\u00a0\u00centr-o diminea\u0163\u0103 de var\u0103, un croitora\u015f \u015fedea plin de voio\u015fie la masa lui de lucru de l\u00e2ng\u0103 fereastr\u0103. Cosea de zor, iar m\u00e2inile lui parc\u0103 alergau singure pe \u0163es\u0103tur\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tocmai atunci se \u00eent\u00e2mpl\u0103 s\u0103 treac\u0103 pe strad\u0103 o \u0163\u0103ranc\u0103, strig\u00e2nd c\u00e2t o \u0163inea gura:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Magiun! Magiun bun de v\u00e2nzare! Magiun! Hai la magiun!<\/p>\n
Cuvintele femeii \u00eei pl\u0103cur\u0103 croitora\u015fului \u015fi, sco\u0163\u00e2ndu-\u015fi c\u0103p\u0103\u0163\u00e2na pe fereastr\u0103, \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ia vino sus la mine, m\u0103tu\u015fic\u0103 drag\u0103! Presimt c-o s\u0103-\u0163i desfaci repede toat\u0103 marfa\u2026<\/p>\n
Femeia urc\u0103 anevoie cele trei etaje, din pricin\u0103 c-avea un co\u015f tare greu. C\u00e2nd ajunse \u00een camera croitora\u015fului, acesta o puse s\u0103-i arate toate oalele cu magiun. Le cercet\u0103 cu luare aminte, ca nu cumva s\u0103 se \u00een\u015fele \u00een vreun fel. Le c\u00e2nt\u0103ri \u00een m\u00e2n\u0103, pe r\u00e2nd, \u00ee\u015fi v\u00e2r\u00ee nasul \u00een fiecare, \u015fi \u00een cele din urm\u0103 spuse:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Da, da, nu-i r\u0103u! Ia c\u00e2nt\u0103re\u015fte-mi, drag\u0103 m\u0103tu\u015fic\u0103, a\u015fa, pe la vreo patru uncii. Adic\u0103, ia stai, poate s\u0103 fie chiar \u015fi un sfert de funt, c\u0103 doar n-o s\u0103 s\u0103r\u0103cesc din pricina asta!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Femeia, care tr\u0103sese n\u0103dejde c\u0103-i un mu\u015fteriu bun \u015f-o s\u0103-i fac\u0103 cine \u015ftie ce v\u00e2nzare, \u00eei c\u00e2nt\u0103ri c\u00e2t ceruse, dar plec\u0103 \u00eembufnat\u0103 \u015fi bomb\u0103nind. “Magiunul \u0103sta cred c-o s\u0103-mi priasc\u0103 nu \u015fag\u0103! \u00ee\u015fi zise croitora\u015ful \u00een sinea lui\u2026 \u015e-o s\u0103-mi mai dea \u015fi putere!”<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A\u015fa c\u0103 scoase p\u00e2inea din dulap, \u00ee\u015fi t\u0103ie o felie zdrav\u0103n\u0103 \u015f-o unse cu magiun din bel\u015fug. “Nu m-ating de ea p\u00e2n\u0103 nu dau gata vesta!” g\u00e2ndi croitora\u015ful. Apoi puse felia de p\u00e2ine c\u00e2t mai aproape de el, s-o aib\u0103 tot timpul \u00een fa\u0163a ochilor, \u015fi se apuc\u0103 s\u0103 coas\u0103 mai departe. De bucuros ce era, f\u0103cea \u00eempuns\u0103turi din ce \u00een ce mai repezi. \u00cen vremea asta, mirosul cel dulce al magiunului se r\u0103sp\u00e2ndi \u00een toat\u0103 odaia \u015fi ajunse la droaia de mu\u015fte care mo\u0163\u0103iau pe pere\u0163i.<\/p>\n
Atrase de mirosul pl\u0103cut, acestea d\u0103dur\u0103 buzna s\u0103 se a\u015feze gr\u0103mad\u0103 pe bucata de p\u00e2ine.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Hei, mu\u015ftelor, da\u2019 cine v-a chemat aici?! strig\u0103 \u00eenciudat croitora\u015ful, \u00eencerc\u00e2nd s\u0103 alunge oaspe\u0163ii nepofti\u0163i.<\/p>\n
Dar mu\u015ftele, care nu \u00een\u0163elegeau deloc graiul oamenilor, nu se l\u0103sar\u0103 izgonite, ci t\u0103b\u0103r\u00e2r\u0103 puzderie asupra osp\u0103\u0163ului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Atunci croitora\u015ful \u00ee\u015fi ie\u015fi din pepeni \u015fi, apuc\u00e2nd o basma, \u00eencepu s\u0103 loveasc\u0103 f\u0103r\u0103 cru\u0163are \u00een gr\u0103mada de mu\u015fte. “P\u0103i dac\u0103-i a\u015fa, las pe mine, c\u0103 v\u0103-nv\u0103\u0163 eu minte” \u00ee\u015fi zise el. Ridic\u0103 basmaua, num\u0103r\u0103 \u015fi, ce crede\u0163i: nu mai pu\u0163in de \u015fapte mu\u015fte z\u0103ceau r\u0103puse-n fa\u0163a lui, cu picioru\u015fele \u0163epene!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0“Da\u2019 \u015ftii c\u0103-mi e\u015fti voinic, m\u0103i b\u0103iete!” se groz\u0103vi croitora\u015ful, admir\u00e2ndu-\u015fi singur vitejia. “O isprav\u0103 ca asta se cuvine s-o afle pe dat\u0103 tot t\u00e2rgul!” \u00ee\u015fi mai zise el. Apoi \u00ee\u015fi croi la iu\u0163eal\u0103 un br\u00e2u, \u00eel cusu bine s\u0103 fie trainic \u015fi brod\u0103 pe el, cu litere de-o \u015fchioap\u0103: “\u015eapte dintr-o lovitur\u0103!”<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0“Da\u2019 ce, parc\u0103 t\u00e2rgul \u0103sta al nostru, e de ajuns?” continu\u0103 croitora\u015ful s\u0103 vorbeasc\u0103 cu sine \u00eensu\u015fi. “Lumea \u00eentreag\u0103 s-ar cuveni s\u0103-mi \u015ftie isprava, c\u0103 doar nu e un fleac!” \u015ei de voios ce era, inima \u00eencepu s\u0103-i tresalte ca o codi\u0163\u0103 de purcel\u2026<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se socoti el ce se socoti, \u015fi cum atelierul i se p\u0103ru ne\u00eenc\u0103p\u0103tor pentru o asemenea vitejie, \u00ee\u015fi \u00eencinse br\u00e2ul, hot\u0103r\u00e2t s\u0103-\u015fi \u00eencerce norocul \u00een lumea larg\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cenainte de-a porni la drum, scotoci prin toat\u0103 casa, doar-doar de-o afla ceva de-ale gurii, ca s\u0103 ia cu el. Nu g\u0103si \u00eens\u0103 dec\u00e2t o bucat\u0103 de br\u00e2nz\u0103 veche, dar se gr\u0103bi s-o v\u00e2re \u00een buzunar.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nici n-apuc\u0103 s\u0103 treac\u0103 bine de poart\u0103, c\u0103 \u015fi z\u0103ri o p\u0103sare care se \u00eencurcase \u00eentr-un tufi\u015f \u015fi se zb\u0103tea s\u0103 ias\u0103 de acolo. O scoase dintre ramuri \u015f-o v\u00e2r\u00ee \u015fi pe d\u00e2nsa-n buzunar, al\u0103turi de bucata de br\u00e2nz\u0103. Apoi o porni voinice\u015fte la drum, \u015fi u\u015furel cum era, nici vorb\u0103 s\u0103 se prind\u0103 oboseala de d\u00e2nsul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Drumul pe care-l apucase ducea peste un munte. \u00cen cre\u015ftetul lui, croitora\u015ful d\u0103du peste o namil\u0103 de uria\u015f care privea lini\u015ftit \u00een zare. Croitora\u015ful se apropie de d\u00e2nsul, f\u0103r\u0103 team\u0103, \u015fi-i zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Bun\u0103 ziua, frate! Dup\u0103 cum v\u0103d, stai aici, la via\u0163\u0103 tihnit\u0103 \u015fi te mul\u0163ume\u015fti s\u0103 m\u0103sori doar cu ochii lumea! P\u0103i, asta-i treab\u0103 pentru un voinic ca tine? Se cade oare s\u0103 te la\u015fi a\u015fa, \u00een dorul lelii? Eu nu m\u0103 mul\u0163umesc doar cu at\u00e2t \u015fi am pornit s\u0103 colind lumea larg\u0103, ca s\u0103-mi \u00eencerc norocul\u2026 N-ai vrea s\u0103 vii \u015fi tu cu mine?<\/p>\n
Uria\u015ful se \u00eentoarse cu dispre\u0163 spre croitora\u015f \u015fi n-avu dec\u00e2t un singur r\u0103spuns:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u0162i-ai \u015fi g\u0103sit cu cine s\u0103 m\u0103-nso\u0163esc! Cu un coate-goale ca tine!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce-ai spus?! Na, cite\u015fte aici, ca s\u0103-\u0163i dai seama cu cine ai de-a face \u015fi pe urm\u0103 s\u0103 vorbim\u2026 se groz\u0103vi croitora\u015ful nostru \u015fi-\u015fi descheie haina, ar\u0103t\u00e2ndu-i uria\u015fului br\u00e2ul.<\/p>\n
Uria\u015ful citi: “\u015eapte dintr-o lovitur\u0103!” \u015fi, crez\u00e2nd c\u0103-i vorba de \u015fapte oameni dobor\u00e2\u0163i de croitora\u015f dintr-o dat\u0103, \u00eencepu s\u0103 se uite altfel la f\u0103r\u00e2ma de om ce-i st\u0103tea \u00een fa\u0163\u0103. Dar \u00een sinea lui tot nu-l crezu \u00een stare de asemenea fapt\u0103 \u015fi socoti de cuviin\u0163\u0103 s\u0103-l pun\u0103 la \u00eencercare.<\/p>\n
Lu\u0103 de jos un pietroi \u015fi-l str\u00e2nse \u00een pumn, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce \u00eencepu s\u0103 picure apa el.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Hai, f\u0103 \u015fi tu ca mine, de e\u015fti chiar at\u00e2t de voinic pe c\u00e2t \u015ftii s\u0103 te lauzi spui! \u00eel \u00eendemn\u0103 uria\u015ful.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Numai at\u00e2t?! p\u0103ru s\u0103 se mire croitora\u015ful. P\u0103i asta-i o joac\u0103 de copil pentru unul ca mine!<\/p>\n
Nici nu-\u015fi termin\u0103 bine vorbele c\u0103, v\u00e2r\u00e2ndu-\u015fi m\u00e2na-n buzunar, scoase de acolo bucata de br\u00e2nz\u0103 \u015fi-o str\u00e2nse-n pumn p\u00e2n\u0103 \u0163\u00e2\u015fni tot zerul din ea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Acum, ce mai ai de zis? \u00eel \u00eenfrunt\u0103 croitora\u015ful. Uria\u015ful t\u0103cu \u00eencurcat, dar parc\u0103 tot nu-i venea s\u0103 cread\u0103 c\u0103 f\u0103r\u00e2ma asta de om are at\u00e2t de puternic\u0103. \u015ei ca s-o mai \u00eencerce \u00eenc\u0103 o dat\u0103, ridic\u0103 un alt pietroi din pulberea drumului \u015fi-l zv\u00e2rli at\u00e2t de sus, c\u0103 abia \u00eel mai puteai z\u0103ri.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ei, piticanie, ia s\u0103 te v\u0103d \u015fi pe tine de ce e\u015fti \u00een stare!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Stra\u015fnic\u0103 azv\u00e2rlitur\u0103, n-am ce zice, r\u0103spunse croitora\u015ful, dar vezi c\u0103, p\u00e2n\u0103 la urm\u0103, pietroiul pe care l-ai aruncat tot s-a \u00eentors pe p\u0103m\u00e2nt! Eu o s\u0103 zv\u00e2rl unul care n-are s\u0103 se mai \u00eentoarc\u0103 niciodat\u0103\u2026<\/p>\n
Acestea fiind zise, croitora\u015ful scoase pas\u0103rea din buzunar \u015fi-i d\u0103du drumul \u00een v\u0103zduh. Bucuroas\u0103 la culme c\u0103-\u015fi rec\u0103p\u0103tase libertatea, pas\u0103rea se av\u00e2nt\u0103 \u00een \u00eenaltul cerului \u015fi nu se mai \u00eentoarse.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ei, cum \u00ee\u0163i pl\u0103cu zv\u00e2rlitura asta, frate?! \u00cel cam lu\u0103 peste picior croitora\u015ful.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce s\u0103 zic, v\u0103d c\u0103 la aruncat te pricepi! recunoscu uria\u015ful. Da\u2019, vorba este: de altele e\u015fti bun? S\u0103 cari \u00een spinare o povar\u0103 mai ca lumea ai putea? Ori te dor \u015falele?<\/p>\n
\u00cel duse pe croitora\u015f la un stejar falnic, care z\u0103cea dobor\u00e2t la p\u0103m\u00e2nt, \u015fi-i zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ia s\u0103 te v\u0103d! De e\u015fti chiar at\u00e2t de voinic pe c\u00e2t spui, ajut\u0103-m\u0103 s\u0103 scot copacul asta din p\u0103dure!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Da\u2019 cum s\u0103 nu, bucuros! r\u0103spunse croitora\u015ful. Hai, treci de ia \u00een spinare tulpina cu partea dinspre r\u0103d\u0103cin\u0103, iar eu o s\u0103 duc coroana, c\u0103 doar cr\u0103cile \u015fi frunzi\u015ful sunt partea cea mai grea.<\/p>\n
Uria\u015ful \u00ee\u015fi s\u0103lt\u0103 tulpina pe um\u0103r, iar croitora\u015ful odat\u0103 s\u0103ri pe-o creang\u0103. \u015ei cum matahala nu mai putea s\u0103-\u015fi \u00eentoarc\u0103 capul, trebui s\u0103 care-n spate tot copacul. Ba-l mai c\u0103r\u0103 \u015fi pe croitora\u015f pe deasupra!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Croitora\u015ful \u015fedea lini\u015ftit pe creanga lui \u015fi fluiera plin de voio\u015fie, ca \u015fi c\u00e2nd ar fi fost o joac\u0103 pentru el s\u0103 duc\u0103-n spinare asemenea greutate. Uria\u015ful c\u0103r\u0103 copacul o bucat\u0103 bun\u0103 de drum, dar la un moment dat sim\u0163i c\u0103-l las\u0103 puterile \u015fi zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Opre\u015fte, c\u0103 nu mai pot! Prea e greu! Trebuie s\u0103-l dau jos din spinare, c\u0103 m-a de\u015felat\u2026<\/p>\n
Croitora\u015ful s\u0103ri sprinten de pe creanga \u015fi, apuc\u00e2nd trunchiul cu am\u00e2ndou\u0103 m\u00e2inile, de parca l-ar fi c\u0103rat tot timpul p\u00e2n\u0103 atunci, \u00eencepu s\u0103-\u015fi r\u00e2d\u0103 de bietul uria\u015f:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Poftim, ditamai matahala \u015fi nu e \u00een stare s\u0103 duc\u0103-n spate un fleac de copac ca \u0103sta!<\/p>\n
Merser\u0103 ei ce mai merser\u0103 \u00eempreun\u0103 \u015fi se nimerir\u0103 s\u0103 ajung\u0103-n fa\u0163a unui cire\u015f. Uria\u015ful apuc\u0103 numaidec\u00e2t crengile de sus, \u00eenc\u0103rcate cu cire\u015fe p\u00e2rguite \u015fi, aplec\u00e2nd trunchiul pomului p\u00e2n\u0103-n dreptul voinicului nostru, \u00eel \u00eendemn\u0103 s\u0103-l prind\u0103 \u00een m\u00e2n\u0103, ca s\u0103 poat\u0103 culege cire\u015fe c\u00e2t i-o fi voia.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar vezi ca voinicul nostru era prea sl\u0103bu\u0163 ca s\u0103 poat\u0103 \u0163ine pomul, \u015fi c\u00e2nd uria\u015ful \u00eel l\u0103s\u0103 din m\u00e2n\u0103, cire\u015ful \u00ee\u015fi ridic\u0103 deodat\u0103 crengile, s\u0103lt\u00e2ndu-l \u00een aer \u015fi pe croitora\u015f.<\/p>\n
Mult nu trecu \u00eens\u0103 \u015fi se pomeni iar pe p\u0103m\u00e2nt, viu \u015fi nev\u0103t\u0103mat. V\u0103 \u00eenchipui\u0163i dumneavoastr\u0103 c\u0103 acum fu r\u00e2ndul uria\u015fului s\u0103-l ia \u00een zeflemea!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cum vine asta, voinicosule, n-ai nici m\u0103car at\u00e2ta putere s\u0103 \u0163ii locului ni\u015fte crengi at\u00e2t de sub\u0163irele?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ia auzi-l ce vorbe\u015fte! P\u0103i, putere am c\u00e2t\u0103 pofte\u015fti! se gr\u0103bi croitora\u015ful s\u0103 r\u0103spund\u0103. Ce, asta ar putea s\u0103 fie un lucru anevoie pentru unul care a dobor\u00e2t \u015fapte dintr-o lovitur\u0103? Da\u2019 vorba e c-am s\u0103rit peste pom din cu totul alt\u0103 pricin\u0103\u2026 Auzii prin tufi\u015furile alea ni\u015fte v\u00e2n\u0103tori care tot slobozeau focuri de pu\u015fc\u0103 \u015fi am fost curios s\u0103 v\u0103d \u015fi eu ce este. S\u0103ri \u015fi tu ca mine, dac\u0103 po\u0163i!<\/p>\n
Uria\u015ful \u00ee\u015fi f\u0103cu v\u00e2nt, dar, oric\u00e2t se c\u0103zni, nu fu \u00een stare s\u0103 sar\u0103 peste pom, ci r\u0103mase ag\u0103\u0163at cu picioroarele printre ramuri. Astfel, se \u00eent\u00e2mpl\u0103 ca \u015fi de data asta s\u0103 se arate mai dibaci croitora\u015ful. Atunci uria\u015ful \u00eencerc\u0103 altceva:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 De e\u015fti at\u00e2t de voinic pe c\u00e2t spui, atunci hai cu mine \u00een pe\u015ftera uria\u015filor, s\u0103 stai acolo peste noapte.<\/p>\n
Croitora\u015ful se \u00eenvoi bucuros \u015fi-l urm\u0103. Intrar\u0103 ei \u00een pe\u015fter\u0103 \u015fi numai ce d\u0103dur\u0103 cu ochii de o mul\u0163ime de uria\u015fi care st\u0103teau roat\u0103-n jurul unui foc. Fiecare matahal\u0103 \u0163inea \u00een m\u00e2n\u0103 c\u00e2te-o oaie fript\u0103 \u015fi se \u00eenfrupta din ea. Croitora\u015ful c\u0103t\u0103 cu aten\u0163ie \u00eemprejur \u015fi-\u015fi spuse \u00een sinea lui: “Oricum, aici tot te mi\u015fti mai \u00een voie dec\u00e2t \u00een chichinea\u0163a aia de atelier!”<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Uria\u015ful \u00eel duse \u00een dreptul unui pat \u015fi-l \u00eembie s\u0103 se culce \u00een el \u015fi s\u0103 doarm\u0103 c\u00e2t i-o fi voia. Dar vezi c\u0103 patul \u0103sta era prea mare pentru croitora\u015ful nostru, a\u015fa c\u0103 nu se culc\u0103 \u00een el, ca to\u0163i uria\u015fii, ci se ghemui \u00eentr-un col\u0163i\u015for. Pe la miezul nop\u0163ii, socotind c\u0103 voinicul doarme dus, uria\u015ful se scul\u0103 f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 fac\u0103 pic de zgomot \u015fi, apuc\u00e2nd un drug mare de fier, izbi \u00een pat cu at\u00e2ta putere, c\u0103-l sf\u0103r\u00e2m\u0103-n dou\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0“De-acu\u015f, s-a zis cu l\u0103custa asta afurisit\u0103!” se bucur\u0103 uria\u015ful, \u00een sinea lui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A doua zi, \u00een zori, uria\u015fii o pornir\u0103-n p\u0103dure \u015fi nici nu-l luar\u0103 \u00een seam\u0103 pe croitora\u015f. Uitaser\u0103 cu totul de d\u00e2nsul. C\u00e2nd colo, ce s\u0103 vezi: croitora\u015ful p\u0103\u015fea pe urmele lor, voios nevoie mare. Tare se mai \u00eensp\u0103im\u00e2ntar\u0103 uria\u015fii atunci c\u00e2nd \u00eel v\u0103zur\u0103 \u015fi, tem\u00e2ndu-se s\u0103 nu cumva s\u0103 se \u00eenfurie pe ei \u015fi s\u0103-i fac\u0103 pe to\u0163i chis\u0103li\u0163\u0103, o luar\u0103 la goana de le sf\u00e2r\u00e2iau c\u0103lc\u00e2iele, nu alta.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Croitora\u015ful \u00ee\u015fi v\u0103zu de drum spre alte meleaguri \u015fi, drept s\u0103 v\u0103 spun, nasul lui cel ascu\u0163it se dovedi c\u0103l\u0103uz\u0103 stra\u015fnic\u0103!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce colind\u0103 el prin fel \u015fi fel de locuri, \u00eentr-o zi se \u00eent\u00e2mpl\u0103 s\u0103 ajung\u0103 \u00een curtea unui palat mare. \u015ei cum se sim\u0163ea tare ostenit, se \u00eentinse pe iarb\u0103 \u015fi adormi de \u00eendat\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cen timp ce dormea, oamenii de pe acolo se adunar\u0103-n jurul lui, s\u0103-l vad\u0103 mai de aproape, \u015fi ramaser\u0103 cu gura c\u0103scat\u0103 c\u00e2nd b\u0103gar\u0103 de seam\u0103 c\u0103 pe br\u00e2ul cu care era \u00eencins fl\u0103c\u0103ul st\u0103tea scris: “\u015eapte dintr-o lovitur\u0103!”<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Vai de zilele noastre, \u00eencepur\u0103 ei a se v\u0103ic\u0103ri, da\u2019 ce-o fi c\u0103ut\u00e2nd pe la noi viteazul \u0103sta, c\u0103 doar e vreme de pace! Trebuie c\u0103 e vreo c\u0103petenie de o\u015fti\u2026<\/p>\n
\u015ei oamenii alergar\u0103 de \u00eendat\u0103 s\u0103-l vesteasc\u0103 pe \u00eemp\u0103rat \u015fi-\u015fi d\u0103dur\u0103 cu p\u0103rerea c\u0103 un asemenea voinic le-ar fi de mare trebuin\u0163\u0103 de s-ar porni vreun r\u0103zboi. \u015ei c\u0103, \u00een nici un caz, n-ar trebui s\u0103 fie l\u0103sat s\u0103 plece.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul socoti c\u0103 sfatul norodului e cum nu se poate mai bun \u015fi trimise pe unul din sfetnicii s\u0103i de \u00eencredere la croitora\u015f, s\u0103 stea pe-ndelete de vorb\u0103 \u015fi s\u0103 afle de nu cumva acesta se \u00eenvoie\u015fte s\u0103 se bage lefegiu \u00een oastea \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar cum voinicul nostru \u00eenc\u0103 mai dormea, curteanul a\u015ftept\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 ce-l v\u0103zu c\u0103 se treze\u015fte. \u015ei-n timp ce croitora\u015ful \u00ee\u015fi dezmor\u0163ea m\u0103dularele \u015fi se freca la ochi, curteanul \u00eei \u015fi spuse despre ce era vorba.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 P\u0103i, pentru asta am \u015fi venit aici! zise croitora\u015ful. Sunt gata s\u0103-mi pun palo\u015ful \u00een slujba \u00eemp\u0103ratului!<\/p>\n
Voinicul nostru se bucura de mare cinstire \u015fi \u00eemp\u0103ratul avu grij\u0103 s\u0103-i dea \u00een dar o minun\u0103\u0163ie de cas\u0103 cum nu r\u00e2vneau mul\u0163i dreg\u0103tori, dintre cei mai ale\u015fi. Vezi \u00eens\u0103 c\u0103 celelalte c\u0103petenii \u00eencepur\u0103 s\u0103-l pizmuiasc\u0103 pe voinic \u015fi-ar fi vrut s\u0103-l \u015ftie plecat peste m\u0103ri \u015fi \u0163\u0103ri.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cum o scoatem la cap\u0103t cu \u0103sta, se \u00eentrebar\u0103 ei, dac\u0103 ne-om lua cumva la har\u0163\u0103 cu d\u00e2nsul?! C\u0103 de s-o n\u0103pusti asupra noastr\u0103, cum \u00eei e obiceiul, \u015fapte dintr-o lovitur\u0103 doboar\u0103\u2026<\/p>\n
Mai vorbir\u0103 ei ce mai vorbir\u0103, \u015fi p\u00e2n\u0103 la urm\u0103 se hot\u0103r\u00e2r\u0103 s\u0103 mearg\u0103 cu to\u0163ii la \u00eemp\u0103rat \u015fi s\u0103-i cear\u0103 s\u0103 le dea drumul din o\u015ftire.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu ne sim\u0163im \u00een stare, m\u0103ria-ta, s\u0103 lupt\u0103m cot la cot cu unul ca el, care doboar\u0103 \u015fapte dintr-o lovitur\u0103! se pl\u00e2nser\u0103 ei st\u0103p\u00e2nului lor.<\/p>\n
\u00cemp\u0103ratul fu foarte m\u00e2hnit la g\u00e2ndul c\u0103 din pricina unui singur om ar putea s\u0103 se \u00eenstr\u0103ineze de to\u0163i slujitorii cei credincio\u015fi \u015fi c\u0103 ar putea chiar s\u0103-i piard\u0103. \u015ei se c\u0103ina amar c\u0103 f\u0103cuse neghiobia de a-l fi luat \u00een slujba lui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Chibzui el ce chibzui cum s\u0103 scape c\u00e2t mai repede de voinic, dar vezi c\u0103 nu era chiar at\u00e2t de u\u015for! S\u0103-i dea papucii de-a dreptul, nu cuteza, de team\u0103 ca viteazul s\u0103 nu-i fac\u0103 de petrecanie lui \u015fi \u00eentregii sale o\u015ftiri \u015fi, dup\u0103 aceea, s\u0103 se \u00eensc\u0103uneze el \u00een jil\u0163ul domnesc. Mult\u0103 vreme se zb\u0103tu \u00eemp\u0103ratul cum s\u0103 se descotoroseasc\u0103 de nepoftitul \u0103sta \u015fi-n cele din urma \u00eei veni o idee.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Printr-un curtean trimise vorb\u0103 croitora\u015fului c\u0103 l-ar ruga s\u0103-l ajute \u00eentr-o treab\u0103 care ar fi floare la ureche pentru un om at\u00e2t de viteaz ca el.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Curteanul \u00eei povesti croitora\u015fului c\u0103 \u00eentr-o p\u0103dure din apropierea cet\u0103\u0163ii de scaun se prip\u0103\u015fiser\u0103 doi uria\u015fi, \u015fi c\u0103 blestema\u0163ii ace\u015ftia nu f\u0103ceau altceva dec\u00e2t s\u0103 prade, s\u0103 ucid\u0103 \u015fi s\u0103 dea foc, f\u0103c\u00e2nd pierdute zeci de vie\u0163i nevinovate \u015fi pricinuind numai pagube. \u015ei-i mai zise c\u0103, p\u00e2n\u0103 atunci, oricine se-ncumetase s\u0103 se apropie de ei \u00ee\u015fi pusese via\u0163a-n primejdie. Iar de s-ar ar\u0103ta el gata s\u0103 le vin\u0103 de petrecanie acestor uria\u015fi, \u00eemp\u0103ratul l-ar r\u0103spl\u0103ti pe m\u0103sura faptei lui viteje\u015fti \u015fi i-ar da de so\u0163ie pe singura lui fiic\u0103 \u015fi drept zestre o jum\u0103tate din \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ie.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0“Ei, a\u015fa chilipir mai zic \u015fi eu c\u0103-i de mine! Stra\u015fnic m-a mai nimerit!” g\u00e2ndi croitora\u015ful \u00een sinea lui. C\u0103, vezi, cu o domni\u0163\u0103 frumoas\u0103 ca o cadra \u015fi c-o jum\u0103tate dintr-o \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ie nu te prea \u00eent\u00e2lne\u015fti la tot pasul!”<\/p>\n
\u015ei continu\u00e2ndu-\u015fi parc\u0103 g\u00e2ndul, gr\u0103i c\u0103tre trimisul \u00eemp\u0103ratului:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nici nu mai \u00eencape vorb\u0103 c\u0103 m\u0103-nvoiesc! \u015ei s\u0103-i duci veste \u00eemp\u0103ratului c\u0103 am eu grij\u0103 de uria\u015fii aceia \u015fi-o s\u0103-i fac s\u0103-\u015fi lase oasele \u00een codru\u2026<\/p>\n
Apoi croitora\u015ful porni c\u00e2t mai degrab\u0103 spre acea p\u0103dure, \u00eenso\u0163it de cei o sut\u0103 de c\u0103l\u0103re\u0163i pe care i d\u0103duse \u00eemp\u0103ratul drept ajutor. De \u00eendat\u0103 ce ajunse la marginea p\u0103durii, voinicul le zise \u00eenso\u0163itorilor lui:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 A\u015ftepta\u0163i-m\u0103 aici, ca m\u0103 r\u0103fuiesc eu \u015fi singur cu uria\u015fii! S\u0103 n-ave\u0163i nicio grij\u0103, la am\u00e2ndoi o s\u0103 le fac de petrecanie!<\/p>\n
Apoi se afund\u0103-n p\u0103dure \u015fi \u00eencepu s\u0103 cerceteze cu de-am\u0103nuntul, ba \u00een dreapta, ba \u00een st\u00e2nga, fiecare desi\u015f.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mult timp nu trecu \u015fi, deodat\u0103, \u00eei z\u0103ri \u015fi pe cei doi uria\u015fi. Dormeau bu\u015ftean la umbra unui copac \u015fi sfor\u0103iau at\u00e2t de tare, c\u0103 se zb\u0103teau crengile \u00een jurul lor ca b\u0103tute de furtun\u0103. Croitora\u015ful \u00ee\u015fi umplu repede buzunarele cu pietre \u015fi se c\u0103\u0163\u0103r\u0103-n copac, de-ai fi zis c\u0103-i o veveri\u0163\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Apoi, zv\u00e2rr! \u00cencepu s\u0103 arunce cu pietre \u00een pieptul unuia dintre ei. Cum era rupt de somn, uria\u015ful nu sim\u0163i nimic mult\u0103 vreme, dar p\u00e2n\u0103 la urm\u0103 se trezi \u015fi, \u00eenghiontindu-\u015fi prietenul, \u00eel \u00eentreb\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce te-a apucat s\u0103 dai \u00een mine?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Pesemne c\u0103 visezi! r\u0103spunse cel\u0103lalt. De unde ai mai scos-o c\u0103 dau \u00een tine?<\/p>\n
Adormir\u0103 ei din nou \u015fi croitora\u015ful doar at\u00e2t a\u015ftepta. \u0162intind bine, \u00eel pocni cu o piatr\u0103 pe cel\u0103lalt uria\u015f.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Aoleu, da\u2019 asta ce-i?! \u0163ip\u0103 acesta, ca ars. De ce m\u0103 love\u015fti?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu te-am lovit defel! bomb\u0103ni primul uria\u015f.<\/p>\n
Se ciorov\u0103ir\u0103 ei a\u015fa o vreme, dar cum erau tare osteni\u0163i, se l\u0103sar\u0103 p\u0103guba\u015fi \u015fi \u00eencepur\u0103 s\u0103 trag\u0103 iar la aghioase. Croitora\u015ful \u00ee\u015fi \u00eencepu din nou jocul: alese din buzunar piatra cea mai grea \u015fi-o zv\u00e2rli cu toat\u0103 puterea \u00een pieptul primului uria\u015f.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Te cam \u00eentreci cu gluma, auzi! r\u0103cni acesta, s\u0103rind \u00een sus ca un apucat.<\/p>\n
\u015ei, \u00een\u015ff\u0103c\u00e2ndu-l de piept pe tovar\u0103\u015ful s\u0103u, \u00eel izbi cu at\u00e2ta putere de un copac, c\u0103 se cutremur\u0103 copacul din cre\u015ftet \u015fi p\u00e2n\u0103-n r\u0103d\u0103cin\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar parc\u0103 cel\u0103lalt se l\u0103s\u0103 mai prejos?! Nu trecu mult \u015fi \u00eencepur\u0103 s\u0103 smulg\u0103 copacii din jur, cu r\u0103d\u0103cini cu tot, \u015fi s\u0103 \u015fi-i repead\u0103, ca orbe\u0163ii, unul \u00een capul celuilalt, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce se pr\u0103bu\u015fir\u0103 am\u00e2ndoi la p\u0103m\u00e2nt, de parc\u0103 i-ar fi lovit tr\u0103snetul \u00een aceea\u015fi clip\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cen timp ce cobora din copac cu iu\u0163eal\u0103, croitora\u015ful \u00ee\u015fi spuse \u00een sinea lui: “Mare noroc am avut c\u0103 nu l-au smuls \u015fi pe asta \u00een care eram coco\u0163at; altminteri ar fi trebuit s\u0103 sar ca o veveri\u0163\u0103 \u00eentr-altul”.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Trase apoi palo\u015ful din teac\u0103 \u015fi-l \u00eempl\u00e2nt\u0103 ad\u00e2nc, de vreo c\u00e2teva ori, \u00een pieptul celor doi uria\u015fi. \u00centr-un sf\u00e2r\u015fit, se \u00eentoarse la c\u0103l\u0103re\u0163ii care-l a\u015fteptau \u00een marginea p\u0103durii \u015fi le zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Gata-i treaba! Le-am venit de hac la am\u00e2ndoi; dar nu mi-a fost deloc u\u015for, z\u0103u a\u015fa!<\/p>\n
\u00cen disperarea lor, s\u0103-i fi v\u0103zut cum smulgeau copacii din r\u0103d\u0103cini, ca s\u0103 se apere. Dar po\u0163i s\u0103 te pui cu unul ca mine, care doboar\u0103 \u015fapte dintr-o lovitur\u0103?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu cumva te-au r\u0103nit? s\u0103rir\u0103 s\u0103-l \u00eentrebe c\u0103l\u0103re\u0163ii.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Auzi vorb\u0103! se sup\u0103r\u0103 croitora\u015ful. Eu, r\u0103nit? N-au fost \u00een stare s\u0103-mi clinteasc\u0103 m\u0103car un fir de p\u0103r.<\/p>\n
C\u0103l\u0103re\u0163ii nu prea vrur\u0103 s\u0103 se \u00eencread\u0103-n spusele lui \u015fi intrar\u0103-n ad\u00e2ncul p\u0103durii s\u0103 vad\u0103 cu ochii lor care-i adev\u0103rul. \u015ei nu mic\u0103 le fu mirarea c\u00e2nd d\u0103dur\u0103 cu adev\u0103rat peste cei doi uria\u015fi, sc\u0103lda\u0163i \u00eentr-o b\u0103ltoac\u0103 de s\u00e2nge\u2026 Iar \u00een jurul lor se putea vedea o mul\u0163ime de copaci cu r\u0103d\u0103cinile smulse din p\u0103m\u00e2nt.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Croitora\u015ful se \u00eenf\u0103\u0163i\u015f\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103ratului \u015fi-i ceru r\u0103splata care i se cuvenea. Acesta \u00eens\u0103 se c\u0103i amarnic pentru f\u0103g\u0103duiala f\u0103cut\u0103 \u015fi scorni pe loc altceva, cu g\u00e2ndul s\u0103 se descotoroseasc\u0103 de nepricopsitul \u0103sta, care-i st\u0103tea ca un ghimpe-n coast\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Prea te gr\u0103be\u015fti, voinicule, gr\u0103i \u00eemp\u0103ratul. Cuv\u00e2ntul meu e cuv\u00e2nt, da\u2019 mai \u00eenainte de a \u0163i-o da pe fiic\u0103-mea de nevast\u0103 \u015fi jum\u0103tate din \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ie, se cuvine s\u0103 mai s\u0103v\u00e2r\u015fe\u015fti \u00eenc\u0103 o fapt\u0103 de vitejie!<\/p>\n
Dar mare lucru nu-i pentru tine\u2026 \u00centr-una din p\u0103durile mele \u015fi-a f\u0103cut s\u0103la\u015ful un inorog, iar dihania asta f\u0103cea numai pagube. Cu c\u00e2t \u00eel prinzi mai degrab\u0103, cu at\u00e2t va fi mai bine pentru tine.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dac\u0103-i vorba de-un inorog, las\u0103-l \u00een seama mea! Da\u2019 asta m\u0103 tem \u015fi mai pu\u0163in dec\u00e2t m-am temut de cei doi uria\u015fi\u2026 C\u0103 doar m\u0103ria-ta \u015ftie ce-mi poate pielea: \u015fapte dintr-o lovitur\u0103 dau gata!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Apoi, lu\u00e2nd cu sine o secure \u015fi-o funie, croitora\u015ful o porni la drum. Ajuns \u00een p\u0103dure, le spuse \u015fi de ast\u0103 dat\u0103 \u00eenso\u0163itorilor lui s\u0103-l a\u015ftepte mai la o parte.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pe inorog nu fu nevoit s\u0103-l caute prea mult, c\u0103ci era aproape. Iar acesta, de cum \u00eel z\u0103ri pe croitora\u015f, se \u015fi repezi asupr\u0103-i, vr\u00e2nd s\u0103-l str\u0103pung\u0103 cu cornul dintr-o singur\u0103 lovitur\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 U\u015furel! strig\u0103 voinicul nostru.<\/p>\n
R\u0103mase pe loc, lini\u015ftit, a\u015ftept\u00e2nd p\u00e2n\u0103 ce fiara fu foarte aproape de el. Atunci s\u0103ri cu sprinteneal\u0103 \u00een spatele unui copac. Dar inorogul nu-l sl\u0103bea defel \u015fi, repezindu-se cu toat\u0103 puterea \u00een copac, \u00ee\u015fi \u00eenfipse cu at\u00e2ta furie cornul \u00een trunchi, c\u0103 nu mai putu s\u0103-l smulg\u0103 de acolo \u015fi r\u0103mase astfel prins ca \u00eentr-un piron.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0“Ei, acum mi-a picat \u00een la\u0163 mititelule!” se bucur\u0103 croitora\u015ful. Ie\u015fi dind\u0103r\u0103tul copacului \u015fi, dup\u0103 ce trecu fr\u00e2nghia pe dup\u0103 g\u00e2tul fiarei, retez\u0103 cu securea cornul \u00eenfipt \u00een copac. Dup\u0103 ce sf\u00e2r\u015fi toat\u0103 treaba asta, lua inorogul de funie si-l duse pe\u015fche\u015f \u00eemp\u0103ratului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar vezi ca nici de ast\u0103 dat\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103ratul nu se \u00eenvoi s\u0103-\u015fi \u0163in\u0103 f\u0103g\u0103duiala \u015fi-i ceru s\u0103 s\u0103v\u00e2r\u015feasc\u0103 o a treia isprav\u0103 vitejeasc\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cenainte de-a se porni nunta, croitora\u015ful trebuia s\u0103-i mai prind\u0103 un porc mistre\u0163, care f\u0103cea mari stric\u0103ciuni \u00eentr-una din p\u0103durile \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103te\u015fti. \u015ei ca \u015fi-n celelalte dou\u0103 d\u0103\u0163i, cei o sut\u0103 de v\u00e2n\u0103tori urmau s\u0103-i stea \u00een preajm\u0103 \u015fi s\u0103-i dea ajutor la nevoie.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Bucuros o fac, m\u0103ria-ta, r\u0103spunse croitora\u015ful, c\u0103 pentru mine asta-i o joac\u0103 de copil!<\/p>\n
De asta dat\u0103 \u00eens\u0103 nu-i mai lu\u0103 cu el \u00een p\u0103dure pe v\u00e2n\u0103tori, \u015fi ace\u015ftia fur\u0103 tare mul\u0163umi\u0163i, fiindc\u0103 mistre\u0163ul \u00eei fug\u0103rise \u00een c\u00e2teva r\u00e2nduri cu at\u00e2ta \u00eenver\u015funare, c\u0103 le pierise cheful s\u0103-i mai caute pricin\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0De \u00eendat\u0103 ce-l z\u0103ri pe croitora\u015f, fiara se n\u0103pusti ca turbat\u0103 asupra lui, cu botul plin de spume, scr\u00e2\u015fnind cu furie din col\u0163ii ascu\u0163i\u0163i. \u00ce\u015fi dezveli \u00eentr-un r\u00e2njet col\u0163ii, vr\u00e2nd s\u0103-l culce la p\u0103m\u00e2nt dintr-o lovitur\u0103. \u015ei cu siguran\u0163\u0103 c\u0103 l-ar fi r\u0103pus, dac\u0103 croitora\u015ful cel sprinten n-ar fi fugit s\u0103 se ad\u0103posteasc\u0103 \u00eentr-un c\u0103su\u0163\u0103 de v\u00e2n\u0103toare aflat\u0103-n apropiere. Cum \u015ftia c\u0103 fiara e pornit\u0103 pe urmele lui, nu z\u0103bovi \u00een\u0103untru, ci s\u0103ri afar\u0103 pe fereastr\u0103. Ocolind apoi c\u0103su\u0163a, se piti dup\u0103 ea \u015fi-o \u00eenchise tocmai \u00een clipa c\u00e2nd mistre\u0163ul d\u0103duse orbe\u015fte buzna \u00een\u0103untru\u2026<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dihania cea fioroas\u0103 spumega de furie, dar cum era prea greoaie \u015fi ne\u00eendem\u00e2natic\u0103 pentru ca s\u0103 poat\u0103 s\u0103ri pe fereastr\u0103, pic\u0103 \u00een capcana \u00eentins\u0103 cu iste\u0163ime.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Croitora\u015ful \u00eei chem\u0103 pe v\u00e2n\u0103tori ca s\u0103-i aib\u0103 drept martori c\u0103 prinsese fiara, iar dup\u0103 aceea se \u00eenf\u0103\u0163i\u015f\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103ratului, care, de voie, de nevoie, trebui s\u0103-\u015fi \u0163in\u0103 cuv\u00e2ntul \u015fi s\u0103-i dea fata \u015fi jum\u0103tate din \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ie.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nunta se s\u0103rb\u0103tori cu mult\u0103 str\u0103lucire, dar cu pu\u0163in\u0103 bucurie. \u015ei a\u015fa se f\u0103cu c\u0103 croitora\u015ful ajunse \u00eemp\u0103rat.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Trecu ce trecu \u015fi \u00eentr-o noapte \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa cea t\u00e2n\u0103r\u0103 se pomeni c\u0103-l aude pe b\u0103rbatul ei vorbind prin somn. \u015ei zicea el a\u015fa: “B\u0103iete, ia apuc\u0103-te de-mi coase pieptarul \u015fi-mi c\u00e2rpe\u015fte n\u0103dragii, c\u0103 de nu, odat\u0103 te ating cu cotul peste urechi!” \u015ei atunci \u00ee\u015fi d\u0103du ea seama c\u0103 so\u0163ul ei nu-i de neam.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A doua zi \u00eei \u00eemp\u0103rt\u0103\u015fi \u00eemp\u0103ratului totul, ar\u0103t\u00e2ndu-i c\u00e2t era de nenorocit\u0103 de ce aflase, \u015fi-l rug\u0103 din suflet s-o scape de pacostea asta de b\u0103rbat care nu era dec\u00e2t un nemernic de croitora\u015f.<\/p>\n
\u00cemp\u0103ratul g\u0103si multe cuvinte de m\u00e2ng\u00e2iere \u015fi la urm\u0103 \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu te mai pr\u0103p\u0103di at\u00e2t cu firea, fata mea! La noapte caut\u0103 de las\u0103 deschis\u0103 u\u015fa de la iatac. Slugile mele vor sta de veghe afara, \u015fi de \u00eendat\u0103 ce-l va cuprinde somnul pe b\u0103rbatul t\u0103u, tu s\u0103 le dai de veste. \u00centr-o clip\u0103 l-or lega fedele\u015f, s\u0103 n-aib\u0103 cum se \u00eempotrivi, \u015fi dup\u0103 aia l-or duce pe-o corabie, care o pleca cu el in lume. Iar a\u015fa o s\u0103 i se piard\u0103 urma\u2026<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0T\u00e2n\u0103ra \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa fu mul\u0163umit\u0103 de spusele tat\u0103lui ei \u015fi, la r\u00e2ndu-i, \u00eei zise c\u0103 va face \u00eentocmai cum a sf\u0103tuit-o el. Dar se \u00eent\u00e2mpl\u0103 ca o slug\u0103 s\u0103 aud\u0103 tot ce puseser\u0103 d\u00e2n\u015fii la cale. \u015ei cum \u00eei era credincioas\u0103 t\u00e2n\u0103rului domnitor \u015fi-l iubea, \u00eei dest\u0103inui tot ce se uneltise \u00eempotriva lui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dac\u0103 a\u015fa-i vorba, las\u2019 c\u0103 am s\u0103 pun eu cap\u0103t tuturor urzelilor acestora! r\u0103spunse croitora\u015ful.<\/p>\n
\u015ei ca \u015fi c\u00e2nd nimic n-ar fi \u015ftiut, c\u00e2nd veni seara, se culc\u0103 la ora obi\u015fnuit\u0103, al\u0103turi de \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teas\u0103. A\u015ftept\u0103 ea cu inima fript\u0103 s\u0103-l vad\u0103 adormit, \u015fi c\u00e2nd socoti c\u0103 doarme de po\u0163i t\u0103ia lemne pe el, se d\u0103du jos din pat, deschise u\u015fa iatacului \u015fi se culc\u0103 la loc. Atunci croitora\u015ful, care se f\u0103cea numai c\u0103 doarme, \u00eencepu s\u0103 r\u0103cneasc\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 B\u0103iete, ia apuc\u0103-te de-mi coase pieptarul \u015fi-mi c\u00e2rpe\u015fte n\u0103dragii, c\u0103 de nu, odat\u0103 te ating cu cotul peste urechi! Am dobor\u00e2t eu \u015fapte dintr-o lovitur\u0103, le-am f\u0103cut de petrecanie la doi uria\u015fi, am prins un inorog \u015fi-un mistre\u0163, \u015fi crezi c-o s\u0103 m\u0103 tem de nevolnicii \u0103\u015ftia care stau \u015fi p\u00e2ndesc dup\u0103 u\u015f\u0103 iatacului?!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Auzindu-i vorbele, care te puteau baga \u00een r\u0103cori, nu altceva, slugile se-nfrico\u015far\u0103 de moarte \u015fi-o luar\u0103 la s\u0103n\u0103toasa, de parc\u0103 le-ar fi gonit din urm\u0103 o oaste de s\u0103lbatici.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0De atunci, nimeni nu mai cutez\u0103 s\u0103-i caute pricin\u0103. \u015ei uite a\u015fa s-a \u00eent\u00e2mplat c-a r\u0103mas croitora\u015ful nostru pe tronul \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesc p\u00e2n\u0103 la sf\u00e2r\u015fitul zilelor lui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00centr-o diminea\u0163\u0103 de var\u0103, un croitora\u015f \u015fedea plin de voio\u015fie la masa lui de lucru de l\u00e2ng\u0103 fereastr\u0103. Cosea de zor, iar m\u00e2inile lui parc\u0103 alergau singure pe \u0163es\u0103tur\u0103. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tocmai … <\/p>\n