A fost odat\u0103 un \u00eemp\u0103rat \u015fi o \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teas\u0103, am\u00e2ndoi tineri \u015fi frumo\u015fi, dar nu f\u0103ceau copii.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00centr-o zi, veni la \u00eemp\u0103ratul un arap buzat \u015fi-i zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 S\u0103 tr\u0103ie\u015fti, luminate \u00eemp\u0103rate! Am, auzit c\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa nu face copii \u015fi am adus buruieni pe care, cum le-o bea, r\u0103m\u00e2ne grea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul lu\u0103 buruienile de la arap \u015fi porunci s\u0103-i dea cal \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesc \u015fi un r\u00e2nd de haine de aur ce-\u0163i lua vederile de frumuse\u0163e, apoi chem\u0103 pe \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa \u015fi-i dete buruienile s\u0103 le fiarb\u0103 \u015fi s\u0103 le bea. \u00cemp\u0103r\u0103teasa chem\u0103 pe buc\u0103t\u0103reas\u0103 \u015fi-i dete buruienile s\u0103 le fiarb\u0103, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103-i spuie de ce treab\u0103 sunt. Buc\u0103t\u0103reasa, ne\u015ftiind puterea lor, gust\u0103 dintr-\u00eensele \u015fi apoi le duse \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesei s\u0103 le bea. Nu trecu mult timp la mijloc \u015fi r\u0103mase grea \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa \u015fi buc\u0103t\u0103reasa. Iar c\u00e2nd veni vremea, n\u0103scur\u0103 am\u00e2ndou\u0103 c\u00e2te un cocona\u015f mai frumos dec\u00e2t tot ce este frumos pe lumea aceasta, \u015fi le puse nume unuia Dafin \u015fi altuia Afin.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00centr-o zi, \u00eemp\u0103ratul plec\u0103 la b\u0103t\u0103lie \u015fi, l\u0103s\u00e2nd pe fiul s\u0103u \u00een locu-i, \u00eei dete o mul\u0163ime de chei \u00een m\u00e2n\u0103 \u015fi-i zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Fiule, \u00een toate casele ce se deschid cu aceste chei s\u0103 intri, iar \u00een casa ce se deschide cu cheia de aur s\u0103 nu-\u0163i calce piciorul, c\u0103ci nu va fi bine de tine.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum plec\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103ratul din ora\u015f, fiul sau intr\u0103 prin toate casele \u015fi v\u0103zu o mul\u0163ime de pietre nestimate foarte frumoase, dar nu-i pl\u0103cu nici una dintr-ansele; \u00een cele din urm\u0103, ajunse \u015fi la casa ce se deschidea cu cheia de aur, st\u0103tu pu\u0163in \u00eenaintea u\u015fii, se g\u00e2ndi la porunca ce-i dedese tat\u0103-s\u0103u, dar biruindu-l ner\u0103bdarea, intr\u0103 \u00eenl\u0103untru \u015fi v\u0103zu un ochean de sticl\u0103. Se uit\u0103 prin el \u015fi v\u0103zu un palat cu totul \u015fi cu totul de aur, \u00eenc\u00e2t la soare te puteai uita, iar la d\u00e2nsul ba. \u015ei \u00eentr-\u00eensul \u015fedea doamna Chiralina, t\u00e2n\u0103r\u0103 copil\u0103, floare din gr\u0103din\u0103, frumoas\u0103 ca o z\u00e2n\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce o privi mai mult timp, puse ocheanul iar\u0103\u015fi la locul lui \u015fi ie\u015fi afar\u0103 cu ochii plini de lacr\u0103mi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nu trecu mult timp \u015fi \u00eemp\u0103ratul se \u00eentoarse de la b\u0103t\u0103lie biruitor; dar \u00een loc s\u0103-i ias\u0103 fiul s\u0103u \u00eenainte, s\u0103-l primeasc\u0103 cu bucurie, ie\u015fi numai \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa \u015fi-i spuse c\u0103 fiul ei este bolnav. \u00cemp\u0103ratul pricepu numaidec\u00e2t de unde-i venea boala \u015fi chem\u0103 pe to\u0163i doftorii \u015fi doftori\u0163ele din lume, dar to\u0163i \u00eei ziser\u0103 c\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 nu va da fiului s\u0103u de so\u0163ie pe doamna Chiralina, el nu se va \u00eens\u0103n\u0103to\u015fa. \u00cemp\u0103ratul trimise soli peste soli la doamna Chiralina, dar fu peste putin\u0163\u0103, c\u0103ci tat\u0103l ei nu voia s\u0103 o m\u0103rite.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Auzind feciorul \u00eemp\u0103ratului toate acestea, hot\u0103r\u00ee s\u0103 se duc\u0103 el \u00eensu\u015fi s\u0103 o cear\u0103 de la tat\u0103l ei. A\u015fadar spuse toate acestea fratelui s\u0103u de cruce \u015fi, \u00eentr-o zi, plecar\u0103 am\u00e2ndoi \u015fi se f\u0103cur\u0103 nev\u0103zu\u0163i. Merser\u0103 zi de var\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 seara \u015fi ajunser\u0103 la muma Criv\u0103\u0163ului, b\u0103tur\u0103 la u\u015f\u0103 \u015fi ie\u015fi \u00eenaintea lor o bab\u0103 zb\u00e2rcit\u0103 \u015fi \u00eei \u00eentreb\u0103 ce caut\u0103. Ei r\u0103spunser\u0103 c\u0103 cer s\u0103-i g\u0103zduiasc\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 a doua zi \u015fi s\u0103 le spuie pe care drum s\u0103 apuce ca s\u0103 ajung\u0103 la \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia doamnei Chiralina.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Baba se uit\u0103 la d\u00e2n\u015fii cu mil\u0103 \u015fi apoi le zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 V-a\u015f primi \u00een cas\u0103 cu mare bucurie, da mi-e fric\u0103 c\u0103 va veni fiul meu \u015fi v\u0103 face pre am\u00e2ndoi sloi de ghea\u0163\u0103; duce\u0163i-v\u0103 mai bine la sora mea cea mai mic\u0103, c\u0103 ea poate s\u0103 v\u0103 g\u0103zduiasc\u0103 \u015fi s\u0103 v\u0103 spuie \u015fi drumul la doamna Chiralina.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Feciorul de \u00eemp\u0103rat plec\u0103 \u00eenainte \u015fi ajunse la muma V\u00e2ntului turbat; plecar\u0103 \u015fi de acolo \u015fi ajunser\u0103 la muma V\u00e2ntului de prim\u0103var\u0103, b\u0103tur\u0103 \u00een u\u015f\u0103 \u015fi ie\u015fi o femeie \u00eenalt\u0103 \u015fi t\u00e2n\u0103r\u0103, \u015fi frumoas\u0103. Aceast\u0103 femeie, cum v\u0103zu pe feciorul de \u00eemp\u0103rat, \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Drag\u0103 F\u0103t-Frumos, \u015ftiu c\u0103 ai plecat s\u0103 cau\u0163i pe doamna Chiralina, s-o iei de so\u0163ie; dar nu vei putea s\u0103 ajungi p\u00e2n\u0103 la \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia ei f\u0103r\u0103 ajutorul fiului meu. R\u0103m\u00e2ne\u0163i aci, dar trebuie sa v\u0103 ascund foarte bine, c\u0103ci cum o sim\u0163i fiul meu c\u0103 se afl\u0103 la mine oameni dup\u0103 t\u0103r\u00e2mul cellalt, v\u0103 omoar\u0103. Zic\u00e2nd aceste vorbe, plesni de trei ori din palme \u015fi \u00eendat\u0103 s\u0103ri dup\u0103 sob\u0103 o pas\u0103re de aur, cu ciocul de diamant \u015fi cu ochii de smarand, \u015fi-i b\u0103g\u0103 subt aripi pe am\u00e2ndoi, apoi se sui iar\u0103\u015fi pe sob\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nu trecu mult timp \u015fi se auzi o dulce v\u00e2j\u00e2itur\u0103 de v\u00e2nt, care aducea un miros de trandafiri \u015fi de rozmarini, u\u015fa se deschise singur\u0103 \u015fi intr\u0103 \u00een cas\u0103 un fl\u0103c\u0103u frumos, cu p\u0103r lung de aur, cu aripi de argint \u015fi cu un b\u0103\u0163 \u00een m\u00e2n\u0103, \u00eempletit cu de tot felul de ierburi \u015fi flori. Cum intr\u0103 \u00een cas\u0103, zise m\u0103-sei:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Mam\u0103, mie \u00eemi miroase a om dup\u0103 t\u0103r\u00e2mul cellalt.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u0162i-o fi mirosind, mam\u0103, dar p-aicea n-are ce c\u0103uta oamenii dup\u0103 t\u0103r\u00e2mul cellalt.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0V\u00e2ntul se lini\u015fti \u015fi se puse la mas\u0103; dar dup\u0103 ce m\u00e2nc\u0103 o strachin\u0103 de lapte dulce de c\u0103prioar\u0103 \u015fi b\u0103u ap\u0103 de mic\u015funele dintr-o oal\u0103 de marmur\u0103, se puse la povestit.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0M\u0103-sa, v\u0103z\u00e2ndu-l cu voie bun\u0103, zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Fiul meu, ia spune-mi, unde este \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia doamnei Chiralina \u015fi cum ar face cineva ca s\u0103 o ia de nevast\u0103?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Greu lucru m\u0103 \u00eentreba\u015fi, mam\u0103! dar, aide, treac\u0103-mearg\u0103. \u00cemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia doamnei Chiralina este departe de aci, cale de zece ani; dar aceast\u0103 cale se poate face c\u00e2t te \u015ftergi la ochi daca cineva s-o duce \u00een p\u0103durea cea neagr\u0103 de l\u00e2ng\u0103 g\u00e2rla de p\u0103cur\u0103, care arunc\u0103 cu pietre \u015fi foc p\u00e2n\u0103 la cer, \u015fi daca o \u00eenc\u0103leca pe bu\u015fteanul ielelor cu care poate s\u0103 treac\u0103 g\u00e2rla; \u00eens\u0103 cine aude \u015fi va spune cuiva, acela s\u0103 se fac\u0103 de piatr\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 la genunchi. Dup\u0103 ce va ajunge la \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ie, trebuie s\u0103 se fac\u0103 un cerb de aur \u015fi s\u0103 intre \u00eentr-\u00eensul ca s\u0103 ajung\u0103 \u00een odaia \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesei \u015fi s\u0103 o fure; cine aude \u015fi va spune cuiva s\u0103 se fac\u0103 de piatr\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 la br\u00e2u. Dup\u0103 ce o va lua de so\u0163ie, muma Criv\u0103\u0163ului, de pizm\u0103, o s\u0103 trimit\u0103 un ovrei cu ni\u015fte c\u0103m\u0103\u015fi frumoase \u015fi mai sub\u0163iri dec\u00e2t p\u00e2nza p\u0103ianjenului. Doamna Chiralina o s\u0103 cumpere c\u0103m\u0103\u015fi, \u015fi daca nu le va uda cu lacrimi de turturic\u0103, cum se va \u00eembr\u0103ca cu d\u00e2nsele, va muri; cine aude \u015fi va spune cuiva s\u0103 se fac\u0103 cu totul \u015fi cu totul de piatr\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pe c\u00e2nd v\u00e2ntul spunea toate acestea, feciorul de \u00eemp\u0103rat adormise, iar feciorul buc\u0103t\u0103resei r\u0103m\u0103sese de\u015ftept \u015fi auzise tot.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A doua zi, dup\u0103 ce plec\u0103 v\u00e2ntul d-acas\u0103, feciorul de \u00eemp\u0103rat \u00eentreb\u0103 pe muma v\u00e2ntului daca i-a spus fiul s\u0103u ceva; dar ea, tem\u00e2ndu-se s\u0103 nu se fac\u0103 piatr\u0103, \u00eei r\u0103spunse c\u0103 n-a aflat nimic.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Atunci feciorul buc\u0103t\u0103resei \u015fi cel de \u00eemp\u0103rat luar\u0103 drumul \u00eenainte \u015fi se duser\u0103 zi de var\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 seara, dar c\u00e2nd fu pe la sc\u0103p\u0103tatul soarelui, auzir\u0103 un zgomot \u015fi un urlet mare, apoi v\u0103zur\u0103 o g\u00e2rl\u0103 mare de p\u0103cur\u0103 aprins\u0103, arunc\u00e2nd pietre p\u00e2n\u0103 la \u00eenaltul cer. Feciorul de \u00eemp\u0103rat se sperie, dar feciorul buc\u0103t\u0103resei \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu te teme de nimic \u015fi vino cu mine \u00een aceast\u0103 p\u0103dure, \u015fi f\u0103 ce \u0163i-oi zice eu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ajung\u00e2nd \u00een mijlocul p\u0103durii, z\u0103rir\u0103 bu\u015fteanul ielelor, \u00eenc\u0103licar\u0103 am\u00e2ndoi pe d\u00e2nsul \u015fi, d\u00e2ndu-i pinteni de trei ori, se pref\u0103cu \u00eentr-o c\u0103ru\u0163\u0103 cu doisprezece cai de foc \u015fi \u00eentr-o clip\u0103 se \u00een\u0103l\u0163\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 la V\u00e2ntul turbat \u015fi se pogor\u00ee la por\u0163ile palatului doamnei Chiralina. Apoi, dup\u0103 ce se deter\u0103 jos, c\u0103ru\u0163a se pref\u0103cu iar \u00een bu\u015ftean \u015fi ei r\u0103maser\u0103 dinaintea unui palat de zamfir (piatr\u0103) \u015fi cu por\u0163ile de chiparos; iar la una din ferestre sta doamna Chiralina, \u00eembr\u0103cat\u0103 cu haine de aur \u0163esute cu m\u0103rg\u0103ritar.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum v\u0103zu doamna Chiralina pe feciorul de \u00eemp\u0103rat, prinse o a\u015fa de mare dragoste de d\u00e2nsul, \u00eenc\u00e2t c\u0103zu la grea boal\u0103 \u015fi ajunse la ceasul mor\u0163ii.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ce nu f\u0103cu bietul \u00eemp\u0103rat ca s\u0103 o scape? Dar toate erau \u00een zadar. \u00cen cele din urm\u0103, veni o bab\u0103 \u015fi-i zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Luminate \u00eemp\u0103rate, s\u0103 tr\u0103ie\u015fti \u00eentru mul\u0163i ani! Daca vrei s\u0103 se fac\u0103 s\u0103n\u0103toas\u0103 fiica \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei-tale, s\u0103 cau\u0163i cerbul de aur care c\u00e2nt\u0103 ca toate p\u0103s\u0103rile \u015fi s\u0103-l aduci \u00een cas\u0103 numai trei zile \u015fi vei vedea cum se va face s\u0103n\u0103toas\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul puse s\u0103 strige pristavul \u00een toat\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia; iar dup\u0103 trei zile, feciorul buc\u0103t\u0103resei lovi bu\u015fteanul de trei ori \u015fi se f\u0103cu un cerb de aur frumos, apoi b\u0103g\u0103 \u00eentr-\u00eensul pe feciorul de \u00eemp\u0103rat \u015fi se puse dinaintea palatului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul, v\u0103z\u00e2nd cerbul, se dete jos \u015fi \u00eentreb\u0103 pe feciorul buc\u0103t\u0103resei daca-i este de v\u00e2nzare.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu-mi este de v\u00e2nzare, ci de \u00eenchiriere, r\u0103spunse cu seme\u0163ie feciorul buc\u0103t\u0103resei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ei bine! ce ai s\u0103-mi ceri, ca s\u0103 mi-l dai numai trei zile?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 S\u0103-mi dai o mie de bani de aur.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tocmeala se f\u0103cu \u015fi \u00eemp\u0103ratul lu\u0103 cerbul \u015fi-l b\u0103g\u0103 \u00een odaia doamnei Chiralina; apoi se duse la treaba lui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cerbul, cum se v\u0103zu numai cu doamna Chiralina, \u00eencepu s\u0103 c\u00e2nte un c\u00e2ntec de dor, de pl\u00e2ngea lemnele \u015fi pietrele. Doamna Chiralina adormi, iar feciorul de \u00eemp\u0103rat ie\u015fi din cerb \u015fi o s\u0103rut\u0103 pe frunte, apoi intr\u0103 iar\u0103\u015fi \u00een cerb.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A doua zi, doamna Chiralina spuse femeilor sale c\u0103 a visat de dou\u0103 ori c\u0103 a s\u0103rutat-o un june frumos. Atunci una din femei, fiind mai priceput\u0103, zise doamnei Chiralina c\u0103, pe dat\u0103 ce va \u00eencepe cerbul s\u0103 c\u00e2nte, s\u0103 se prefac\u0103 c\u0103 doarme \u015fi cum va sim\u0163i c\u0103 o s\u0103rut\u0103 cineva, s\u0103 puie m\u00e2na pe d\u00e2nsul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum veni noaptea, cerbul \u00eencepu s\u0103 c\u00e2nte un c\u00e2ntec de jale. Doamna Chiralina se pref\u0103cu c\u0103 doarme \u015fi, c\u00e2nd veni F\u0103t-Frumos s\u0103 o s\u0103rute, \u00eel str\u00e2nse \u00een bra\u0163e \u015fi-i zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 D-acum \u00eenainte nu vei mai sc\u0103pa, c\u0103 mult am dorit s\u0103 te dob\u00e2ndesc.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ei se giugiulir\u0103 ca ni\u015fte porumbei p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00eei apuc\u0103 ziua; iar c\u00e2nd fu pe la pr\u00e2nz, veni \u00eemp\u0103ratul \u015fi cu fiul buc\u0103t\u0103resei ca s\u0103-i dea cerbul. Doamna Chiralina \u00eencepu s\u0103 pl\u00e2ng\u0103 c\u0103 nu vrea nicidecum s\u0103 se despart\u0103 de cerb; dar fiul buc\u0103t\u0103resei zise \u00eencetinel:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cere de la \u00eemp\u0103ratul voie s\u0103 petreci cerbul p\u00e2n\u0103 afar\u0103 din ora\u015f, c\u0103ci acolo ne a\u015fteapt\u0103 o c\u0103ru\u0163\u0103 cu doisprezece cai de foc, \u00een care o s\u0103 ne suim cu to\u0163ii \u015fi o s\u0103 ne ducem la \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia lui F\u0103t-Frumos, iubitul t\u0103u.<\/p>\n