Cam pe la \u00eenceputul vremilor, p\u00e2n\u0103 unde pra\u015ftia min\u0163ii nu azv\u00e2rle, se poveste\u015fte, a\u015fa, ca din scorneal\u0103, c\u0103 omul era croit din alte foarfeci \u015fi cioplit din alt\u0103 bard\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tot cu m\u00e2ini \u015fi cu picioare era \u015fi pe-atunci, tot cu ochi \u015fi cu urechi, tot cu nasul deasupra gurii \u015fi cu c\u0103lc\u00e2iele la spate, dar de \u00eenv\u00e2rtea copacul smuls din r\u0103d\u0103cin\u0103 \u015fi mi-\u0163i izbea la mir leii pustiilor, dih\u0103niile c\u0103deau tumba, cu labele \u00een sus, marghiolindu-se a moarte.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Apele curgeau la vale \u015fi mun\u0163ii se ridicau \u00een sus. Nu se pomeneau flori pe cer \u015fi stele pe p\u0103m\u00e2nt \u2013 ca pe la p\u00e2rdalnicii no\u015ftri de stihari -, dar multe nu erau a\u015fa dup\u0103 cum sunt.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ra\u0163ii de mureau \u00een lupt\u0103 de buzdugan, bine, iar de nu, li se uitau de zile. Numai dac\u0103 barba le m\u0103tura \u0163\u0103r\u00e2na la nou\u0103 co\u0163i \u00een urm\u0103, chemau pe unul din feciori, pe cel mai viteaz \u015fi mai cu minte, \u015fi-i d\u0103ruiau n\u0103frama, inelul, palo\u015ful, stema \u015fi gonaciul, ca s\u0103 poat\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163i \u015fi r\u0103zboi \u00een locul lor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ap\u0103rarea \u015fi dreptatea at\u00e2rnau de t\u0103i\u015ful palo\u015fului. Cu mintea c\u00e2nt\u0103reau \u015fi hot\u0103rau, iar cu palo\u015ful \u00eemp\u0103r\u0163eau. \u015ei spun unii c\u0103 pe atunci mergea mai bine cu minte dreapt\u0103 \u015fi f\u0103r\u0103 de legi, dec\u00e2t, ca \u00een zilele noastre, cu legi drepte \u015fi cu minte str\u00e2mb\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pe-a\u015fa vremuri se zice c\u0103 ar fi v\u0103cuit \u00eemp\u0103ratul cu stema rupt\u0103 din soare, \u00een cel mai frumos palat de cle\u015ftar \u015fi peste cel mai \u00een\u0163elept \u015fi mai viteaz norod.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nu era crai pe care \u00eemp\u0103ratul cu stema rupt\u0103 din soare s\u0103 nu-l fi domolit, c\u0103 nici o oaste du\u015fman\u0103 nu putea s\u0103-i stea \u00eempotriv\u0103. La vreme de ad\u00e2nci b\u0103tr\u00e2ne\u0163i sta \u00eenz\u0103uat \u00een fruntea osta\u015filor, c\u0103lare pe un bidiviu ce arunca pe n\u0103ri tr\u00e2mbe de fum \u015fi limbi de foc. \u015ei to\u0163i ai s\u0103i prindeau la inim\u0103 \u015fi biruiau, c\u0103ci a\u015fa li se p\u0103reau lor cum era el de b\u0103tr\u00e2n \u015fi \u00eenzilizit, tocmai ca o lance ruginit\u0103, care de-a pururea r\u0103pusese pe oricine izbise.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar c\u00e2t era de mare \u015fi de vestit, c\u0103 se dusese vestea p\u00e2n\u0103 unde p\u0103m\u00e2ntul e drob \u015fi piftie, de-a surda \u00eei fur\u0103 toate.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00centr-o sf\u00e2nt\u0103 de vineri, cam pe la chindii, numai ce i se p\u0103ru c\u0103 stema din cununa \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasc\u0103 se umfl\u0103 \u015fi cre\u015fte, cre\u015fte, ba c\u00e2t oul de g\u00e2sc\u0103, ba c\u00e2t un bo\u015far, \u015fi-i \u00eendoi grumajii, \u015fi-l plec\u0103 la p\u0103m\u00e2nt. \u00cenfrico\u015fat, \u00eemp\u0103ratul se lupt\u0103 ce se lupt\u0103 cu namila de diamant, iar la urma urmei c\u0103zu cu fa\u0163a \u00een jos, podidindu-l un pl\u00e2ns de foc.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nu trecu c\u00e2t ai sc\u0103p\u0103ra din amnar, \u015fi se apropiar\u0103 de \u00eemp\u0103rat, cu m\u00e2ng\u00e2ieri \u015fi dezmierd\u0103ri, odrasla lui, de trei fete, ca trei z\u00e2ne, surori \u015fi nepoate, care mai de care mai chipe\u015fe \u015fi mai dr\u0103g\u0103la\u015fe. Apoi venir\u0103 mai-marii tronului \u015fi slugile ohavnice. To\u0163i cu to\u0163i ie\u015fir\u0103 ca dintr-o lacr\u0103, s\u0103 cad\u0103 cu m\u0103t\u0103nii, doar\u0103 or curma focul \u00eemp\u0103ratului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cel mai de frunte dintre sf\u0103tuitori aduse vorba cam a\u015fa:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Luminate \u00eemp\u0103rate, care palo\u015f ca al m\u0103riei-tale n-a mai fost at\u00e2tea veacuri \u00eentunecat \u015fi fr\u00e2nt la r\u0103zboaie? Care \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ie a r\u0103mas, at\u00e2ta amar de vreme, ne\u015ftirbit\u0103 \u015fi cinstit\u0103 pe fa\u0163a p\u0103m\u00e2ntului? Care r\u0103sur\u0103 e mai \u00eenvolt\u0103 \u015fi mai rumen\u0103 ca domni\u0163a, fata cea \u00eent\u00e2i n\u0103scut\u0103 a m\u0103riei-tale? Care mur\u0103 s\u0103 fie mai neagr\u0103 ca ochii celei mijlocii? Care raz\u0103 mai luminoas\u0103 ca domni\u0163a cea mai mic\u0103? Apoi, luminate \u00eemp\u0103rate, dup\u0103 at\u00e2tea noroace \u015fi bun\u0103t\u0103\u0163i, ce-i fi av\u00e2nd ca s\u0103 te mai t\u00e2nguie\u015fti?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul, de ochii neamurilor \u015f-ai norodului, curm\u00e2ndu-\u015fi pl\u00e2nsul, mul\u0163umi tuturora \u015fi, furi\u015f\u00e2nd sfios ochii \u00een sus, v\u0103zu c\u0103 stema nu e nici mai mare, nici mai mic\u0103 de cum trebuia s\u0103 fie.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se potoli \u015fi f\u0103cu semn ca to\u0163i s\u0103 plece, \u00ee\u015fi s\u0103rut\u0103 p\u0103rinte\u015fte copilele \u015fi opri l\u00e2ng\u0103 d\u00e2nsul pe sora lui cea mai mare, care era \u015fi cea mai \u00een\u0163eleapt\u0103, \u015fi-i zise \u00eencet, c\u0103 zidurile de-ar fi auzit, nu l-ar fi auzit:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Surioar\u0103, surioar\u0103, lipe\u015fte urechea ta de inima mea, \u015fi ce-i auzi auzit s\u0103 r\u0103m\u00e2n\u0103\u2026 Pe mine m-a ajuns grea b\u0103tr\u00e2ne\u0163e, c\u0103 uneori stema din frunte cre\u015fte, cre\u015fte, se-ntunec\u0103, \u015fi de ce se \u00eentunec\u0103, e mai grea, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce m\u0103 culc\u0103 la p\u0103m\u00e2nt. Vezi tu, pare-mi-se c\u0103 \u00een aceast\u0103 ar\u0103tare e c\u0103derea mea \u015f-a neamului meu din scaunul domniei, c\u0103 din cele trei \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tese ce mi-au slujit de so\u0163ii n-am avut parte de parte b\u0103rb\u0103teasc\u0103. C\u0103 f\u0103ceau c\u00e2te-o fat\u0103 \u015f-a doua oar\u0103, cum f\u0103ceau b\u0103iat, mureau \u015fi cuconul, \u015fi muma cuconului. Cea din urm\u0103 mi-a zis: “M\u0103ria-ta, \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia ce st\u0103p\u00e2ne\u015fti a fost zidit\u0103 de un b\u0103rbat, \u015fi ori cade, ori se \u00eensute\u015fte de o femeie, iar de cucon de parte voiniceasc\u0103 n-ai s\u0103 ai parte”.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ei, Doamne, \u015fi d-ta, \u00eei r\u0103spunse sor\u0103-sa, m\u00e2ng\u00e2indu-l ca pe-un copil speriat, eu v\u0103d c\u0103 stema e cum era, \u015fi tot la locul ei. C\u00e2t despre vorba muiereasc\u0103, cea de pe urm\u0103, ca \u015fi cea dint\u00e2i, tot f\u0103r\u0103 noim\u0103 \u015fi f\u0103r\u0103 de \u00een\u0163eles r\u0103m\u00e2ne.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Tat\u0103l meu, urm\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103ratul, mi-a zis: “F\u0103tul meu, \u00een cal \u00ee\u0163i las goana voinicului, \u00een inima ta vitejia, \u00een palo\u015f biruin\u0163a, iar la temelia “palatului de cle\u015ftar”, odihna norodului t\u0103u. Acolo zac, la umbr\u0103, ferecate, patimile mari \u015fi mici, care fac pe om fericit \u015fi nefericit. Ia seama, f\u0103tul meu, c\u0103 de le-i slobozi, ai s\u0103-\u0163i vezi supu\u015fii pe unii \u00een desf\u0103t\u0103ri, iar pe al\u0163ii \u00een ahtieri. \u0162ine aste patru chei, \u015fi s\u0103 nu cobori \u00een cele patru \u00eencuieri de sub talpa palatului dec\u00e2t atunci c\u00e2nd \u0163i-o pieri o raz\u0103 din frunte \u015fi m\u0103rirea \u0163i-o \u00eendoi grumajii.”<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul scoase din s\u00e2n patru chei, una de aram\u0103, alta de argint, una de aur \u015fi alta de diamant, \u015fi le dete sor\u0103-s\u0103i \u015fi-i porunci s\u0103 se duc\u0103 \u00eentr-ascuns s\u0103 deschid\u0103 \u015fi s\u0103 se coboare sub talpa de la r\u0103s\u0103rit a palatului \u015fi s\u0103 cerceteze cuv\u00e2ntul \u00een\u0163elepciunii asupra stemei \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103te\u015fti, care uneori cre\u015fte, se \u00eemp\u0103tre\u015fte \u015fi se \u00eentunec\u0103, \u015fi de ce se \u00eentunec\u0103 e mai grea, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce-l doboar\u0103 la p\u0103m\u00e2nt.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Noaptea, t\u00e2rziu, sora \u00eemp\u0103ratului \u00ee\u015fi f\u0103cu o cruce, \u00ee\u015fi f\u0103cu dou\u0103, \u00ee\u015fi f\u0103cu trei \u015fi, cum \u00eenv\u00e2rti cheia de aram\u0103 \u00een broasca beciului de la r\u0103s\u0103rit, o vijelie \u00eei amu\u0163i auzul, apoi locul pe care sta i se afund\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 la glezne, p\u00e2n\u0103 la br\u00e2u, p\u00e2n\u0103 la g\u00e2t, iar de-i trecu dincolo de cre\u015ftet, o v\u0103paie, ce lumina f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 ard\u0103, \u00eei \u00eenv\u0103lui obrajii.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0La o cutremurare stra\u015fnic\u0103, dou\u0103 por\u0163i, \u0163ip\u00e2nd \u00een copilii gro\u015fi, se deschiser\u0103, la dreapta \u015fi la st\u00e2nga, \u015fi sora \u00eemp\u0103ratului se pomeni \u00eentr-o camer\u0103 cu totul \u015fi cu totul de aram\u0103. \u015ei c\u00e2nd trecu prin alte dou\u0103 \u00eenc\u0103peri, una de argint \u015fi alta de aur, sora \u00eemp\u0103ratului v\u0103zu minunea minunilor: stoluri de p\u0103s\u0103ri care c\u00e2ntau ca din tilinci de argint \u015fi zburau \u00een toate p\u0103r\u0163ile, \u015fi unele i se puser\u0103 pe umeri \u015fi-\u015fi r\u0103sfirar\u0103 aripile luminoase, zorn\u0103indu-le ca pe ni\u015fte b\u0103nu\u0163i de aur v\u00e2ntura\u0163i din m\u00e2n\u0103 \u00een m\u00e2n\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd descuie broasca de diamant, sora \u00eemp\u0103ratului \u00eempietri de spaim\u0103\u2026 \u00een prag se zv\u00e2rcolea o namil\u0103 de balaur \u015fi-\u015fi despica f\u0103lcile c\u00e2t s\u0103 \u00eenghit\u0103 un c\u0103l\u0103re\u0163 cu cal cu tot.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Limbile lui, ca ni\u015fte s\u0103ge\u0163i p\u00e2rjolite, le azv\u00e2rlea din beregat\u0103 \u015fi le \u00eenfigea pe n\u0103rile nasului, scuip\u00e2nd cl\u0103buc, care se \u00eenchega \u015fi se rostogolea b\u0103\u015fici albe de m\u0103rg\u0103ritar. Solz\u0103ria lui era ca un curcubeu de-a lungul spin\u0103rii.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ah! muiere cu suflet de b\u0103rbat, zise balaurul, \u0163ine-\u0163i \u00eengerii, \u015fi ce-i vedea s\u0103 nu te sperii c\u0103 cine \u0163ine cheile tainelor e \u015fi mai mare \u015fi mai tare ca mine!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0N-apuc\u0103 s\u0103-\u015fi vie \u00een fire sora \u00eemp\u0103ratului, c\u0103 str\u0103lucirea camerei de diamant \u00eei lu\u0103 ochii cu sclipirile de toate fe\u0163ele.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd se trezi, se feri \u00een l\u0103turi. L\u00e2ng\u0103 u\u015f\u0103, trei femei, \u00een c\u0103tu\u015fe \u015fi priponite la zid de trei belciuge groase. Cea dint\u00e2i ar fi fost frumoas\u0103 de n-ar fi z\u00e2mbit \u015fi n-ar fi mi\u015fcat gura necontenit, clevetind f\u0103r\u0103 noim\u0103. A doua bolbo\u015fa ochii s\u0103i verzurii, sc\u0103p\u0103r\u00e2nd sc\u00e2ntei de m\u00e2nie. A treia, groas\u0103 ca o butie, rumen\u0103 \u015fi voinic\u0103, \u015fi tot sem\u0103na, ca o sor\u0103 bun\u0103, cu celelalte dou\u0103 costelive \u015fi pi\u0163ig\u0103iate.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Domni\u0163\u0103, ce mai e pe lumea de pe t\u0103r\u00e2mul vostru? nici-o ceart\u0103? nici-o ocar\u0103?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Domni\u0163\u0103, te-a\u015f face praf \u015fi f\u0103r\u00e2me dac\u0103 nu m-a\u015f teme c\u0103 n-a\u015f mai avea pe cine ur\u00ee!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Domni\u0163\u0103, de c\u00e2nd v-am p\u0103r\u0103sit, nu mai e pui de om fericit! A\u015fa ziser\u0103 pe r\u00e2nd cele trei surori: Zavistia, Pizma \u015fi Prostia. Sora \u00eemp\u0103ratului se sim\u0163i, o clip\u0103, rea, cum nu mai fusese, cu o m\u00e2nc\u0103rime \u00een v\u00e2rful limbii \u015fi proast\u0103 ca un bu\u015ftean.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se strecur\u0103 pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 toate tainele \u00eenc\u0103tu\u015fate \u00een cruci, p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00een dreptul altor trei, cu p\u0103rul din frunte zb\u00e2rlit, cu coamele despletite, care zbierau de se zguduia din temelie pe\u015ftera de diamant, mu\u015fc\u00e2nd din carnea lor de le \u0163\u00e2\u015fnea s\u00e2ngele.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0L\u00e2ng\u0103 ele sta una neclintit\u0103, senin\u0103, pe g\u00e2nduri, cu privirea dulce \u015fi f\u0103r\u0103 pic de am\u0103gire.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Numai ea, dintre toate, era slobod\u0103. \u015ei, din privire, socotea, os\u00e2ndea \u015fi ierta. Alta nu putea fi dec\u00e2t \u00cen\u0163elepciunea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0De-a dreptul la ea se duse sora \u00eemp\u0103ratului \u015fi-i d\u0103du \u00een genunchi, \u00eei s\u0103rut\u0103 m\u00e2na dreapt\u0103, o puse la frunte, apoi \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Tu, care e\u015fti mai frumoas\u0103 ca rev\u0103rsatul zorilor, mai dulce ca laptele \u00eendoit cu miere din faguri, mai bl\u00e2nd\u0103 ca mielul de trei zile \u015fi, dup\u0103 atot\u015ftiutorul, cea mai ad\u00e2nc\u0103 la \u00een\u0163eles, tu \u015ftii de ce \u015fi cine m-a trimis pe acest t\u0103r\u00e2m. Pov\u0103\u0163uie\u015fte-m\u0103, \u00eendur\u0103toareo, ca s\u0103 pot m\u00e2ng\u00e2ia zilele tulburate ale \u00eemp\u0103ratului cu stema rupt\u0103 din soare.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Spune viteazului b\u0103tr\u00e2n c\u0103, trec\u00e2nd pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 toate patimile, la hotarul nebuniei, ai dat de \u00cen\u0163elepciune. \u015ei spune-i c\u0103 l-au ajuns zilele, c\u0103 dac\u0103 stema \u00eel apas\u0103 a\u015fa de greu, nici nu se m\u0103re\u015fte, nici se mic\u015foreaz\u0103, ci-l apas\u0103, a\u015fa cum at\u00e2rn\u0103 \u015fi el de greu pe perina de pe scaunul \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei. \u015ei spune-i c\u0103, neav\u00e2nd copil de parte b\u0103rb\u0103teasc\u0103, s\u0103 cunune pe una din fete cu fl\u0103c\u0103ul care, zic\u00e2nd din fluier, \u00eei va preface p\u0103rul \u00een inele de aur, cu fl\u0103c\u0103ul care se \u00eenvele\u015fte cu cerul \u015fi dore\u015fte mai mult ca fiecine din toat\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia. Acestuia s\u0103-i dea n\u0103frama, inelul, palo\u015ful, gonaciul \u015fi stema.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd sora \u00eemp\u0103ratului plec\u0103, se n\u0103pustir\u0103 asupra ei, s-o soarb\u0103 \u015fi mai multe nu, Furia, Smintenia \u015fi Pizma. Ce valm\u0103 de vaiete \u015fi blesteme, c\u0103 se cl\u0103ti \u00eenc\u0103perea din temelie, \u015fi grinzile pornir\u0103 din locul lor! \u00cen acel vuiet, glasul \u00cen\u0163elepciunii se risipi ca nisipul \u00een lupt\u0103 cu vijelia. Iar sora \u00eemp\u0103ratului, pierz\u00e2ndu-\u015fi cump\u0103tul, se repezi pe u\u015f\u0103 afar\u0103, sc\u0103p\u00e2nd cele patru chei, care zorn\u0103ir\u0103 pe pardoseal\u0103\u2026<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd se trezi pe t\u0103r\u00e2mul \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei, toate u\u015file i se pecetluiser\u0103 \u00een urma ei. \u015ei pl\u00e2nse ce pl\u00e2nse cheile pierdute, apoi se g\u00e2ndi cum s\u0103 mint\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103ratului de-o veni vorba despre chei, c\u0103ci plecase cu mintea de nou\u0103 co\u0163i \u015fi i se scurtase de zece.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd \u00eemp\u0103ratul auzi cuv\u00e2ntul \u00cen\u0163elepciunii, puse de r\u0103scoli domnia \u00een cruci\u015f \u015fi \u00een curmezi\u015f, doar de-o afla pe cel ce ar dori mai mult ca fiecine, c\u00e2t, cu dorul \u015fi cu c\u00e2ntecul, s\u0103 poleiasc\u0103 cosi\u0163ele unei domni\u0163e de-a sale \u015fi s\u0103 se vredniceasc\u0103 de scaunul \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei-a \u00eent\u00e2lnit, \u00een cre\u0163ul cr\u00e2ngurilor, v\u00e2n\u0103tori ce prind iepurii de coad\u0103, \u00een v\u0103g\u0103unile mun\u0163ilor, delii ce rup ursul \u00een dou\u0103, parc-ar rupe un fu\u015ftei de ceap\u0103, la picuri\u015ful izvoarelor, n\u0103zdr\u0103vani care adun\u0103 sc\u00e2nteile din coada licuricilor de fac v\u00e2lv\u0103t\u0103i \u00een miezul nop\u0163ii. Dar unii doreau bog\u0103\u0163ie, al\u0163ii slav\u0103, al\u0163ii tinere\u0163e f\u0103r\u0103 b\u0103tr\u00e2ne\u0163e. \u015ei cosi\u0163ele domni\u0163elor au r\u0103mas tot ca mai \u00eenainte, \u015fi \u00eemp\u0103ratul tot f\u0103r\u0103 chef.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00centr-o zi, cam pe \u00eenserate, cerceta\u015fii domniei, rup\u0163i de oboseal\u0103, pe malul unui r\u00e2ule\u0163 ce \u015ferpuia ca o f\u00e2\u015fie de argint, deter\u0103 peste un voinic cu pletele rev\u0103rsate, ce zicea din fluier de te sl\u0103vea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei ce m\u00e2ndre\u0163e de voinic! Cum \u00eel v\u0103zur\u0103, ascultar\u0103 teac\u0103 de p\u0103m\u00e2nt migala de \u015fuier\u0103turi care se-n\u015fira \u015fi se de\u015fira ca o binecuv\u00e2ntare a sufletului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce dore\u015fti, voinice, gr\u0103i ceau\u015ful \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesc, ce dore\u015fti tu dup\u0103 pofta inimii?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cinsti\u0163i boieri, alt nimic, s\u0103 tr\u0103iesc, s\u0103 c\u00e2nt, s\u0103 mor\u2026 N-apuc\u0103 s\u0103 sf\u00e2r\u015feasc\u0103 bine cuvintele, \u015fi se z\u0103rir\u0103 c\u00e2\u0163iva c\u0103l\u0103re\u0163i, gonind n\u0103uci de \u00eenghi\u0163eau po\u015ftiile.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0De sub copitele arm\u0103sarilor v\u00e2j\u00e2iau pietrele ca ni\u015fte gloan\u0163e. Cum ajunser\u0103, fl\u0103c\u0103ii se oprir\u0103 ca un zid.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Sta\u0163i, zise unul dintre ei, s\u0103-mi lua\u0163i pe-acest b\u0103iat \u015fi drept la scaunul \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei s\u0103 mi-l duce\u0163i.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Bietul b\u0103iat se \u00eempotrivi: “Ba c\u0103 nu merg, ba c\u0103 n-am furat nimic, p\u0103catele mele\u2026” Dar n-avu ce face.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd ajunser\u0103 \u00een fa\u0163a palatului, tot norodul era de fa\u0163\u0103 cu m\u0103nuchiuri de flori. Buciuma\u015fii, fluierarii \u015fi surla\u015fii sunau ca de alai mare. \u015ei cu to\u0163ii se ploconeau la fl\u0103c\u0103iandrul cu coama neagr\u0103 \u015fi lucie ca p\u0103cura. Iar\u0103 el c\u0103sca ochii mari \u015fi, suflet smerit, nu-i tr\u0103snea prin cap de ce \u015fi cui s\u0103 i se fac\u0103 a\u015fa s\u0103rb\u0103torire.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pe sc\u0103rile palatului, \u00eemp\u0103ratul, rezemat pe toiag, a\u015ftepta voios \u015fi, de cum z\u0103ri pe fl\u0103c\u0103u, \u00eei s\u0103ri de g\u00e2t, s\u0103rut\u00e2ndu-l \u015fi pe-o parte, \u015fi pe alta.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Tu e\u015fti dorul nevinovat, zise \u00eemp\u0103ratul, prin barba alb\u0103 ce i se lungise p\u00e2n\u0103 la p\u0103m\u00e2nt, alesul \u00cen\u0163elepciunii \u015fi al meu, hai de-\u0163i vezi mireasa \u015fi s\u0103 domne\u015fti pe scaunul pe care am domnit \u015fi eu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nu se dezmeticise voinicul, \u015fi se trezi dus pe sus \u00eentr-o c\u0103mar\u0103 cu je\u0163uri aurite. Acolo \u00eel a\u015ftepta, printre sf\u0103tuitorii tronului \u015fi jup\u00e2nesele cu cuconii lor, fata cea mai mic\u0103 a \u00eemp\u0103ratului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei era fraged\u0103 \u015fi sub\u0163iric\u0103 din cre\u015ftet p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00een b\u0103rbie, cu ni\u015fte cosi\u0163e ca o beteal\u0103 de aur \u2013 lumin\u0103 \u015fi dragoste \u2013 c\u0103 bietul om ame\u0163i. Palatul, cu mul\u0163ime cu tot, i se \u00eenv\u00e2rti sub picioare \u015fi c\u0103zu \u00een genunchi \u015fi-i s\u0103rut\u0103 condurul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Scoal\u0103-te, f\u0103tul meu, zise \u00eemp\u0103ratul. \u015ei voi, sfetnici credincio\u015fi, aduce\u0163i n\u0103frama, palo\u015ful, stema \u015fi gonaciul, c\u0103 lui i se cuvin, pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 cea mai frumoas\u0103 din fetele mele.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar, \u00een clipa c\u00e2nd \u00eemp\u0103ratul vroi s\u0103 binecuv\u00e2nteze pe noii st\u0103p\u00e2nitori ai domniei, cerul se \u00eentunec\u0103, norii se posomor\u00e2r\u0103, cutreier\u00e2nd pacea v\u0103zduhului. V\u00e2nturile pornir\u0103 b\u0103taie oarb\u0103, f\u0103c\u00e2nd una cu p\u0103m\u00e2ntul copacii neclinti\u0163i de veacuri \u00eentregi. Un potop de ploaie se sparse din culmea \u00eentunecimii \u015fi \u00eempr\u0103\u015ftie, care pe unde nimerea, mul\u0163imea norodului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul \u015fi adunarea \u00eenm\u0103rmurir\u0103; palatul de cle\u015ftar se cl\u0103ti pe temelie; cutremurul zgudui p\u0103m\u00e2ntul; mesele, je\u0163urile \u015fi policandrele c\u0103zur\u0103 zdrobite pe pardoseal\u0103; oamenii nu se mai cump\u0103nir\u0103 pe picioare.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul, trezit de spaim\u0103 \u015fi de m\u00e2nie, strig\u0103 c\u0103tre sor\u0103-sa cea mai mare:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Muiere, ce e asta? Ce-ai f\u0103cut cu cheile patimilor? Un\u2019 \u0163i-ai uitat min\u0163ile s\u0103-\u0163i fi uitat oasele!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cuv\u00e2ntul lui se \u00eenec\u0103 \u00eentr-un vuiet de cutremur. Geaml\u00e2cul \u015fi u\u015file se zguduir\u0103 \u015fi s\u0103rir\u0103 din \u0163\u00e2\u0163\u00e2ni. Tavanul se cr\u0103p\u0103 drept \u00een dou\u0103. Pe u\u015fi \u015fi pe ferestre se n\u0103pustir\u0103 ni\u015fte femei despletite, care v\u0103rsau, pe n\u0103ri \u015fi pe gur\u0103, fum \u015fi par\u0103 de pucioas\u0103. R\u0103cnind ca fiarele, ele aruncar\u0103 la p\u0103m\u00e2nt pe to\u0163i cei de fa\u0163\u0103\u2026 \u015ei peste trupurile lor \u00eentinser\u0103 dansul patimilor\u2026<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0La o nou\u0103 zbuciumare, p\u0103m\u00e2ntul se despic\u0103 \u00een dou\u0103. Palatul de cle\u015ftar, trosnind, se porni \u015fi se f\u0103cu nev\u0103zut \u00eentr-o pr\u0103pastie f\u0103r\u0103 fund.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0M\u00e2nia, Furia \u015fi Nebunia, \u015fi dup\u0103 ele altele, plecar\u0103 v\u00e2rtej \u00een alte p\u0103r\u0163i ale lumii acesteia.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Iar la urma urmelor, tocmai la coad\u0103, Prostia, rumen\u0103 \u015fi voinic\u0103, se t\u00e2ra mul\u0163umit\u0103, de-a \u00eenboulea\u2026 Dar ce-i p\u0103sa?\u2026 Ca ea nu era nimenea. \u015ei, la dreptul lui Dumnezeu vorbind, nici una din celelalte, de-atunci \u015fi p\u00e2n\u0103 azi, n-a s\u0103l\u0103\u015fluit mai fericit \u00een mai multe capete omene\u015fti.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Cam pe la \u00eenceputul vremilor, p\u00e2n\u0103 unde pra\u015ftia min\u0163ii nu azv\u00e2rle, se poveste\u015fte, a\u015fa, ca din scorneal\u0103, c\u0103 omul era croit din alte foarfeci \u015fi cioplit din alt\u0103 bard\u0103. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tot … <\/p>\n