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 N-ai auzit tu oare de mine, m\u0103, \u00eei zise \u015fi Gerul, c\u0103 eu am putere s\u0103 dau un frig \u015fi o geruial\u0103 peste tine, de s\u0103 \u00eenghe\u0163e ma\u0163ele \u00een tine.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Habar n-am, r\u0103spunde \u015fi el, numai V\u00e2ntul s\u0103 nu-mi bat\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei \u00eencet, \u00eencet, ajunse acas\u0103. C\u00e2nd \u00eel v\u0103zu alde m\u0103-sa \u015fi auzi peste c\u00e2te pr\u0103p\u0103stii a dat, muri \u015fi \u00eenvie de bucurie c\u0103-l mai v\u0103zu o dat\u0103 \u00een carne \u015fi oase.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cei dete de m\u00e2nc\u0103 purcelul; dar\u0103 ea m\u0103rturisi c\u0103 nu vede nici o u\u015furare.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0S\u0103 \u00eennebuneasc\u0103 zmeul de ciud\u0103! V\u0103zu el c\u0103 nu poate altfel s\u0103 r\u0103puie pe voinic, dec\u00e2t prin viclenie. C\u0103ta deci vreme cu prilej ca s\u0103-\u015fi puie \u00een lucrare cugetul s\u0103u cel nelegiuit.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00centr-o zi c\u00e2nd voinicul se \u00eentorsese de la v\u00e2nat \u015fi era ostenit peste m\u0103sur\u0103, se culc\u0103 \u00een gr\u0103din\u0103 la umbra unor trandafiri. Zmeul dete peste d\u00e2nsul \u015fi-l f\u0103cu buc\u0103\u0163i, buc\u0103\u0163i, cu palo\u015ful pe care \u00eel purta totdauna ascuns la d\u00e2nsul. \u015ei ca s\u0103 nu bage de seam\u0103 m\u0103-sa, puse toate buc\u0103\u0163elele \u00een d\u0103sagi, le a\u015fez\u0103 pe cal \u015fi, d\u00e2nd c\u00e2teva bice calului, \u00eel dete pe poart\u0103 afar\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Calul fusese al z\u00e2nei. Ea \u00eel dedese \u00een dar voinicului c\u00e2nd fu a se duce la m\u0103rul ro\u015fu. El acum, dac\u0103 se v\u0103zu gonit, alerg\u0103 drept la st\u0103p\u00e2n\u0103-sa. Ea, cum \u00eel v\u0103zu viind f\u0103r\u0103 st\u0103p\u00e2nu-s\u0103u, pricepu c\u0103 trebuie s\u0103 fie vreo dr\u0103cie la mijloc. Se dete jos, \u015fi ce v\u0103zu se sp\u0103im\u00e2nt\u0103. Lu\u0103 deci desagii, \u00eei aduse \u00een cas\u0103 la ea \u015fi lu\u0103 buc\u0103\u0163ic\u0103 cu buc\u0103\u0163ic\u0103, os cu os, \u015fi le a\u015fez\u0103 una l\u00e2ng\u0103 alta, fiecare la loc\u015forul lor. Dup\u0103 aceea turn\u0103 ap\u0103 moart\u0103 peste d\u00e2nsele. Ele se \u00eencheg\u0103, lipindu-se una de alta; pielea se f\u0103cu la piftia, \u00eentrup\u00e2ndu-se. \u00cel stropi \u015fi cu ap\u0103 vie \u015fi se \u00eensufle\u0163i; dar\u0103 mut \u015fi surd. Atunci \u00eei dete s\u0103 m\u0103n\u00e2nce un m\u0103r de care adusese el \u015fi \u00eei veni grai. Lu\u0103 \u015fi purcelul scroafei de pe sub p\u0103m\u00e2nt \u015fi \u00eel f\u0103cu s\u0103-i gui\u0163e la urechi \u015fi \u00eei veni auz. Atunci zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dar\u0103 greu somn dormii, soru-mea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Greu, fr\u0103\u0163ioare; \u015fi ai fi dormit c\u00e2t lumea \u015fi p\u0103m\u00e2ntul, de nu erau m\u0103iestritele lucruri ce tu ai adus pentru m\u0103-ta; iar\u0103 eu le-am oprit \u015fi \u0163i-am pus altele \u00een locul lor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Atunci \u00eei spuse cine era du\u015fmanul care voise s\u0103-l r\u0103puie. \u015ei ca s\u0103 se \u00eencredin\u0163eze de adev\u0103rul celor spuse de d\u00e2nsa, \u00eei dete putere s\u0103 se fac\u0103 porumbel \u015fi s\u0103 se duc\u0103 s\u0103 vaz\u0103 cum zmeul chinuie\u015fte \u015fi pe m\u0103-sa. Voinicul se f\u0103cu porumbel \u015fi ajunse \u00eentr-un suflet la casele unde \u015fedea mum\u0103-sa.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd colo, ce s\u0103 vaz\u0103? Se frec\u0103 la ochi ca s\u0103 se \u00eencredin\u0163eze de sunt aievea cele ce i se \u00eenf\u0103\u0163i\u015fa, sau n\u0103luciri.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Zmeul, carele cu \u015fo\u015fele, cu momele nu putuse da \u00een cap pe muma voinicului \u015fi a se planisi lui, acum o pusese la chinuri. O legase cu o fr\u00e2nghie de m\u0103tase ro\u015fie, o \u0163inea nem\u00e2ncat\u0103 \u015fi cu ochii \u00een soare. El voia s\u0103 o omoare tocmai c\u00e2nd voinicul ajunse \u00een chip de porumbel. Se dete de trei ori peste cap, cum \u00eel \u00eenv\u0103\u0163ase z\u00e2na, \u015fi se f\u0103cu om cu sabia goal\u0103 \u00een m\u00e2n\u0103. \u015ei c\u00e2t ai zice mei, f\u0103cu mici f\u0103r\u00e2me pe necuratul de zmeu, bala dracului. Sc\u0103p\u0103 pe mum\u0103-sa de la chinuri, \u015fi, viind z\u00e2na, \u00eei dete de b\u0103u ni\u0163ic\u0103 ap\u0103 vie. Cum b\u0103u, v\u0103zu c\u0103 se \u00eensufle\u0163e\u015fte \u015fi se simte voioas\u0103 ca un om plin de s\u0103n\u0103tate.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Apoi voinicul se \u00eenso\u0163i cu z\u00e2na, \u015fi tr\u0103ir\u0103 c\u00e2te trei un trai plin de fericire \u015fi de \u00eeng\u0103duin\u0163\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 la ad\u00e2nci b\u0103tr\u00e2ne\u0163e.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A fost un \u00eemp\u0103rat \u015f-o \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teas\u0103. Ei aveau numai o fat\u0103 \u015fi o p\u0103zea ca lumina ochilor lor. Ea n-avea voie s\u0103 ias\u0103 nici p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00een gr\u0103din\u0103 f\u0103r\u0103 d\u0103daca ei. … <\/p>\n