A fost odat\u0103 un \u00eemp\u0103rat, \u015fi-n curtea acelui \u00eemp\u0103rat se afla un pom at\u00e2t de \u00eenalt, \u00eenc\u00e2t nimeni nu era \u00een stare s\u0103-i vad\u0103 v\u00e2rful. Pomul acesta \u00eenflorea \u015fi d\u0103dea rod \u00een fiecare an, dar nici \u00eemp\u0103ratul, nici curtenii lui, nici vreun alt om p\u0103m\u00e2ntean n-a apucat s\u0103 vad\u0103 poam\u0103 din rodul acela.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Era, se vede, pe acolo, prin \u00een\u0103l\u0163imile nestr\u0103b\u0103tute de ochiul omenesc, cineva care nu l\u0103sa s\u0103 cad\u0103 nici o poam\u0103 pe p\u0103m\u00e2nt, ci le culegea toate la timpul potrivit. \u00cemp\u0103ratul \u0163inea doar s\u0103 afle cum sunt poamele rodite de pomul acela, \u015fi a dat de \u015ftire \u00een toat\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia lui c\u0103 aceluia care se va fi urcat \u00een pomul acela \u015fi va putea spune cum anume \u00eei sunt poamele \u00eei va da \u00een c\u0103s\u0103torie pe aceea dintre fetele sale pe care el \u00eensu\u015fi \u015fi-o va alege.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Au venit dar boieri de toate spi\u0163ele, feciori de \u00eemp\u0103rat, p\u00e2n\u0103 chiar \u015fi fe\u0163i-frumo\u015fi, dar nici unul n-a fost \u00een stare s\u0103 se urce \u00een pom.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Era \u00eens\u0103 la curtea \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasc\u0103 un fl\u0103c\u0103u \u0163an\u0163o\u015f, \u015fi acesta s-a l\u0103udat mumei sale c\u0103 el are s\u0103 se urce, \u015fi-a rugat-o pe aceasta s\u0103 se duc\u0103 la \u00eemp\u0103rat s\u0103-i spun\u0103 c\u0103 el se urc\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul nu credea a\u015fa ceva \u015fi l-a chemat pe Danciu la sine.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 N-o s\u0103 fii nici tu \u00een stare s\u0103 te urci, i-a zis, \u015fi s\u0103 \u015ftii c\u0103, dac\u0103 nu te vei putea urca, dau porunc\u0103 s\u0103-\u0163i taie capul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Danciu s-a \u00eenvoit s\u0103-i taie capul, dac\u0103 nu va fi \u00een stare s\u0103 se urce, \u015fi a rugat pe \u00eemp\u0103ratul s\u0103-i dea r\u0103gaz de trei zile ca s\u0103 se g\u00e2ndeasc\u0103, iar \u00een timpul acestor trei zile a pus pe un me\u015fter faur s\u0103-i fac\u0103 c\u0103\u0163\u0103r\u0103toare de fier, apoi s-a pus pe urcate.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0S-a urcat omul \u015fi iar s-a urcat timp de trei zile \u015fi trei nop\u0163i, \u015fi deo dat\u0103 a dat \u00een scoar\u0163a copacului de o gaur\u0103 prin care a intrat \u00een o colib\u0103 \u00een care a g\u0103sit o bab\u0103 b\u0103tr\u00e2n\u0103, de tot b\u0103tr\u00e2n\u0103. El \u00eei dete bine\u0163ele cuvenite.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Bun\u0103 seara, bunic\u0103 drag\u0103! \u00eei zise apoi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Bine c\u0103 mi-ai zis bunic\u0103, \u00eei r\u0103spunse baba, c\u0103ci altfel te-a\u015f fi omor\u00e2t \u00eentr-o clip\u0103. Dar ce te aduce pe la noi, pui\u015forul mamei?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Bunic\u0103 drag\u0103, r\u0103spunse el, n-ai putea s\u0103-mi spui ce fel de rod are pomul acesta?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Mai a\u015fteapt\u0103 pu\u0163intel p\u00e2n\u0103 ce se va fi \u00eentors fiul meu, r\u0103spunse ea, el va fi \u015ftiut-o \u015fi aceasta, c\u0103ci sufl\u0103 \u015fi \u00een cele mai mici g\u0103uri.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Iar\u0103 d\u00e2nsa era Mama V\u00e2nturilor. Seara, dup\u0103 ce s-a \u00eentors, fiul ei a sim\u0163it miros de om p\u0103m\u00e2ntean.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Simt boare de om, zise el mumei sale. Cine a venit \u015fi \u00een ce treburi umbl\u0103?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ea \u00eei spuse ce \u015fi cum, toate din fir a p\u0103r, precum le aflase de la Danciu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 De, zise fiul ei, V\u00e2ntul cel f\u0103r\u0103 de ast\u00e2mp\u0103r, eu suflu, ce-i drept, \u00een toate g\u0103urile, dar p\u00e2n\u0103 acum tot n-am ajuns s\u0103 aflu ce fel de rod are pomul acesta.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A r\u0103mas cu buzele umflate \u015fi-a plecat mai departe. Urc\u00e2ndu-se p\u00e2n\u0103 acolo, el a tocit o pereche de c\u0103\u0163\u0103r\u0103toare. El lu\u0103 acuma alt\u0103 pereche.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce s-a urcat \u00eenc\u0103 trei zile, a dat de o alt\u0103 colib\u0103 \u015fi-a intrat \u015fi-n aceasta d\u00e2nd cuvenitele bine\u0163e.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Bun\u0103 seara, bunic\u0103 drag\u0103! \u015ei baba aceasta \u00eei dete acela\u015fi r\u0103spuns ca cea de mai nainte, apoi \u00eel \u00eentreb\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 De unde \u015fi p\u00e2n\u0103 unde? El \u00eei spuse c\u0103 umbl\u0103 s\u0103 afle care e rodul pomului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 De! \u00eei r\u0103spunse ea. \u00cemi pare r\u0103u c\u0103 nu te pot dumeri. Mai a\u015fteapt\u0103 \u00eens\u0103 s\u0103 vie fiul meu; el o s\u0103 \u0163i-o poat\u0103 spune.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Baba i-a dat apoi s\u0103 m\u0103n\u00e2nce, c\u0103ci era lihnit de foame, \u015fi dup\u0103 aceea i-a f\u0103cut culcu\u015f s\u0103 doarm\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Viind acas\u0103 fiul ei, care e Omul-din-lun\u0103, a f\u0103cut \u015fi el \u00eentreb\u0103rile pe care le f\u0103cuse v\u00e2ntul. Ea \u00eei spuse c\u0103 e om bun \u015fi umbl\u0103 s\u0103 afle ce fel e rodul pomului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u00cemi pare foarte r\u0103u, r\u0103spunse el. Eu m\u0103 uit, ce-i drept, prin toate cr\u0103p\u0103turile, dar n-am ajuns s\u0103 aflu ce fel de rod are pomul acesta.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Diminea\u0163a, dup\u0103 ce Danciu se de\u015ftept\u0103 din somn, baba i-a spus-o aceasta. Nu-i r\u0103m\u00e2ne dar lui Danciu dec\u00e2t s\u0103-\u015fi ieie a treia pereche de c\u0103\u0163\u0103r\u0103toare \u015fi s\u0103 arunce jos pe cele tocite.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0G\u0103sindu-le pe acestea prin curte, slugile i le duser\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103ratului, care prin aceasta se \u00eencredin\u0163\u0103 c\u0103 a ajuns tot departe.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0“Te pomene\u015fti c\u0103 acela g\u0103se\u015fte \u00een cele din urm\u0103 rodul pomului, zise el \u00een g\u00e2ndul lui, eu \u00eens\u0103 tot n-am s\u0103-i dau fata mea.”<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Iar\u0103 Danciu se urc\u0103 tot mai departe, o zi, dou\u0103 zile \u015fi dup\u0103 a treia zi iar dete de o colib\u0103. G\u0103si \u015fi \u00een coliba aceasta o bab\u0103 \u00eenc\u0103 mai b\u0103tr\u00e2n\u0103, Mama Soarelui; o p\u0103\u0163i \u00eens\u0103 \u015fi cu aceasta tot ca \u015fi cu celelalte dou\u0103 \u015fi plec\u0103 mai departe.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A urcat acum, a urcat \u015fi iar a urcat timp de trei zile \u2013 da, \u00eenc\u0103 trei \u2013 f\u0103r\u0103 ca s\u0103 i se fi tocit c\u0103\u0163\u0103r\u0103toarele, \u015fi tocmai \u00een seara zilei a \u015faptea s-a pomenit la poarta raiului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nu mai era acum tot ca mai nainte: la poarta aceea n-a g\u0103sit adic\u0103 o bab\u0103, ci un mo\u015fneag b\u0103tr\u00e2n, de tot b\u0103tr\u00e2n.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ai obosit, nu-i a\u015fa? \u00eel \u00eentreb\u0103 mo\u015fneagul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 De! am cam obosit! \u00eei r\u0103spunse.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ei bine! gr\u0103i mo\u015fneagul, dac\u0103 e\u015fti obosit, sari ici \u00een locul meu \u015fi mai odihne\u015fte p\u00e2n\u0103 ce m\u0103 voi fi \u00eentors eu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Danciu se a\u015faz\u0103 \u015fi a\u015fteapt\u0103 un ceas, dou\u0103 ceasuri, mult a a\u015fteptat, dar mo\u015fneagul nu s-a mai \u00eentors. El a \u00eencercat s\u0103 se ridice, dar n-a fost \u00een stare; \u00eei era parc\u0103-l b\u0103tuser\u0103 cu cuie \u00een scaun.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Deodat\u0103 se pomeni fa\u0163\u0103-n fa\u0163\u0103 cu o fat\u0103 de tot frumoas\u0103, care, nici una, nici alta, \u00eel \u00eentreb\u0103 dac\u0103 nu vrea s\u0103 intre vizitiu la Lia, Z\u00e2na Z\u00e2nelor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Voi fi vr\u00e2nd eu, \u00eei r\u0103spunse Danciu, dar nu pot s\u0103 m\u0103 scol de aici.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 A\u015f! \u00eent\u00e2mpin\u0103 fata cea frumoas\u0103. Am s\u0103 te scol eu numaidec\u00e2t. O s\u0103-l aduc \u00eenapoi pe mo\u015fneagul care a fost aici.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ea s-a dus apoi fuga la Lia \u015fi i-a spus c\u0103 mo\u015fneagul nu mai e la slujba lui \u015fi a l\u0103sat \u00een locul s\u0103u pe unul care ar fi gata s\u0103 intre vizitiu la ea, dar nu poate s\u0103 se ridice de acolo.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Lia se \u00eencrunt\u0103 \u015fi-i porunci olacului s\u0103u s\u0103 se duc\u0103 iute \u015fi s\u0103-l aduc\u0103 pe mo\u015fneag la locul lui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Olacul se puse pe drum \u015fi alerg\u0103 o zi \u00eentreag\u0103, de diminea\u0163\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 seara, dar nu ajunse la el. Mai alerg\u0103 \u00eens\u0103 \u00eenc\u0103 o zi, \u015fi pe \u00eenserate \u00eel ajunse, puse m\u00e2na pe el, \u00eei trase o tr\u00e2nteal\u0103 bun\u0103, apoi \u00eel lu\u0103 \u00een spinare \u015fi-l duse la Danciu, care se \u015fi scul\u0103 \u00eendat\u0103 ce ei sosir\u0103 acolo.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Olacul \u00eei mai trase mo\u015fneagului o tr\u00e2nteal\u0103 bun\u0103, \u00eel a\u015fez\u0103 la locul lui, iar pe \u0163igan \u00eel duse la z\u00e2na Lia, ca s\u0103-i fie vizitiu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Lia avea doi cai de c\u0103l\u0103rie, am\u00e2ndoi cu p\u0103rul de aur.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dac\u0103 vrei s\u0103 intri \u00een slujba mea, \u00eei zise lui Danciu, scald\u0103-te \u00een putina aceasta.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u0162iganul nu mai stete pe g\u00e2nduri, ci se dezbr\u0103c\u0103 \u015fi s\u0103ri \u00een putin\u0103. El s-a sc\u0103ldat timp de jum\u0103tate de ceas, apoi Lia i-a poruncit s\u0103 ias\u0103 din putin\u0103. Dup\u0103 ce a ie\u015fit, ce s\u0103-\u0163i vad\u0103 ochii? S\u0103 stai \u015fi s\u0103 te miri! El era frumos de nu-i mai puteai g\u0103si pe fa\u0163a p\u0103m\u00e2ntului pereche.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0S\u0103 vezi dar ru\u015fine ce era s\u0103 p\u0103\u0163easc\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103ratul acela care \u015fi-a pus de g\u00e2nd s\u0103 nu-\u015fi dea \u0163iganului fata!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce el s-a \u00eembr\u0103cat, iar a venit fata cea frumoas\u0103 \u015fi l-a dus la grajdul celor doi cai cu p\u0103rul de aur.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Iat\u0103, \u00eei zise ea, aici \u00een c\u0103m\u0103ru\u0163a de al\u0103turi e ov\u0103z de aur; d\u0103-le din el cailor \u00een fiecare zi o dat\u0103 c\u00e2te o bani\u0163\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Iar s-a f\u0103cut apoi nev\u0103zut\u0103, \u015fi prin cele cu des\u0103v\u00e2r\u015fire minunate abia de aici \u00eenainte trece Danciu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce \u015fi-a f\u0103cut slujba trei zile de-a r\u00e2ndul, a venit din nou fata cea frumoas\u0103 \u015fi i-a spus c\u0103 Lia, Z\u00e2na Z\u00e2nelor din \u00cemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia Sorilor, are s\u0103-l aleag\u0103 b\u0103rbat pe acela care e \u00een stare s-o \u00eeng\u00e2ne f\u0103c\u00e2ndu-le toate \u00eentocmai ca d\u00e2nsa.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Du-m\u0103 la ea! strig\u0103 Danciu s\u0103lt\u00e2nd de bucurie. Am s-o \u00eeng\u00e2n ca \u015fi c\u00e2nd a\u015f fi \u00eentru toate ea \u00eens\u0103\u015fi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0El a fost dus la st\u0103p\u00e2na lui. Pe-nserate, Lia a poruncit s\u0103 fie pus \u00een iatacul ei un al doilea pat la o potrivit\u0103 dep\u0103rtare de al ei. Ea a \u00eenceput apoi s\u0103 se dezbrace, \u015fi, dezbr\u0103c\u00e2ndu-se, ea avea \u015fasesprezece rochii, pe c\u00e2nd Danciu n-avea dec\u00e2t o pereche de i\u0163ari. El \u015fi-a sf\u00e2\u015fiat \u00eens\u0103 i\u0163arii \u00een \u015fasesprezece f\u00e2\u015fii \u015fi, c\u00e2nd Lia punea pe scaunul ei o rochie, punea \u015fi el pe al s\u0103u o f\u00e2\u015fie. Dup\u0103 aceea a pus f\u00e2\u015fie l\u00e2ng\u0103 f\u00e2\u015fie, ca s\u0103 le coase la loc, dar s\u0103 vede\u0163i minune! f\u00e2\u015fiile se \u0163ineau una de alta, \u00eenc\u00e2t Lia, Z\u00e2na Z\u00e2nelor, st\u0103tea cuprins\u0103 de uimire c\u00e2nd l-a v\u0103zut diminea\u0163a \u00eembr\u0103c\u00e2ndu-se tot ca ea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Lia s-a dus apoi s\u0103 se pieptene. \u0162iganul, de asemenea. Li se puser\u0103 dou\u0103 oglinzi, fiecare cu toate cele de nevoie pentru piept\u0103nat, \u015fi au \u00eenceput am\u00e2ndoi s\u0103 se pieptene. C\u00e2nd Lia \u00ee\u015fi tr\u0103gea o dat\u0103 cu pieptenul prin p\u0103r, Danciu tr\u0103gea \u015fi el prin al s\u0103u. Ea a tras de \u015fasesprezece ori, el de asemenea. \u0162iganul avea \u015fi el p\u0103r lung, \u015fi dup\u0103 ce s-au piept\u0103nat, alt\u0103 minune: fa\u0163a lui era tot at\u00e2t de frumoas\u0103 ca a Liei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd se uit\u0103 deci la el, Lia nu mai \u015ftia ce s\u0103 fac\u0103 de bucurie, l-a chemat la ea \u015fi l-a s\u0103rutat \u2013 cum mireasa \u00ee\u015fi s\u0103rut\u0103 mirele.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0S-a f\u0103cut apoi o nunt\u0103 mare, \u015fi dup\u0103 nunt\u0103 Lia l-a trimis la v\u00e2n\u0103toare pe Danciu, care nu mai era acum \u0163igan ca to\u0163i \u0163iganii, ci F\u0103t-Frumos deopotriv\u0103 cu ori\u015ficare fecior de \u00eemp\u0103rat.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mai nainte de plecare ea \u00eei dete o oglind\u0103 \u015fi-i zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 C\u00e2nd vrei s\u0103 \u015ftii ce fac, uit\u0103-te \u00een oglinda aceasta, c\u0103 m\u0103 vezi \u00een ea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Lu\u00e2ndu-\u015fi apoi “ziua bun\u0103” unul de la altul, el plec\u0103 la v\u00e2n\u0103toare. N-a f\u0103cut \u00eens\u0103 dec\u00e2t vreo c\u00e2teva sute de pa\u015fi, \u015fi s-a pomenit cu olacul care alerga spre el ca s\u0103-i spun\u0103 c\u0103 Lia \u00eei trimite vorb\u0103 s\u0103 cru\u0163e v\u00e2natul \u015fi s\u0103 nu \u00eempu\u015fte dec\u00e2t doi iepuri.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Merg\u00e2nd mai departe, \u015fi tot mai departe, a z\u0103rit o p\u0103dure cu copaci de aur, iar \u00een p\u0103dure alergau o turm\u0103 de animale cu p\u0103r de aur \u00een care nu era \u00eens\u0103 nici un iepure. Dup\u0103 ce a mai trecut prin p\u0103durea aceea, i-a trecut prin fa\u0163\u0103 alt\u0103 turm\u0103, dar nici \u00een aceasta nu era nici un iepure. Iar a mers apoi, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce a dat de a treia turm\u0103; \u00een aceasta era \u00eens\u0103 un singur iepure. \u015ei-a \u00eencordat \u00eent\u00e2i arcul \u015fi una, dou\u0103, trei! l-a \u015fi culcat la p\u0103m\u00e2nt.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0El \u00eens\u0103 doi iepuri avea s\u0103-i duc\u0103 Liei. A mers dar \u00eenainte, ca s\u0103 mai culce la p\u0103m\u00e2nt \u00eenc\u0103 unul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Merg\u00e2nd a\u015fa, la \u00eenceput de drum, apoi pe potec\u0103 \u015fi \u00een cele din urm\u0103 pe potecu\u0163e, el s-a r\u0103t\u0103cit de nu mai \u015ftia \u00eencotro s\u0103 apuce.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0El scoase deci oglinda \u015fi se uit\u0103 \u00een ea. A \u015fi v\u0103zut pe Lia, care \u00eei f\u0103cu semn s\u0103 apuce la dreapta.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0S-a dus dar, \u015fi mereu s-a dus \u2013 un ceas, dou\u0103, trei ceasuri, timp de patru ceasuri s-a tot dus f\u0103r\u0103 ca s\u0103 poposeasc\u0103, \u015fi iat\u0103 c\u0103 a z\u0103rit o \u00eentreag\u0103 turm\u0103 de iepuri.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0El r\u0103mase nedumerit. Un iepure mai avea s\u0103 culce la p\u0103m\u00e2nt, unul singur. Iepurii erau \u00eens\u0103 gr\u0103mad\u0103, tot unul l\u00e2ng\u0103 altul, \u015fi el, nefiind v\u00e2n\u0103tor bun, se temea c\u0103, tr\u0103g\u00e2nd \u00een el, va omor\u00ee deodat\u0103 mai mul\u0163i.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A a\u015fteptat dar \u015fi iar a a\u015fteptat, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce \u015fi-a pierdut r\u0103bdarea, \u015fi a tras, \u00eenc\u00e2t a culcat la p\u0103m\u00e2nt trei iepuri.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cei p\u0103rea r\u0103u c\u0103 n-a putut s\u0103 se \u0163in\u0103 de vorba scumpei sale so\u0163ii, dar nu i-a r\u0103mas dec\u00e2t s\u0103 se \u00eentoarc\u0103 acas\u0103. Peste pu\u0163in i se ivi \u00een cale o matahal\u0103 de om, un adev\u0103rat uria\u015f.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu \u0163i-e ru\u015fine obrazului c\u0103 ai \u00eempu\u015fcat doi dintre iepurii mei?! \u00eei zise omul acela, care era st\u0103p\u00e2nul mo\u015fiei pe care r\u0103t\u0103cise Danciu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nu era adic\u0103 al Liei dec\u00e2t unul dintre cei trei iepuri.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Haid\u2019 s\u0103 ne m\u0103sur\u0103m puterile! urm\u0103 dar st\u0103p\u00e2nul celorlal\u0163i doi, care mai era nec\u0103jit \u015fi pentru c\u0103 ar fi voit ca Lia pe el s\u0103 \u015fi-l aleag\u0103 de so\u0163.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Danciu \u00eencepu s\u0103 tremure de fric\u0103. De! nu se sim\u0163ea el destul om pentru ca s\u0103 se-ncumete a-\u015fi m\u0103sura puterile cu asemenea matahal\u0103. El puse deci m\u00e2na pe arc \u015fi-l \u00eencord\u0103. Cellalt fu \u015fi el gata s\u0103 trag\u0103, dar era prea t\u00e2rziu, c\u0103ci Danciu \u00eel \u015fi culc\u0103 la p\u0103m\u00e2nt.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0El se \u00eentoarse apoi acas\u0103. Lia r\u0103mase cuprins\u0103 de spaim\u0103 c\u00e2nd \u00eel v\u0103zu aduc\u00e2nd patru iepuri.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Vai de mine! strig\u0103 d\u00e2nsa. De ce ai omor\u00e2t \u015fi pe ceilal\u0163i doi iepuri?! Dac\u0103 afl\u0103 st\u0103p\u00e2nul lor, te omoar\u0103-ntr-o clip\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Grija aceasta s\u0103 n-o mai ai! r\u0103spunse \u0163iganul, treaba aceasta am regulat-o eu cu d\u00e2nsul. A\u015f avea \u00eens\u0103 s\u0103 te-ntreb ceva, dac\u0103 vrei s\u0103-mi dai r\u0103spuns.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 S-ar putea oare s\u0103 nu-\u0163i dau? gr\u0103i d\u00e2nsa. Nu avem, a\u015fa credem, noi doi nici o tain\u0103 unul pentru altul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Spune-mi, te rog, ce fel de rod are pomul acesta, \u00eei zise dar Danciu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 At\u00e2ta e tot ceea ce vrei s\u0103 m\u0103-ntrebi? r\u0103spunse Lia. De ce oare n-a\u015f fi av\u00e2nd s\u0103 \u0163i-o spun aceasta?! Am s\u0103-\u0163i dau, dac\u0103 e vorba, chiar s\u0103 m\u0103n\u00e2nci din poamele acelea c\u00e2te pofte\u015fti.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ea chem\u0103 apoi degrab\u0103 pe una din slugile ei \u015fi-i porunci s\u0103 aduc\u0103 zece poame de ale acelui pom.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Sluga s-a urcat \u00een pom. Pomul \u00eens\u0103 avea trei feluri de poame: mere de aur, pere de aur \u015fi prune de aur. Servitorul nu \u015ftia din care s\u0103 ieie patru, c\u0103ci lu\u00e2nd din fiecare c\u00e2te trei, erau numai nou\u0103. El chibzui \u00een cele din urm\u0103 s\u0103 ieie patru prune, c\u0103ci prunele erau mai mici dec\u00e2t merele. A\u015fa a \u015fi f\u0103cut, \u015fi le-a adus Liei, care i le-a dat so\u0163ului s\u0103u.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Am o mic\u0103 daraver\u0103 pe p\u0103m\u00e2nt, gr\u0103i acesta.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dac\u0103 e a\u015fa, r\u0103spunse Lia, po\u0163i s\u0103 te cobori numaidec\u00e2t. Ea porunci apoi s\u0103 i se fac\u0103 iute un leag\u0103n care se las\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 la p\u0103m\u00e2nt, \u015fi-l a\u015fez\u0103 pe so\u0163ul s\u0103u \u00een leag\u0103nul acela. C\u00e2t g\u00e2nde\u015fti cu g\u00e2ndul, Danciu \u015fi ajunse la p\u0103m\u00e2nt cu poamele pe care le avea \u00een buzunar \u015fi i le duse \u00eemp\u0103ratului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nu voise \u00eemp\u0103ratul s\u0103-i deie fata sa, dar i-o dete acum, c\u00e2nd \u00eel v\u0103zu at\u00e2t de frumos. Nu voia \u00eens\u0103 fata de \u00eemp\u0103rat s\u0103 \u015fi-l ieie de b\u0103rbat, c\u0103ci se temea ca nu cumva el iar s\u0103 se fac\u0103 cum fusese mai nainte.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Danciu o-n\u015ff\u0103c\u0103 \u00eens\u0103, o lu\u0103 pe sus \u015fi-o duse la muma sa, pe care o pofti apoi s\u0103 vie cu el \u015fi-o duse la pomul cel \u00eenalt.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Sosit aici, el strig\u0103 “una”, \u015fi fu jos leag\u0103nul \u00een care se a\u015fezar\u0103 to\u0163i trei: el, mama sa \u015fi fata de \u00eemp\u0103rat. Iar num\u0103r\u0103 apoi “una” \u015fi el fu sus.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 N-ai vrut s\u0103 m\u0103 iube\u015fti, nu te iubesc nici eu! \u00eei zise acum fetei de \u00eemp\u0103rat, \u015fi-i dete br\u00e2nci ca s\u0103 cad\u0103 pe p\u0103m\u00e2nt.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ea a tot c\u0103zut trei zile \u015fi trei nop\u0163i de-a r\u00e2ndul, iar dup\u0103 ce a ajuns la p\u0103m\u00e2nt, s-a f\u0103cut mi\u015f-f\u0103r\u0103mi\u015f, de n-a mai r\u0103mas de ea \u00eentreg dec\u00e2t capul, pe care una dintre slugi l-a dus la \u00eemp\u0103ratul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Doamne sfinte! se t\u00e2ngui \u00eemp\u0103ratul, cine m-a pus s\u0103 nu i-o dau de bun\u0103voie pe fata mea?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd \u00eemp\u0103ratul se t\u00e2nguia \u00een felul acesta, se ivi deodat\u0103-n fa\u0163a lui \u0163iganul, care se c\u0103ia \u015fi el de fapta ce s\u0103v\u00e2r\u015fise \u00eentr-o clip\u0103 de sup\u0103rare.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ai fi acum gata s\u0103 mi-o dai de bun\u0103voie pe fiic\u0103-ta?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu numai c\u0103 \u0163i-a\u015f da-o de bun\u0103voie, r\u0103spunse \u00eemp\u0103ratul, dar \u0163i-a\u015f mai da pe deasupra \u015fi jum\u0103tate din \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia mea dac\u0103 ar fi \u00een via\u0163\u0103 fiic\u0103-mea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Danciu se duse la mum\u0103-sa \u015fi-i spuse ce-a zis \u00eemp\u0103ratul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 S\u0103 vezi un lucru, gr\u0103i aceasta, eu am s\u0103-\u0163i dau o cutioar\u0103 \u00een care e un praf fermecat. Dac\u0103 vei pres\u0103ra praful acela pe fa\u0163a moartei, aceasta va \u00eenvia \u015fi trupul se va \u00eentrema chiar mai \u015fi mai de cum a fost.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Danciu a alergat fuga la \u00eemp\u0103rat, a cerut capul moartei \u015fi a pres\u0103rat pe el praful, cum zisese mum\u0103-sa. C\u00e2t dai \u00een palme, trupul fetei s-a \u00eentremat, cresc\u00e2nd bucat\u0103 l\u00e2ng\u0103 bucat\u0103, \u015fi ea \u00eencepu s\u0103 vorbeasc\u0103. \u00cemp\u0103ratul i-ar fi dat-o acum bucuros, dar acesta nu voia s-o primeasc\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 S\u0103 tr\u0103ie\u015fti \u00een bun\u0103 fericire cu fiic\u0103-ta, \u00eei zise el \u00eemp\u0103ratului, c\u0103ci eu am g\u0103sit alt\u0103 so\u0163ie.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0El chem\u0103 apoi pe mum\u0103-sa, cu care se duse la pom, se urc\u0103-n leag\u0103n \u015fi se-n\u0103l\u0163ar\u0103 \u00eentr-o clip\u0103 la Lia, Z\u00e2na Z\u00e2nelor din \u0162ara Sorilor, care i-a primit cu mult\u0103 bucurie. El a zidit apoi pentru mum\u0103-sa un palat frumos \u015fi i-a zis:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dac\u0103 \u0163i se va fi f\u0103cut dor de mine, trimite-mi vorb\u0103 prin o slug\u0103, \u015fi-ntr-o clip\u0103 vom fi eu \u015fi so\u0163ia mea la tine.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0El s-a dus apoi acas\u0103, unde s-a f\u0103cut nunt\u0103 mare. Lia voia s\u0103-l pofteasc\u0103 \u015fi pe \u00eemp\u0103ratul, dar \u0163iganul nu s-a \u00eenvoit s\u0103 stea la mas\u0103 cu cel ce umblase cu g\u00e2ndul de a-l \u00een\u015fela. Au poftit deci la nunt\u0103 \u015foarecele, care s-a-ndopat.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Am fost \u015fi eu la osp\u0103\u0163 \u015fi-am pus m\u00e2na pe un ciolan, apoi am plecat l\u0103s\u00e2ndu-i \u00een fericire, care n-a mai \u00eencetat nici p\u00e2n\u0103 ast\u0103zi, dac\u0103 nu vor fi murit cumva.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A fost odat\u0103 un \u00eemp\u0103rat, \u015fi-n curtea acelui \u00eemp\u0103rat se afla un pom at\u00e2t de \u00eenalt, \u00eenc\u00e2t nimeni nu era \u00een stare s\u0103-i vad\u0103 v\u00e2rful. Pomul acesta \u00eenflorea \u015fi d\u0103dea … <\/p>\n