A fost odat\u0103 un om \u015fi o femeie. Ei erau at\u00e2t de s\u0103raci, \u00eenc\u00e2t n-aveau dup\u0103 ce bea ap\u0103. Nici tu cas\u0103, nici tu mas\u0103, nimic, nimic, dar\u0103 nimic n-aveau dup\u0103 sufletul lor. Muncea bietul om de diminea\u0163a p\u00e2n\u0103 seara t\u00e2rziu, al\u0103turi cu muierea, de-i treceau n\u0103du\u015felele, \u015fi ca s\u0103 dea \u015fi ei \u00een spor, ba.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se \u0163inea, vezi, norocul dup\u0103 d\u00e2n\u015fii ca pulberea dup\u0103 c\u00e2ini, cum se zice.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Umblau cu t\u0103r\u0103bu\u0163ele de colo p\u00e2n\u0103 colo, \u015fi ca s\u0103 se statorniceasc\u0103 \u015fi ei la un loc, nu g\u0103seau. C\u0103ci cine era s\u0103-i primeasc\u0103 pe ei, doi calici, cu leaota de copii dup\u0103 d\u00e2n\u015fii?!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Adic\u0103 uitasem s\u0103 v\u0103 spui. Aveau ace\u015fti oameni o spuz\u0103 de copii. Din ace\u015fti copii, cei mai mari erau numai fete, iar\u0103 b\u0103ie\u0163ii erau m\u0103run\u0163ei \u015fi stau l\u00e2ng\u0103 d\u00e2n\u015fii ca ulcelu\u015fele.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0S\u0103 nu v\u0103 fi dus Dumnezeu vrodat\u0103 s\u0103 fi\u0163i fa\u0163\u0103 c\u00e2nd venea omul de la munc\u0103, c\u0103 v-a\u0163i fi luat c\u00e2mpii. Ie\u015feau to\u0163i afar\u0103 \u00eenaintea lui, jig\u0103ri\u0163i \u015fi h\u0103rt\u0103ni\u0163i, ca ni\u015fte neto\u0163i, sub\u0163iratici \u015fi pi\u0163ig\u0103ia\u0163i, m\u0103 rog, le\u015fina\u0163i de foame, \u015fi t\u0103b\u0103rau pe bietul om cu gura: tat\u0103, mi-e foame, tat\u0103, mor de foame.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tat\u0103l lor se z\u0103p\u0103cea \u015fi nu \u015ftia c\u0103tre care s\u0103 se \u00eentoarc\u0103 mai \u00eent\u00e2i \u015fi le da toat\u0103 agoniseala lui dintr-o zi. Dar\u0103 de unde s\u0103 le ajung\u0103 ce brum\u0103 le aducea el? Abia puneau p-o m\u0103sea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Bietul tat\u2019 s\u0103u \u015fi biat\u0103 m\u0103-sa de multe ori se culcau nem\u00e2nca\u0163i. Li se rupea inima de mil\u0103 dar\u0103 n-aveau \u00eencotro. \u015ei ca s\u0103-\u015fi lini\u015fteasc\u0103 copiii, el le f\u0103g\u0103duia c\u0103 a doua zi are s\u0103 le aduc\u0103 mai mult. Astfel, mai cu \u015fo\u015fele, mai cu momele, adormeau \u015fi bie\u0163ii copii, cu n\u0103dejde c\u0103 a doua zi are s\u0103 fie mai bine.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dintre to\u0163i copiii, fata cea mai mare era mai t\u0103cut\u0103 \u015fi mai cu judecat\u0103. Ea r\u0103m\u00e2nea cu surorile \u015fi fra\u0163ii cei mai mici c\u00e2nd se duceau p\u0103rin\u0163ii la munc\u0103, vedea de d\u00e2n\u015fii, \u00eei mu\u015ftruluia \u015fi \u00eei pov\u0103\u0163uia s\u0103 fie mai cu r\u0103bdare, mai \u00eeng\u0103duitori, ca s\u0103 nu se am\u0103rasc\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00eentr-at\u00e2t p\u0103rin\u0163ii. Dar\u0103, bate toba la urechea surdului. Adec\u0103, de! Ce s\u0103 zici? Ar fi fost \u015fi ei, poate, mai \u00eeng\u0103duitori, \u015fi mai cu r\u0103bdare, dar\u0103 burta le da ghies \u015fi \u00eei f\u0103cea de multe ori s\u0103 fie ne\u00een\u0163eleg\u0103tori.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00centr-acestea, boierului pe mo\u015fia c\u0103ruia se afla ace\u015fti oameni, caE\u015fi urgisi\u0163i de Dumnezeu, i se f\u0103cu mil\u0103 de ei \u015fi, \u00eentr-o zi, c\u00e2nd veni s\u0103 se roage pentru s\u0103la\u015f, el \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Omule, te v\u0103z harnic, munce\u015fti de te spete\u015fti, \u015fi dou\u0103 \u00een tei te v\u0103z c\u0103 nu po\u0163i lega. Iat\u0103, eu m\u0103 \u00eendur \u015fi-\u0163i dau un petec de loc, s\u0103 fie de veci al t\u0103u. Du-te de-\u0163i alege petecul ce-\u0163i va pl\u0103cea \u015fi apuc\u0103-te numaidec\u00e2t s\u0103-\u0163i faci un bordei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Bogdaproste, cucoane, \u015fi Dumnezeu s\u0103 primeasc\u0103. De unde dai s\u0103 izvorasc\u0103, r\u0103spunse bietul om.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se duse de-\u015fi alese un petec de loc \u015fi p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00een sear\u0103 groapa pentru bordei o \u015fi dete gata.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nepartea lui. Cum se brodi ca locul ce-\u015fi alesese s\u0103 fie al\u0103turi cu al unui \u0163\u0103ran bogat \u015fi m\u00e2ndru de nu-i ajungea cineva cu pr\u0103jina la nas.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Peste noapte, nu \u015ftiu cum se f\u0103cu, nu \u015ftiu cum se drese, c\u0103 o vit\u0103 d-ale bogatului c\u0103zu \u00een groap\u0103 \u015fi muri.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A doua zi de diminea\u0163\u0103, bogatul, v\u0103z\u00e2ndu-\u015fi vita moart\u0103, s\u0103ri cu gura mare asupra s\u0103racului, \u00eel lu\u0103 de piept \u015fi cu el t\u00e2r\u00e2\u015f se duse la curtea boierului, s\u0103 le fac\u0103 judecat\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Boierul se mir\u0103 c\u00e2nd \u00eel v\u0103zu \u015fi-i \u00eentreb\u0103 ce caut\u0103?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u0162\u0103ranul cel bogat zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Boierule, acest pr\u0103p\u0103dit de om, venetic \u00een satul nostru, n-ar mai avea parte de el! dup\u0103 ce \u0163i-ai f\u0103cut poman\u0103 de i-ai dat un petec de loc, el tocmai l\u00e2ng\u0103 mine \u015fi-a ales s\u0103-\u015fi fac\u0103 bordei! Una la m\u00e2n\u0103. Bag\u0103 de seam\u0103 c\u0103, dup\u0103 ce e s\u0103rac, apoi e \u015fi cu nasul pe sus. Al doilea, groapa ce \u015fi-a f\u0103cut pentru bordei, dup\u0103 ce c\u0103 e mare foarte, apoi n-a avut grij\u0103 s\u0103 o acopere peste noapte cu ceva, numai ca s\u0103-mi fac\u0103 mie pagub\u0103, \u015fi mi-a c\u0103zut o vit\u0103 \u00eentr-\u00eensa de \u015fi-a rupt junghietura. Judec\u0103 d-ta acum, nu e dator s\u0103 mi-o pl\u0103teasc\u0103? El zice c\u0103 n-are cu ce. \u015ei ce-mi pas\u0103 mie de asta?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Boierule, r\u0103spunse \u015fi s\u0103racul umilit \u015fi cu lacr\u0103mile \u00een ochi c\u00e2t pumnul. Boierule, n-am ce zice, omoar\u0103-m\u0103, sp\u00e2nzur\u0103-m\u0103, n-am ce face dac\u0103 a dat p\u0103catul peste mine. A\u015fa este cum zice bog\u0103ta\u015ful meu vecin. \u015ei fiindc\u0103 lui Dumnezeu \u00eei place dreptul, drept s\u0103-\u0163i spui ce e drept: am s\u0103pat groap\u0103, \u015fi o groap\u0103 mare, ca s\u0103 \u00eencap\u0103 bordeiul pe to\u0163i ai mei, dar\u0103 nici c\u0103 m-am g\u00e2ndit ca s\u0103-i aduc pagub\u0103. \u015ei nici n-a fost la sufletul meu cugetul de m\u00e2ndrie, c\u0103ci n-aveam pe ce m\u0103 m\u00e2ndri, c\u00e2nd mi-am ales loc l\u00e2ng\u0103 d-lui. Acum lumineze-v\u0103 Dumnezeu, boierule, \u015fi judeca\u0163i dup\u0103 dreptate.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Boierul sta \u00een cump\u0103n\u0103. Nu \u015ftia cui s\u0103 dea dreptate. Vedea el c\u0103 s\u0103racul a c\u0103zut \u00een p\u0103cate, dar\u0103 f\u0103r\u0103 voie. Dup\u0103 ce se g\u00e2ndi el ni\u0163el, zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Bre, oameni buni! Eu am s\u0103 v\u0103 fac trei \u00eentreb\u0103ri; cine le va dezlega mai bine, a aceluia s\u0103 fie dreptatea. V\u0103 dau r\u0103gaz de trei zile, g\u00e2ndi\u0163i-v\u0103. Dup\u0103 trei zile s\u0103 veni\u0163i \u015fi s\u0103-mi ghici\u0163i \u00eentreb\u0103rile. \u0162ine\u0163i minte bine. \u00cent\u00e2ia \u00eentrebare sun\u0103 a\u015fa:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ce este mai gras \u00een lume?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A doua:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ce este mai bun?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei a treia:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ce alearg\u0103 mai iute?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Aide, duce\u0163i-v\u0103 acum. Dar\u0103 s\u0103 mai \u015fti\u0163i una: dac\u0103 nici unul din voi nu va ghici vreuna din \u00eentreb\u0103rile mele, s\u0103 \u015fti\u0163i c\u0103 unde v\u0103 stau picioarele o s\u0103 v\u0103 stea \u015fi capetele.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Am\u00e2ndoi \u00eempricina\u0163ii se \u00eentoarser\u0103 la casele lor. Bog\u0103ta\u015ful, l\u0103ud\u00e2ndu-se c\u0103 el are s\u0103 ghiceasc\u0103, fiinc\u0103 ce lucru poate fi mai u\u015for dec\u00e2t a spune c\u0103 porcul s\u0103u din ograd\u0103 este mai gras, deoarece st\u0103 sl\u0103nina pe d\u00e2nsul de o palm\u0103; iar\u0103 s\u0103racul pl\u00e2ngea de potopea p\u0103m\u00e2ntul, g\u00e2ndindu-se ca ce o s\u0103 spuie el.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dac\u0103 ajunser\u0103 fiecare la ai s\u0103i, bog\u0103ta\u015ful era vesel c\u0103 are s\u0103-\u015fi c\u00e2\u015ftige pricina, iar\u0103 s\u0103racul se puse pe g\u00e2nduri \u015fi tot ofta. Copiii se adunar\u0103 pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 d\u00e2nsul, se uita, dar\u0103 nu cutezau s\u0103-l \u00eentrebe ceva. \u00cencepur\u0103 \u015fi ei a pl\u00e2nge; \u015fi se f\u0103cu acolo la d\u00e2n\u015fii o pl\u00e2ngere \u015fi o jelanie de te luau fiori de mil\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Numai fata cea mai mare \u00ee\u015fi lu\u0103 inima \u00een din\u0163i \u015fi-l \u00eentreb\u0103 ce are de este a\u015fa de trist?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce s\u0103 am, fata mea? Iac\u0103 p\u0103cate de la Dumnezeu. Boierul ne-a \u00eendatorat s\u0103-i ghicim ni\u015fte \u00eentreb\u0103ri pe cari nici oamenii cei procopsi\u0163i nu i le-ar putea spune, necum un s\u0103rman prost ca mine.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ci spune-ne \u015fi nou\u0103, c\u0103 doar\u0103 d-om putea s\u0103-\u0163i d\u0103m vrun ajutor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ca ce ajutor a\u0163i putea voi s\u0103-mi da\u0163i, voi care nu \u015fti\u0163i \u00eenc\u0103 nici cum se m\u0103n\u00e2nc\u0103 m\u0103m\u0103liga.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Te mir\u0103, tat\u0103, la ce am putea fi buni \u015fi noi. \u015ei apoi ce stric\u0103 dac\u0103 ne vei spune \u015fi nou\u0103?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Atunci s\u0103racul zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Iac\u0103, iac\u0103, iac\u0103 ce ne-a zis boierul s\u0103 ghicim; c\u0103ci de unde nu, ne va sta capul unde ne stau t\u0103lpile.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata cea mare se puse pe g\u00e2nduri \u015fi, dup\u0103 ce mai cuget\u0103 ea ce mai cuget\u0103, se apropie de tat\u0103-s\u0103u \u015fi \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ia las\u0103, tat\u0103, nu mai fi a\u015fa de m\u00e2hnit. Nu ne las\u0103 Dumnezeu pe noi s\u0103 pierim. C\u00e2nd te vei duce la boierul s\u0103-i dai r\u0103spuns, \u0163i-oi spune \u015fi eu ceva. \u015ei poate c\u0103 va da Dumnezeu s\u0103 scapi cu fa\u0163\u0103 curat\u0103 dinaintea lui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0S\u0103racul p\u0103ru a se m\u00e2ng\u00e2ia oarecum; dar\u0103 numai inima lui \u015ftia. Nu voia, vezi, s\u0103-\u015fi mai m\u00e2hneasc\u0103 \u015fi copiii.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cen diminea\u0163a c\u00e2nd fu a se \u00eenf\u0103\u0163i\u015fa la boierul ca s\u0103-i ghiceasc\u0103 \u00eentreb\u0103rile, fie-sa \u00eei spuse ca ce s\u0103 r\u0103spund\u0103. S\u0103racul se ar\u0103ta a fi mul\u0163umit, dar\u0103 se \u00eendoia.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se \u00eenf\u0103\u0163i\u015f\u0103 \u00eenaintea boierului. Bog\u0103ta\u015ful, m\u00e2ndru \u015fi cu pieptul deschis; s\u0103racul umilit \u015fi str\u00e2ns la piept de sta s\u0103-i crape sumanul cel zdren\u0163uit de pe d\u00e2nsul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Boierul \u00eentreb\u0103 pe bog\u0103ta\u015f:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ei, bade, ce este mai gras pe lumea asta?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Bog\u0103ta\u015ful r\u0103spunse cu coraj:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Apoi de, cucoane, ce s\u0103 fie mai gras dec\u00e2t porcul meu din ograd\u0103, care are gr\u0103simea pe el de o palm\u0103 de groas\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Minciuni spui, r\u0103spunse boierul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei \u00eentreb\u00e2nd \u015fi pe s\u0103racul, el r\u0103spunse cu sfial\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Apoi de, cucoane, eu zic cu mintea mea a proast\u0103 c\u0103 p\u0103m\u00e2ntul s\u0103 fie mai gras pe lumea asta, c\u0103 el ne d\u0103 toate bun\u0103t\u0103\u0163ile pe cari le avem.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 A\u015fa este, r\u0103spunse boierul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Acum zise bog\u0103ta\u015fului iar\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce alearg\u0103 mai iute pe lumea asta?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Arm\u0103sarul meu, cucoane, r\u0103spunse bog\u0103ta\u015ful, c\u0103 alearg\u0103 peste v\u0103i \u015fi dealuri, c\u00e2nd \u00eei dau drumul, de nu-i vezi copitele.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Apoi de, cucoane, capul meu nu m\u0103 duce a\u015fa departe, f\u0103r\u0103 dec\u00e2t dau cu socoteal\u0103 c\u0103 nimic nu alearg\u0103 a\u015fa de iute ca g\u00e2ndul, r\u0103spunse \u015fi s\u0103racul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Tu ai dreptate. Cela aiureaz\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cen cele din urm\u0103, mai \u00eentreb\u0103 o dat\u0103 pe bog\u0103ta\u015f:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce este mai bun pe lumea asta?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nimic nu este mai bun pe lumea asta, milostive st\u0103p\u00e2ne, r\u0103spunse el, ca judecata cea dreapt\u0103 a m\u0103riei tale.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Eu, boierule, cu prostia mea m\u0103 duce g\u00e2ndul s\u0103 crez c\u0103 nimic nu e mai bun pe lumea asta ca Dumnezeu, care ne sufere pe lume cu toate r\u0103ut\u0103\u0163ile noastre.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Adev\u0103rat, a\u015fa este, zise boierul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei, \u00eentorc\u00e2ndu-se c\u0103tre bog\u0103ta\u015f, ad\u0103og\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ie\u015fi afar\u0103, \u0163\u0103ran viclean \u015fi mojic ce e\u015fti, sau pui acum de-\u0163i trage la t\u0103lpi at\u00e2ta c\u00e2t nu po\u0163i duce.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Bog\u0103ta\u015ful ie\u015fi cu coada \u00eentre picioare.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei chem\u00e2nd mai aproape pe s\u0103rac, \u00eel \u00eentreb\u0103 cu un grai blajin:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Spune-mi, bre, omule, cine te-a \u00eenv\u0103\u0163at pe tine s\u0103 r\u0103spunzi a\u015fa de potrivit, c\u0103ci din capul t\u0103u \u0103la secu nu crez s\u0103 fi ie\u015fit a\u015fa cuvinte \u00een\u0163elepte.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Bietul s\u0103rac se cam codea. Nu-i venea s\u0103 spuie drept, de team\u0103 s\u0103 nu p\u0103\u0163easc\u0103 ceva. Dar\u0103 dac\u0103 se v\u0103zu \u00eencol\u0163it, spuse tot adev\u0103rul precum era.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Atunci boierul, mir\u00e2ndu-se \u00een sine de iscusin\u0163a fetei s\u0103racului, \u00eei porunci ca a doua zi s\u0103 vie cu fata la curtea boiereasc\u0103. Ea s\u0103 fie nici \u00eembr\u0103cat\u0103, nici dezbr\u0103cat\u0103, nici c\u0103lare, nici pe jos, nici pe drum, nici pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 drum.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum auzi s\u0103racul unele ca acestea, \u00eencepu a se boci \u015fi a se v\u0103ic\u0103ra, de nu-\u0163i venea s\u0103-l mai auzi, \u015fi se \u00eentoarse la ai s\u0103i.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata cea mare, c\u00e2nd auzi cele ce \u00eei spuse:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu te teme, t\u0103tuc\u0103, \u00eei zise ea, c\u0103-i viu eu lui de hac! Numai s\u0103-mi cau\u0163i dou\u0103 m\u00e2\u0163e.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum se f\u0103cu diminea\u0163\u0103, fata arunc\u0103 pe d\u00e2nsa un volog (plas\u0103), lu\u0103 m\u00e2\u0163ele la sub\u0163iori, \u00eenc\u0103lec\u0103 pe un \u0163ap \u015fi plec\u0103 la curtea boiereasc\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Merg\u00e2nd astfel pe drum, ea nu era nici c\u0103lare, nici pe jos, c\u0103ci \u00eei da de p\u0103m\u00e2nt c\u00e2nd un picior, c\u00e2nd altul, \u0163apul fiind pitic; umbla ni pe drum, ni pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 drum, c\u0103ci \u0163apul nu \u0163inea drumul drept. Aci trecea pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 c\u00e2te un gard s\u0103 apuce c\u00e2te vrun l\u0103star de la vrun pomi\u015for; aci trecea de cealalt\u0103 parte. Nu era nici \u00eembr\u0103cat\u0103, nici dezbr\u0103cat\u0103 cu vologul aruncat pe d\u00e2nsa.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei a\u015fa, cu chiu cu vai, ajunse la curtea boiereasc\u0103. C\u00e2nd o v\u0103zur\u0103 boierul \u015fi oamenii cur\u0163ii, venind a\u015fa, \u00eencremenir\u0103. Boierul, vezi, nu voia s\u0103 se dea r\u0103mas, \u015fi porunci s\u0103 dea drumul la doi z\u0103vozi ce-i \u0163inea la curte \u00een lan\u0163. Ace\u015ftia, cum v\u0103zur\u0103 alaiul cu care venea fata s\u0103racului, se repezir\u0103 la d\u00e2nsa, dar\u0103 ea dete drumul \u00eendat\u0103 m\u00e2\u0163elor \u015fi z\u0103vozii se luar\u0103 dup\u0103 d\u00e2nsele, iar\u0103 fata s\u0103racului ajunse la scara boiereasc\u0103 a\u015fa precum \u00eei poruncise boierul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0V\u0103z\u00e2nd \u015fi aceast\u0103 iscusin\u0163\u0103 a fetei, boierul n-avu \u00eencotro \u015fi fu nevoit s-o primeasc\u0103. Atunci porunci s\u0103 o fereduiasc\u0103 (s\u0103 o \u00eemb\u0103ieze), o \u00eembr\u0103c\u0103 cu ni\u015fte haine ca de mireas\u0103 \u015fi hot\u0103r\u00ee s\u0103 o dea dup\u0103 un fecior ce-l avea boierul pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 d\u00e2nsul, care \u00eel slujea cu credin\u0163\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce o v\u0103zu boierul cur\u0103\u0163it\u0103 \u015fi ferchezuit\u0103 ca o mireas\u0103, \u015fi cum avea \u015fi ea pe vino-\u00eencoace, i se p\u0103ru mai frumoas\u0103 de cum era atunci; ce-i ab\u0103tu lui, c\u0103 pofti s\u0103 o aib\u0103 el de nevast\u0103, mai cu seam\u0103 c\u0103 era burlac, \u015fi se cunun\u0103 cu d\u00e2nsa. Mai-nainte de a se cununa, boierul zise d\u00e2nsei:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Eu te iau de so\u0163ie; dar\u0103 s\u0103 \u015ftii c\u0103 tu n-ai voie s\u0103 judeci niciodat\u0103 f\u0103r\u0103 de mine.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ea priimi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce trecu c\u00e2t trecu de la cununia lor, boierul se duse o dat\u0103 \u00een treaba lui pe mo\u015fie. \u00cen lipsa lui venir\u0103 doi \u0163\u0103rani cu o prigonire la curte. Afl\u00e2nd c\u0103 boierul nu este acas\u0103, \u015fi v\u0103z\u00e2nd pe cuconi\u0163a \u00eentr-un cerdac, ei \u00eencepur\u0103 s\u0103 se jeluiasc\u0103 la d\u00e2nsa. Ea asculta \u015fi t\u0103cea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Unul zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Aveam s\u0103 m\u0103 duc p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00een cutare loc, \u00eens\u0103 o roat\u0103 de la c\u0103ru\u0163\u0103 mi se stricase. Nu-mi puteam \u00eenh\u0103ma iapa la c\u0103ru\u0163a cu trei roate, mai cu seam\u0103 c\u0103 era a f\u0103ta. Atunci m-am rugat de vecinul meu, \u0103sta care e de fa\u0163\u0103, s\u0103-mi \u00eemprumute el o roat\u0103. El, ce e drept, asear\u0103 mi-a \u00eemprumutat roata ce i-am cerut, cu g\u00e2nd ca azi p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00een ziu\u0103 s\u0103 m\u0103 duc la treaba mea. C\u00e2nd, ce s\u0103 vede\u0163i, cinsti\u0163i boieri? Ast\u0103-noapte mi-a f\u0103tat iapa un m\u00e2nz.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u0162\u0103ranul cel cu roata \u00eei t\u0103ie cuv\u00e2ntul \u015fi zise \u015fi el:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu-l crede\u0163i, cucoan\u0103, s\u0103 v\u0103 \u0163ie Dumnezeu! Roata mea a f\u0103tat m\u00e2nzul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cucoana asculta din cerdac \u015fi t\u0103cea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u0162\u0103ranii a\u015fteptar\u0103 ce mai a\u015fteptar\u0103 \u015fi, dac\u0103 v\u0103zur\u0103 c\u0103 cucoana nu le face nici o judecat\u0103, \u00eentrebar\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Da\u2019 unde-i dus boierul, cucoan\u0103?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ia, s-a dus, r\u0103spunse ea, s\u0103 vaz\u0103 un lac de m\u0103lai ce-l avem pe marginea unui iaz, c\u0103 \u00een toate nop\u0163ile ies broa\u015ftele dintr-\u00eensul \u015fi m\u0103n\u00e2nc\u0103 m\u0103laiul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u0162\u0103ranii se uitar\u0103 lung \u015fi plecar\u0103. Ajung\u00e2nd la poarta ogr\u0103zii boiere\u015fti, ei \u00eencepur\u0103 a se \u00eentreba unul pe altul:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ca ce fel de vorb\u0103 fu aia a cucoanei, m\u0103, nea \u0103sta?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum se poate broa\u015ftele s\u0103 m\u0103n\u00e2nce m\u0103laiul?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ce se sf\u0103tuir\u0103 ei, ce vorbir\u0103, c\u0103 numai se \u00eentoarser\u0103 s\u0103 \u00eentrebe pe cucoan\u0103 ce vorb\u0103 fu aia.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dac\u0103 venir\u0103 dinaintea cerdacului iar\u0103, prinser\u0103 a \u00eentreba:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Da\u2019 bine, cucoan\u0103, ca ce s\u0103 fie vorba ce ne-ai spus-o? Poate-se ca broa\u015ftele s\u0103 m\u0103n\u00e2nce m\u0103laiul?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu \u015ftiu dac\u0103 broa\u015ftele poate s\u0103 m\u0103n\u00e2nce m\u0103lai, au ba, r\u0103spunse cucoana; dar\u0103 \u015ftiu c\u0103 roata nu poate s\u0103 fete m\u00e2nji.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tocmai atuncea \u00ee\u015fi venir\u0103 \u015fi \u0163\u0103ranii de acas\u0103. Acum \u00een\u0163eleser\u0103 \u015firitenia vorbei cucoanei, se mirar\u0103 de at\u00e2ta \u00een\u0163elepciune \u015fi se \u00eemp\u0103car\u0103 cum \u015ftiur\u0103 ei mai bine.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Viind \u015fi boierul acas\u0103, \u00eentreb\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cine a mai fost p-aici \u00een lipsa mea? Ce s-a mai petrecut?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce s\u0103 fie? r\u0103spunse ea. Iaca, iaca cine a venit \u015fi iac\u0103 ce s-a \u00eent\u00e2mplat cu ei, \u015fi ce le-am zis eu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Boierul, cum auzi, \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Fiindc\u0103 ai c\u0103lcat f\u0103g\u0103duiala \u015fi ai judecat f\u0103r\u0103 mine, nu mai putem tr\u0103i am\u00e2ndoi. Ia-\u0163i ce pofte\u015fti de la mine \u015fi ce-\u0163i este mai drag \u00een casa mea, \u015fi s\u0103 te duci la tat\u0103-t\u0103u acas\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cucoana zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Vorbele tale, b\u0103rbate, sunt sfinte pentru mine, pentru c\u0103 de aceea b\u0103rbatul este b\u0103rbat. Nu sunt vinovat\u0103 \u00eentru nimic, c\u0103ci n-am judecat pe acei jeluitori, ci le-am spus numai unde este st\u0103p\u00e2nul lor. Dar dac\u0103 d-ta g\u0103se\u015fti cu cale s\u0103 m\u0103 gone\u015fti, eu m\u0103 supun f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 c\u00e2rtesc \u015fi-\u0163i mul\u0163umesc \u00eenc\u0103 din ad\u00e2ncul sufletului pentru bun\u0103tatea ce ai de a m\u0103 l\u0103sa s\u0103-mi ales ce mi-e mai drag din casa dumitale. Un lucru te mai rog: fiindc\u0103 m\u0103 gone\u015fti, las\u0103-m\u0103 s\u0103 m\u0103 mai veselesc o dat\u0103 \u015fi eu \u00een casa domnului meu \u015fi b\u0103rbat. D\u0103 o mas\u0103 \u015fi cheam\u0103 pe prietenii no\u015ftri \u015fi cunoscu\u0163i s\u0103 petrecem \u00eempreun\u0103 \u015fi s\u0103 ne chefuim pentru cea din urm\u0103 oar\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Boierul se \u00eenduplec\u0103 \u015fi porunci de f\u0103cu o mas\u0103 d-alea \u00eenfrico\u015fatele, unde chem\u0103 prietenii \u015fi pe cei mai de aproape ai lor. \u015eezur\u0103, se \u00eenveselir\u0103 \u015fi se chefuir\u0103 c\u00e2t le cerur\u0103 inima. Cucoana \u00eens\u0103 tot \u00eendesa paharele boierului \u015fi el tot bea. \u015ei(-i) mai dete unul, \u015fi \u00eenc\u0103 unul, p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00eel f\u0103cu cuc. Se \u00eemb\u0103t\u0103 boierul de se coclise turt\u0103. Atunci \u015fi cucoana \u00eel ia frumu\u015fel la spinare, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 mai sim\u0163\u0103 boierul ceva \u015fi-l duse la tat-s\u0103u acas\u0103, unde \u00eel puse pe cuptor de dormi p\u00e2n\u0103 se trezi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A doua zi, c\u00e2nd se de\u015ftept\u0103, boierul, v\u0103z\u00e2ndu-se \u00een astfel de hal, \u00eentreb\u0103 unde se afl\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cucoana \u00eei r\u0103spunse:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 La tata acas\u0103. C\u00e2nd m-ai gonit de la d-ta, mi-ai dat voie s\u0103 iau din casa dumitale ce mi-o fi mai drag. Aceea am \u015fi f\u0103cut. Nimic nu mi-a fost mai drag dec\u00e2t b\u0103rbatul. Nu crez s\u0103 m\u0103 \u0163ii de r\u0103u pentru c\u0103 mi l-am luat.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd auzi boierul asemenea vorbe cu noim\u0103, se g\u00e2ndi ce se g\u00e2ndi, apoi r\u0103spunse:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Aidem, nevast\u0103, acas\u0103, \u015fi s\u0103 tr\u0103im ca \u00een s\u00e2n de rai; acum pricep eu ce odor de femei am dob\u00e2ndit.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei m-am suit pe o \u015fea<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei am spus-o a\u015fa.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0M-am suit pe o roat\u0103<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei am spus-o toat\u0103.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A fost odat\u0103 un om \u015fi o femeie. Ei erau at\u00e2t de s\u0103raci, \u00eenc\u00e2t n-aveau dup\u0103 ce bea ap\u0103. Nici tu cas\u0103, nici tu mas\u0103, nimic, nimic, dar\u0103 nimic n-aveau … <\/p>\n