\u00cen vremea veche, pe c\u00e2nd oamenii, cum sunt ei azi, nu erau dec\u00e2t \u00een germenii viitorului, pe c\u00e2nd Dumnezeu c\u0103lca \u00eenc\u0103 cu picioarele sale sfinte pietroasele pustii ale p\u0103m\u00e2ntului, \u2013 \u00een vremea veche tr\u0103ia un \u00eemp\u0103rat \u00eentunecat \u015fi g\u00e2nditor ca miaz\u0103-noaptea \u015fi avea o \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teas\u0103 t\u00e2n\u0103r\u0103 \u015fi z\u00e2mbitoare ca miezul luminos al zilei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cincizeci de ani de c\u00e2nd \u00eemp\u0103ratul purta r\u0103zboi c-un vecin al lui. Murise vecinul \u015fi l\u0103sase de mo\u015ftenire fiilor \u015fi nepo\u0163ilor ura \u015fi vrajba de s\u00e2nge. Cincizeci de ani, \u015fi numai \u00eemp\u0103ratul tr\u0103ia singur, ca un leu \u00eemb\u0103tr\u00e2nit, sl\u0103bit de lupte \u015fi suferin\u0163e \u2013 \u00eemp\u0103rat, ce-n via\u0163a lui nu r\u00e2sese niciodat\u0103, care nu z\u00e2mbea nici la c\u00e2ntecul nevinovat al copilului, nici la sur\u00e2sul plin de amor al so\u0163iei lui tinere, nici la pove\u015ftile b\u0103tr\u00e2ne \u015fi glume\u0163e a osta\u015filor \u00een\u0103lbi\u0163i \u00een b\u0103t\u0103lie \u015fi nevoi. Se sim\u0163ea slab, se sim\u0163ea murind \u015fi n-avea cui s\u0103 lese mo\u015ftenirea urii lui. Trist se scula din patul \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesc, de l\u00e2ng\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa t\u00e2n\u0103r\u0103 \u2013 pat aurit, \u00eens\u0103 pustiu \u015fi nebinecuv\u00e2ntat, \u2013 trist mergea la r\u0103zboi cu inima ne\u00eembl\u00e2nzit\u0103, \u2013 \u015fi \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa sa, r\u0103mas\u0103 singur\u0103, pl\u00e2ngea cu lacrimi de v\u0103duvie singur\u0103tatea ei. P\u0103rul ei cel galben ca aurul cel mai frumos c\u0103dea pe s\u00e2nii ei albi \u015fi rotunzi, \u2013 \u015fi din ochii ei alba\u015ftri \u015fi mari curgeau \u015firoaie de m\u0103rg\u0103ritare apoase pe o fa\u0163\u0103 mai alb\u0103 ca argintul crinului. Lungi cearc\u0103ne vinete se tr\u0103geau \u00eemprejurul ochilor, \u015fi vine albastre se tr\u0103geau pe fa\u0163a ei alb\u0103 ca o marmur\u0103 vie.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Sculat\u0103 din patul ei, ea se arunc\u0103 pe treptele de piatr\u0103 a unei bolte \u00een zid, \u00een care veghea, deasupra unei candele fumeg\u00e2nde, icoana \u00eembr\u0103cat\u0103 \u00een argint a Maicii durerilor. \u00cenduplecat\u0103 de rug\u0103ciunile \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesei \u00eengenuncheate, pleoapele icoanei reci se umezir\u0103 \u015fi o lacrim\u0103 curse din ochiul cel negru al mamei lui Dumnezeu. \u00cemp\u0103r\u0103teasa se ridic\u0103 \u00een toat\u0103 m\u0103rea\u0163a ei statur\u0103, atinse cu buza ei seac\u0103 lacrima cea rece \u015fi o supse \u00een ad\u00e2ncul sufletului s\u0103u. Din momentul acela ea purcese \u00eengreunat\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Trecu o lun\u0103, trecur\u0103 dou\u0103, trecur\u0103 nou\u0103, \u015fi \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa f\u0103cu un fecior alb ca spuma laptelui, cu p\u0103rul b\u0103lai ca razele lunii.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103ratul sur\u00e2se, soarele sur\u00e2se \u015fi el \u00een \u00eenfocata lui \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ie, chiar st\u0103tu pe loc, \u00eenc\u00e2t trei zile n-a fost noapte, ci numai senin \u015fi veselie, \u2013 vinul curgea din butii sparte \u015fi chiotele despicau bolta cerului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei-i puse mama numele: F\u0103t-Frumos din lacrim\u0103. \u015ei crescu \u015fi se f\u0103cu mare ca brazii codrilor. Cre\u015ftea \u00eentr-o lun\u0103 c\u00e2t al\u0163ii \u00eentr-un an.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd era destul de mare, puse s\u0103-i fac\u0103 un buzdugan de fier, \u00eel arunc\u0103 \u00een sus de despic\u0103 bolta cerului, \u00eel prinse pe degetul cel mic \u015fi buzduganul se rupse-n dou\u0103. Atunci puse s\u0103-i fac\u0103 altul mai greu \u2013 \u00eel arunc\u0103 \u00een sus aproape de palatul de nori al lunii; c\u0103z\u00e2nd din nori, nu se rupse de degetul voinicului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Atunci F\u0103t-Frumos \u00ee\u015fi lu\u0103 ziua bun\u0103 de la p\u0103rin\u0163i, ca s\u0103 se duc\u0103, s\u0103 se bat\u0103 el singur cu o\u015ftile \u00eemp\u0103ratului ce-l du\u015fm\u0103nea pe tat\u0103-s\u0103u. Puse pe trupul s\u0103u \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesc haine de p\u0103stor, c\u0103me\u015f\u0103 de borangic, \u0163esut\u0103 \u00een lacrimile mamei sale, m\u00e2ndr\u0103 p\u0103l\u0103rie cu flori, cu cordele \u015fi cu m\u0103rgele rupte de la g\u00e2turile fetelor de-mp\u0103ra\u0163i, \u00ee\u015fi puse-n br\u00e2ul verde un fluier de doine \u015fi altul de hore, \u015fi, c\u00e2nd era soarele de dou\u0103 suli\u0163e pe cer, a plecat \u00een lumea larg\u0103 \u015fi-n toiul lui de voinic.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pe drum horea \u015fi doinea, iar buzduganul \u015fi-l arunca s\u0103 spintece nourii, de c\u0103dea departe tot cale de-o zi. V\u0103ile \u015fi mun\u0163ii se uimeau auzindu-i c\u00e2ntecele, apele-\u015fi ridicau valurile mai sus ca s\u0103-l asculte, izvoarele \u00ee\u015fi turburau ad\u00e2ncul, ca s\u0103-\u015fi azv\u00e2rle afar\u0103 undele lor, pentru ca fiecare din unde s\u0103-l aud\u0103, fiecare din ele s\u0103 poat\u0103 c\u00e2nta ca d\u00e2nsul c\u00e2nd vor \u015fopti v\u0103ilor \u015fi florilor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0R\u00e2urile se cior\u0103iau mai \u00een jos de br\u00e2iele melancolicelor st\u00e2nci, \u00eenv\u0103\u0163au de la p\u0103storul \u00eemp\u0103rat doina iubirilor, iar vulturii ce stau amu\u0163i\u0163i pe cre\u015ftetele seci \u015fi sure a st\u00e2ncilor nalte, \u00eenv\u0103\u0163au de la el \u0163ip\u0103tul cel pl\u00e2ns al jelei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0St\u0103teau toate uimite pe c\u00e2nd trecea p\u0103stora\u015ful \u00eemp\u0103rat, doinind \u015fi horind; ochii cei negri ai fetelor se umpleau de lacrimi de dor; \u015fi-n piepturile p\u0103storilor tineri, r\u0103zima\u0163i c-un cot de-o st\u00e2nc\u0103 \u015fi c-o m\u00e2n\u0103 pe b\u00e2t\u0103, \u00eencol\u0163ea un dor mai ad\u00e2nc, mai \u00eentunecos, mai mare \u2013 dorul voiniciei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Toate st\u0103teau \u00een loc, numai F\u0103t-Frumos mergea mereu, urm\u0103rind cu c\u00e2ntecul dorul inimii lui, \u015fi cu ochii buzduganul, ce sclipea prin nori \u015fi prin aer ca un vultur de o\u0163el, ca o stea n\u0103zdr\u0103van\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd era-nspre seara zilei a treia, buzduganul, c\u0103z\u00e2nd, se izbi de o poart\u0103 de aram\u0103, \u015fi f\u0103cu un vuiet puternic \u015fi lung. Poarta era sf\u0103r\u00e2mat\u0103 \u015fi voinicul intr\u0103. Luna r\u0103s\u0103rise dintre mun\u0163i \u015fi se oglindea \u00eentr-un lac mare \u015fi limpede, ca seninul cerului. \u00cen fundul lui se vedea sclipind, de limpede ce era, un nisip de aur; iar \u00een mijlocul lui, pe o insul\u0103 de smarand, \u00eencunjurat de un cr\u00e2ng de arbori verzi \u015fi stufo\u015fi, se ridica un m\u00e2ndru palat de o marmur\u0103 ca laptele, lucie \u015fi alb\u0103 \u2013 at\u00e2t de lucie, \u00eenc\u00e2t \u00een ziduri r\u0103sfr\u00e2ngea ca-ntr-o oglind\u0103 de argint: dumbrav\u0103 \u015fi lunc\u0103, lac \u015fi \u0163\u0103rmuri. O luntre aurit\u0103 veghea pe undele limpezi ale lacului l\u00e2ng\u0103 poart\u0103; \u015fi-n aerul cel curat al serii tremurau din palat c\u00e2ntece m\u00e2ndre \u015fi senine. F\u0103t-Frumos se sui-n luntre \u015fi, v\u00e2slind, ajunse p\u00e2n\u0103 la sc\u0103rile de marmur\u0103 ale palatului. P\u0103truns acolo, el v\u0103zu \u00een boltele sc\u0103rilor candelabre cu sute de bra\u0163e, \u015fi-n fiecare bra\u0163 ardea c\u00e2te o stea de foc. P\u0103trunse \u00een sal\u0103. Sala era \u00eenalt\u0103, sus\u0163inut\u0103 de st\u00e2lpi \u015fi de arcuri, toate de aur, iar \u00een mijlocul ei st\u0103tea o m\u00e2ndr\u0103 mas\u0103, acoperit\u0103 cu alb, talgerele toate s\u0103pate din c\u00e2te-un singur m\u0103rg\u0103ritar mare; iar boierii ce \u015fedeau la mas\u0103 \u00een haine aurite, pe scaune de catifea ro\u015fie, erau frumo\u015fi ca zilele tinere\u0163ii \u015fi voio\u015fi ca horele. Dar mai ales unul din ei, cu fruntea-ntr-un cerc de aur, b\u0103tut cu diamante, \u015fi cu hainele str\u0103lucite, era frumos ca luna unei nop\u0163i de var\u0103. Dar mai m\u00e2ndru era F\u0103t-Frumos.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Bine-ai venit, F\u0103t-Frumos! zise \u00eemp\u0103ratul; am auzit de tine, da\u2019 de v\u0103zut nu te-am v\u0103zut.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Bine te-am g\u0103sit, \u00eemp\u0103rate, de\u015fi m\u0103 tem c\u0103 nu te-oi l\u0103sa cu bine, pentru c\u0103 am venit s\u0103 ne lupt\u0103m greu, c\u0103 destul ai viclenit asupra tat\u0103lui meu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ba n-am viclenit asupra tat\u0103lui t\u0103u, ci totdeauna m-am luptat \u00een lupt\u0103 dreapt\u0103. Dar cu tine nu m-oi bate. Ci mai bine-oi spune l\u0103utarilor s\u0103 zic\u0103 \u015fi cuparilor s\u0103 umple cupele cu vin \u015fi-om lega fr\u0103\u0163ie de cruce pe c\u00e2t om fi \u015fi-om tr\u0103i.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei se s\u0103rutar\u0103 feciorii de-mp\u0103ra\u0163i \u00een ur\u0103rile boierilor, \u015fi b\u0103ur\u0103 \u015fi se sf\u0103tuir\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Zise \u00eemp\u0103ratul lui F\u0103t-Frumos:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 De cine-n lume te temi tu mai mult?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 De nime-n lumea asta, afar\u0103 de Dumnezeu. Dar tu?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Eu iar de nime, afar\u0103 de Dumnezeu \u015fi de Mama-p\u0103durilor. O bab\u0103 b\u0103tr\u00e2n\u0103 \u015fi ur\u00e2t\u0103, care umbl\u0103 prin \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia mea de m\u00e2n\u0103 cu furtuna. Pe unde trece ea, fa\u0163a p\u0103m\u00e2ntului se usuc\u0103, satele se risipesc, t\u00e2rgurile cad n\u0103ruite. Mers-am eu asupra ei cu b\u0103t\u0103lie, dar n-am ispr\u0103vit nimica. Ca s\u0103 nu-mi pr\u0103p\u0103deasc\u0103 toat\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia, am fost silit s\u0103 stau la-nvoial\u0103 cu ea \u015fi s\u0103-i dau ca bir tot al zecelea din copiii supu\u015filor mei. \u015ei azi vine ca s\u0103-\u015fi ieie birul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd sun\u0103 miaz\u0103noaptea, fe\u0163ele mesenilor se posomor\u00e2r\u0103; c\u0103ci pe miaz\u0103noapte c\u0103lare, cu aripi v\u00e2ntoase, cu fa\u0163a zb\u00e2rcit\u0103 ca o st\u00e2nc\u0103 buhav\u0103 \u015fi scobit\u0103 de p\u0103raie, c-o p\u0103dure-n loc de p\u0103r, urla prin aerul cernit Mama-p\u0103durilor cea nebun\u0103. Ochii ei \u2013 dou\u0103 nop\u0163i turburi, gura ei \u2013 un h\u0103u c\u0103scat, din\u0163ii ei \u2013 \u015firuri de pietre de mori.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum venea vuind, F\u0103t-Frumos o apuc\u0103 de mijloc \u015fi o tr\u00e2nti cu toat\u0103 puterea \u00eentr-o piu\u0103 mare de piatr\u0103; peste piu\u0103 pr\u0103v\u0103li o bucat\u0103 de st\u00e2nc\u0103, pe care-o leg\u0103 din toate p\u0103r\u0163ile cu \u015fapte lan\u0163uri de fier. \u00cen\u0103untru baba \u015fuiera \u015fi se smulgea ca v\u00e2ntul \u00eenchis, dar nu-i folosea nimica.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Veni iar la osp\u0103\u0163; c\u00e2nd prin bol\u0163ile ferestrelor, la lumina lunii, v\u0103zur\u0103 dou\u0103 dealuri lungi de ap\u0103. Ce era? Mama-p\u0103durilor, neput\u00e2nd s\u0103 ias\u0103, trecea peste ape cu piu\u0103 cu tot \u015fi-i br\u0103zda fa\u0163a \u00een dou\u0103 dealuri. \u015ei fugea mereu, o st\u00e2nc\u0103 de piatr\u0103 \u00eendr\u0103cit\u0103, rup\u00e2ndu-\u015fi cale prin p\u0103duri, br\u0103zd\u00e2nd p\u0103m\u00e2ntul cu d\u00e2r\u0103 lung\u0103, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce se f\u0103cu nev\u0103zut\u0103 \u00een dep\u0103rtarea nop\u0163ii.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103t-Frumos osp\u0103t\u0103 ce osp\u0103t\u0103, dar apoi, lu\u00e2ndu-\u015fi buzduganul de-a um\u0103r, merse mereu pe d\u00e2ra tras\u0103 de piu\u0103, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce ajunse l\u00e2ng-o cas\u0103 frumoas\u0103, alb\u0103, care sticlea la lumina lunii \u00een mijlocul unei gr\u0103dini de flori. Florile erau \u00een straturi verzi \u015fi luminau albastre, ro\u015fie-\u00eenchise \u015fi albe, iar printre ele roiau fluturi u\u015fori, ca sclipitoare stele de aur. Miros, lumin\u0103 \u015fi un c\u00e2ntec nesf\u00e2r\u015fit, \u00eencet, dulce, ie\u015find din roirea fluturilor \u015fi a albinelor, \u00eemb\u0103tau gr\u0103dina \u015fi casa. L\u00e2ng\u0103 prisp\u0103 st\u0103teau dou\u0103 butii cu ap\u0103, iar pe prisp\u0103 torcea o fat\u0103 frumoas\u0103. Haina ei alb\u0103 \u015fi lung\u0103 p\u0103rea un nor de raze \u015fi umbre, iar p\u0103rul ei de aur era \u00eempletit \u00een cozi l\u0103sate pe spate, pe c\u00e2nd o cunun\u0103 de m\u0103rg\u0103rit\u0103rele era a\u015fezat\u0103 pe fruntea ei neted\u0103. Luminat\u0103 de razele lunii, ea p\u0103rea muiat\u0103 \u00eentr-un aer de aur. Degetele ei ca din cear\u0103 alb\u0103 torceau dintr-o furc\u0103 de aur \u015fi dintr-un fuior de o l\u00e2n\u0103 ca argintul torcea un fir de o m\u0103tase alb\u0103, sub\u0163ire, str\u0103lucit\u0103, ce sem\u0103na mai mult a o vie raz\u0103 de lun\u0103, ce cutreiera aerul, dec\u00e2t a fir de tort.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0La zgomotul u\u015for al pa\u015filor lui F\u0103t-Frumos, fata-\u015fi ridic\u0103 ochii alba\u015ftri ca undele lacului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Bine-ai venit, F\u0103t-Frumos, zise ea cu ochii limpezi \u015fi pe jum\u0103tate \u00eenchi\u015fi, c\u00e2t e de mult de c\u00e2nd te-am visat. Pe c\u00e2nd degetele mele torceau un fir, g\u00e2ndurile mele torceau un vis, un vis frumos, \u00een care eu m\u0103 iubeam cu tine; F\u0103t-Frumos, din fuior de argint torceam \u015fi eram s\u0103-\u0163i \u0163es o hain\u0103 urzit\u0103 \u00een desc\u00e2ntece, b\u0103tut\u0103-n fericire; s-o por\u0163i\u2026 s\u0103 te iube\u015fti cu mine. Din tortul meu \u0163i-a\u015f face o hain\u0103, din zilele mele, o via\u0163\u0103 plin\u0103 de dezmierd\u0103ri.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Astfel, cum privea umilit\u0103 la el, fusul \u00eei sc\u0103p\u0103 din m\u00e2n\u0103 \u015fi furca c\u0103zu al\u0103turi de ea. Ea se scul\u0103 \u015fi, ca ru\u015finat\u0103 de cele ce zisese, m\u00e2inile ei sp\u00e2nzurau \u00een jos ca la un copil vinovat \u015fi ochii ei cei mari se plecar\u0103. El se apropie de ea, c-o m\u00e2n\u0103 \u00eei cuprinse mijlocul, iar cu cealalt\u0103 \u00eei dezmierd\u0103 \u00eencet fruntea \u015fi p\u0103rul \u015fi-i \u015fopti:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce frumoas\u0103 e\u015fti tu, ce drag\u0103-mi e\u015fti! A cui e\u015fti tu, fata mea?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 A Mamei-p\u0103durilor, r\u0103spunse ea suspin\u00e2nd; m\u0103 vei iubi tu acuma, c\u00e2nd \u015ftii a cui sunt? Ea \u00eencunjur\u0103 cu am\u00e2ndou\u0103 bra\u0163ele ei goale grumazul lui \u015fi se uit\u0103 lung la el, \u00een ochii lui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce-mi pas\u0103 a cui e\u015fti, zise el, destul c\u0103 te iubesc.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dac\u0103 m\u0103 iube\u015fti, s\u0103 fugim atuncea, zise ea lipindu-se mai tare de pieptul lui; dac\u0103 te-ar g\u0103si mama, ea te-ar omor\u00ee, \u015fi dac-ai muri tu, eu a\u015f nebuni ori a\u015f muri \u015fi eu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 N-ai fric\u0103, zise el z\u00e2mbind \u015fi desf\u0103c\u00e2ndu-se din bra\u0163ele ei. Unde-i mum\u0103-ta?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 De c\u00e2nd a venit se zbucium\u0103 \u00een piua \u00een care-ai \u00eencuiat-o tu \u015fi roade cu col\u0163ii la lan\u0163urile ce-o \u00eenchid.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce-mi pas\u0103! zise el repezindu-se s\u0103 vad\u0103 unde-i.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 F\u0103t-Frumos, zise fata, \u015fi dou\u0103 lacrimi mari str\u0103lucir\u0103 \u00een ochii ei, nu te duce \u00eenc\u0103! S\u0103 te-nv\u0103\u0163 eu ce s\u0103 facem ca s\u0103 \u00eenvingi tu pe mama. Vezi tu bu\u0163ile aste dou\u0103? Una-i cu ap\u0103, alta cu putere. S\u0103 le mut\u0103m una \u00een locul alteia. Mama, c\u00e2nd se lupt\u0103 cu vr\u0103jma\u015fii ei, strig\u0103 c\u00e2nd obose\u015fte: “St\u0103i, s\u0103 mai bem c\u00e2te-oleac\u0103 de ap\u0103!” Apoi ea bea putere, \u00een vreme ce du\u015fmanul ei numai ap\u0103. De aceea noi le mut\u0103m din loc: ea nu va \u015fti \u015fi va bea numai ap\u0103 \u00een vremea luptei cu tine.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Precum au zis, a\u015fa au \u015fi f\u0103cut. El se repezi dup\u0103 cas\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce faci, bab\u0103? strig\u0103 el. Baba, de venin, se smulse odat\u0103 din piu\u0103-n sus \u015fi rupse lan\u0163urile, lungindu-se slab\u0103 \u015fi mare p\u00e2n\u0103-n nori.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 A, bine c\u0103 mi-ai venit, F\u0103t-Frumos! zise ea, f\u0103c\u00e2ndu-se iar scurt\u0103, ia acum hai la lupt\u0103, acu om vedea cine-i mai tare!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Hai! zise F\u0103t-Frumos. Baba-l apuc\u0103 de mijloc, se lungi repezindu-se cu el p\u00e2n\u0103-n nori, apoi \u00eel izbi de p\u0103m\u00e2nt \u015fi-l b\u0103g\u0103 \u00een \u0163\u0103r\u00e2n\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103-n glezne.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103t-Frumos o izbi pe ea \u015fi o b\u0103g\u0103-n p\u0103m\u00e2nt p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00een genunchi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 St\u0103i, s\u0103 mai bem ap\u0103, zise Mama-p\u0103durilor ostenit\u0103. St\u0103tur\u0103 \u015fi se r\u0103suflar\u0103. Baba b\u0103u ap\u0103, F\u0103t-Frumos b\u0103u putere, \u015f-un fel de foc nestins \u00eei cutreier\u0103 cu fiori de r\u0103coare to\u0163i mu\u015fchii \u015fi toate vinele lui cele sl\u0103bite.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C-o putere \u00eendoit\u0103, cu bra\u0163e de fier, o smunci pe bab\u0103 de mijloc \u015fi-o b\u0103g\u0103-n p\u0103m\u00e2nt p\u00e2n\u0103-n g\u00e2t. Apoi o izbi cu buzduganul \u00een cap \u015fi-i risipi creierii. Cerul \u00eenc\u0103run\u0163i de nouri, v\u00e2ntul \u00eencepu a geme rece \u015fi a scutura casa cea mic\u0103 \u00een toate \u00eencheieturile c\u0103priorilor ei. \u015eerpi ro\u015fii rupeau tr\u0103snind poala neagr\u0103 a norilor, apele p\u0103reau c\u0103 latr\u0103, numai tunetul c\u00e2nta ad\u00e2nc ca un proroc al pierz\u0103rii. Prin acel \u00eentuneric des \u015fi nep\u0103truns, F\u0103t-Frumos vedea albind o umbr\u0103 de argint, cu p\u0103r de aur despletit, r\u0103t\u0103cind, cu m\u00e2inile ridicate \u015fi palid\u0103. El se apropie de ea \u015fi-o cuprinse cu bra\u0163ele lui. Ea c\u0103zu ca moart\u0103 de groaz\u0103 pe pieptul lui, \u015fi m\u00e2inile ei reci s-ascunser\u0103-n s\u00e2nul lui. Ca s\u0103 se trezeasc\u0103, el \u00eei s\u0103rut\u0103 ochii. Norii se rupeau buc\u0103\u0163i pe cer, luna ro\u015fie ca focul se ivea prin sp\u0103rturile lor risipite; iar pe s\u00e2nul lui, F\u0103t-Frumos vedea cum \u00eenfloreau dou\u0103 stele albastre, limpezi, \u015fi uimite \u2013 ochii miresei lui. El o lu\u0103 pe bra\u0163e \u015fi \u00eencepu s\u0103 fug\u0103 cu ea prin furtun\u0103. Ea-\u015fi culcase capul \u00een s\u00e2nul lui \u015fi p\u0103rea c\u0103 adormise. Ajuns l\u00e2ng\u0103 gr\u0103dina \u00eemp\u0103ratului, el o puse-n luntre, duc\u00e2nd-o ca-ntr-un leag\u0103n peste lac, smulse iarb\u0103, f\u00e2n cu miros \u015fi flori din gr\u0103din\u0103 \u015fi-i cl\u0103di un pat, \u00een care-o a\u015fez\u0103 ca-ntr-un cuib.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Soarele ie\u015find din r\u0103s\u0103rit privea la ei cu drag. Hainele ei umede de ploaie se lipise de membrele dulci \u015fi rotunde, fa\u0163a ei de-o paloare umed\u0103 ca ceara cea alb\u0103, m\u00e2inile mici \u015fi unite pe piept, p\u0103rul despletit \u015fi r\u0103sfirat pe f\u00e2n, ochii mari, \u00eenchi\u015fi \u015fi ad\u00e2nci\u0163i \u00een frunte, astfel ea era frumoas\u0103, dar p\u0103rea moart\u0103. Pe acea frunte neted\u0103 \u015fi alb\u0103, F\u0103t-Frumos presur\u0103 c\u00e2teva flori albastre, apoi \u015fezu al\u0103turi cu ea \u015fi-ncepu a doini \u00eencet. Cerul limpede \u2013 o mare, soarele \u2013 o fa\u0163\u0103 de foc, ierburile \u00eemprosp\u0103tate, mirosul cel umed al florilor \u00eenvio\u015fate o f\u0103ceau s\u0103 doarm\u0103 mult \u015fi lin, \u00eenso\u0163it\u0103 \u00een calea visurilor ei de glasul cel pl\u00e2ns al fluierului. C\u00e2nd era soarele-n amiezi, firea t\u0103cea \u015fi F\u0103t-Frumos asculta fericita ei r\u0103suflare, cald\u0103 \u015fi umed\u0103. \u00cencet se plec\u0103 la obrazul ei \u015fi-o s\u0103rut\u0103. Atunci ea deschise ochii \u00eenc\u0103 plini de visuri, \u015fi-ntinz\u00e2ndu-se somnoroas\u0103, zise \u00eencet \u015fi z\u00e2mbind:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Tu aici e\u015fti?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ba nu sunt aici, nu vezi c\u0103 nu sunt aici? zise el mai l\u0103cr\u0103m\u00e2nd de fericire.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum \u015fedea el l\u00e2ng\u0103 ea, ea-\u015fi \u00eentinse un bra\u0163 \u015fi-i cuprinse mijlocul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Hai, scoal\u0103, zise el dezmierd\u00e2nd-o, e ziua-n amiaza-mare. Ea se scul\u0103, \u00ee\u015fi netezi p\u0103rul de pe frunte \u015fi-l dete pe spate, el \u00eei cuprinse mijlocul, ea-i \u00eenconjur\u0103 grumazul \u2013 \u015fi astfel trecur\u0103 printre straturile de flori \u015fi intrar\u0103 \u00een palatul de marmur\u0103 al \u00eemp\u0103ratului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0El o duse la \u00eemp\u0103ratul \u015fi i-o ar\u0103t\u0103, spuindu-i c\u0103-i mireasa lui. \u00cemp\u0103ratul z\u00e2mbi, apoi \u00eel lu\u0103 de m\u00e2n\u0103 pe F\u0103t-Frumos, ca \u015fi c\u00e2nd ar fi vrut s\u0103-i spuie ceva \u00een tain\u0103, \u015fi-l trase la o fereastr\u0103 mare, pe care vedea lacul cel \u00eentins. Ci el nu-i spuse nimica, ci numai se uit\u0103 uimit pe luciul lacului \u015fi ochii i se umplur\u0103 de lacrimi. O leb\u0103d\u0103 \u00ee\u015fi \u00een\u0103l\u0163ase aripile ca pe ni\u015fte p\u00e2nze de argint \u015fi cu capul cufundat \u00een ap\u0103 sf\u00e2\u015fia fa\u0163a senin\u0103 a lacului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Pl\u00e2ngi \u00eemp\u0103rate? zise F\u0103t-Frumos. De ce?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 F\u0103t-Frumos, zise \u00eemp\u0103ratul, binele ce mi l-ai f\u0103cut mie nu \u0163i-l pot pl\u0103ti nici cu lumina ochilor, oric\u00e2t de scump\u0103 mi-ar fi, \u015fi cu toate astea vin s\u0103-\u0163i cer \u015fi mai mult.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce, \u00eemp\u0103rate?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Vezi tu leb\u0103da ceea \u00eendr\u0103git\u0103 de unde? T\u00e2n\u0103r fiind, a\u015f trebui s\u0103 fiu \u00eendr\u0103git de via\u0163\u0103, \u015fi cu toate astea de c\u00e2te ori am vrut s\u0103-mi fac sam\u0103. Iubesc o fat\u0103 frumoas\u0103, cu ochii g\u00e2nditori, dulce ca visele m\u0103rii \u2013 fata Genarului, om m\u00e2ndru \u015fi s\u0103lbatic ce \u00ee\u015fi petrece via\u0163a v\u00e2n\u00e2nd prin p\u0103duri b\u0103tr\u00e2ne. O, c\u00e2t e de aspru el, c\u00e2t e de frumoas\u0103 fata lui! Orice \u00eencercare de a o r\u0103pi a fost de\u015fart\u0103. \u00cencearc\u0103-te tu!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ar fi stat F\u0103t-Frumos locului, dar scump\u0103-i era fr\u0103\u0163ia de cruce, ca oric\u0103rui voinic, mai scump\u0103 dec\u00e2t zilele, mai scump\u0103 dec\u00e2t mireasa.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u00cemp\u0103rate prea luminate, din c\u00e2te noroace-ai avut, unul a fost mai mare dec\u00e2t toate: acela c\u0103 F\u0103t-Frumos \u0163i-i frate de cruce. Hai, c\u0103 m\u0103 duc eu s\u0103 r\u0103pesc pe fata Genarului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei-\u015fi lu\u0103 cai ageri, cai cu suflet de v\u00e2nt, F\u0103t-Frumos, \u015fi era s\u0103 plece. Atunci mireasa lui \u2013 Ileana o chema \u2013 \u00eei zise \u00eencet la ureche, s\u0103rut\u00e2ndu-l cu dulce:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu uita, F\u0103t-Frumos, c\u0103 pe c\u00e2t vei fi tu departe, eu oi tot pl\u00e2nge. El se uit\u0103 cu mil\u0103 la ea, o m\u00e2ng\u00e2ie, dar apoi, desf\u0103c\u00e2ndu-se de \u00eembr\u0103\u0163o\u015f\u0103rile ei, se av\u00e2nt\u0103 pe \u015feaua calului \u015fi plec\u0103 \u00een lume.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Trecea prin codri pustii, prin mun\u0163i cu fruntea nins\u0103, \u015fi c\u00e2nd r\u0103s\u0103rea dintre st\u00e2nci b\u0103tr\u00e2ne luna cam palid\u0103, ca fa\u0163a unei fete moarte, atunci vedea din c\u00e2nd \u00een c\u00e2nd c\u00e2te-o strean\u0163\u0103 uria\u015f\u0103 at\u00e2rnat\u0103 de cer, ce \u00eencunjura cu poalele ei v\u00e2rful vreunui munte \u2013 o noapte sf\u00e2rtecat\u0103, un trecut \u00een ruin\u0103, un castel numai pietre \u015fi ziduri sparte.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd se lumin\u0103 de ziu\u0103, F\u0103t-Frumos vede c\u0103 \u015firul mun\u0163ilor d\u0103 \u00eentr-o mare verde \u015fi \u00eentins\u0103, ce tr\u0103ie\u015fte \u00een mii de valuri senine, str\u0103lucite, care treier\u0103 aria m\u0103rii \u00eencet \u015fi melodios, p\u00e2n\u0103 unde ochiul se pierde \u00een albastrul cerului \u015fi \u00een verdele m\u0103rii. \u00cen cap\u0103tul \u015firului de mun\u0163i, drept asupra m\u0103rii, se oglindea \u00een fundul ei o m\u0103rea\u0163\u0103 st\u00e2nc\u0103 de granit, din care r\u0103s\u0103rea ca un cuib alb o cetate frumoas\u0103, care, de alb\u0103 ce era, p\u0103rea poleit\u0103 cu argint. Din zidurile arcate r\u0103s\u0103reau ferestre str\u0103lucite, iar dintr-o fereastr\u0103 deschis\u0103 se z\u0103rea, printre oale de flori, un cap de fat\u0103, oache\u015f \u015fi vis\u0103tor, ca o noapte de var\u0103. Era fata Genarului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Bine-ai venit, F\u0103t-Frumos, zise ea, s\u0103rind de la fereastr\u0103 \u015fi deschiz\u00e2nd por\u0163ile m\u0103re\u0163ului castel, unde ea locuia singur\u0103 ca un geniu \u00eentr-un pustiu, ast\u0103-noapte mi se p\u0103rea c\u0103 vorbesc c-o stea, \u015fi steaua mi-a spus c\u0103 vii din partea \u00eemp\u0103ratului ce m\u0103 iube\u015fte.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cen sala cea mare a castelului, \u00een cenu\u015fa vetrei, veghea un motan cu \u015fapte capete, care c\u00e2nd urla dintr-un cap s-auzea cale de-o zi, iar c\u00e2nd urla din c\u00e2te \u015fapte, s-auzea cale de \u015fapte zile.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Genarul, pierdut \u00een s\u0103lbatecele sale v\u00e2n\u0103tori, se dep\u0103rtase cale de-o zi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103t-Frumos lu\u0103 fata \u00een bra\u0163e \u015fi pun\u00e2nd-o pe cal, zburau am\u00e2ndoi prin pustiul lungului m\u0103rii ca dou\u0103 abia v\u0103zute \u00eencheg\u0103ri ale v\u0103zduhului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar Genarul, om nalt \u015fi puternic, avea un cal n\u0103zdr\u0103van cu dou\u0103 inimi. Motanul din castel mieun\u0103 dintr-un cap, iar calul Genarului nechez\u0103 cu vocea lui de bronz.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce e? \u00eel \u00eentreb\u0103 Genarul pe calul n\u0103zdr\u0103van. \u0162i s-a ur\u00e2t cu binele?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu mi s-a ur\u00e2t mie cu binele, ci de tine-i r\u0103u. F\u0103t-Frumos \u0163i-a furat fata.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Trebuie s\u0103 ne gr\u0103bim mult ca s\u0103-i ajungem?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 S\u0103 ne gr\u0103bim \u015fi nu prea, pentru c\u0103-i putem ajunge. Genarul \u00eenc\u0103lec\u0103 \u015fi zbur\u0103 ca spaima cea b\u0103tr\u00e2n\u0103 \u00een urma fugi\u0163ilor. \u00cen cur\u00e2nd \u00eei \u015fi ajunse. S\u0103 se bat\u0103 cu el F\u0103t-Frumos nu putea, pentru c\u0103 Genarul era cre\u015ftin \u015fi puterea lui nu era \u00een duhurile \u00eentunericului, ci \u00een Dumnezeu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 F\u0103t-Frumos, zise Genarul, mult e\u015fti frumos \u015fi mi-e mil\u0103 de tine. De ast\u0103 dat\u0103 nu-\u0163i fac nimica, dar de alt\u0103 dat\u0103\u2026 \u0163ine minte!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei lu\u00e2ndu-\u015fi fata al\u0103turi cu el, pieri \u00een v\u00e2nt, ca \u015fi c\u00e2nd nu mai fusese.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar F\u0103t-Frumos era voinic \u015fi \u015ftia drumul \u00eenapoi. El se re\u00eentoarse \u015fi g\u0103si pe fat\u0103 iar singur\u0103, \u00eens\u0103 mai palid\u0103 \u015fi mai pl\u00e2ns\u0103 ea p\u0103rea \u015fi mai frumoas\u0103. Genarul era dus iar la v\u00e2n\u0103toare cale de dou\u0103 zile. F\u0103t-Frumos lu\u0103 al\u0163i cai din chiar grajdul Genarului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ast\u0103 dat\u0103 plecar\u0103 noaptea. Ei fugeau cum fug razele lunii peste ad\u00e2ncile valuri ale m\u0103rii, fugeau prin noaptea pustie \u015fi rece ca dou\u0103 visuri dragi; ci prin fuga lor auzeau miautele lungi \u015fi \u00eendoite ale motanului din vatra castelului. Apoi li se p\u0103ru c\u0103 nu mai pot merge, asemene celor ce vor s\u0103 fug\u0103 \u00een vis \u015fi cu toate aceste nu pot. Apoi un nor de colb \u00eei cuprinse, c\u0103ci Genarul venea \u00een fuga calului, de rupea p\u0103m\u00e2ntul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fa\u0163a lui era \u00eenfrico\u015fat\u0103, privirea crunt\u0103. F\u0103r\u0103 de-a zice o vorb\u0103, el apuc\u0103 pe F\u0103t-Frumos \u015fi-l azv\u00e2rli \u00een nourii cei negri \u015fi plini de furtun\u0103 ai cerului. Apoi disp\u0103ru cu fat\u0103 cu tot.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103t-Frumos, ars de fulgere, nu c\u0103zu din el dec\u00e2t o m\u00e2n\u0103 de cenu\u015f\u0103 \u00een nisipul cel fierbinte \u015fi sec al pustiului. Dar din cenu\u015fa lui se f\u0103cu un izvor limpede ce curgea pe un nisip de diamant, pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 el arbori nal\u0163i, verzi, stufo\u015fi r\u0103sp\u00e2ndeau o umbr\u0103 r\u0103corit\u0103 \u015fi mirositoare. Dac\u0103 cineva ar fi priceput glasul izvorului, ar fi \u00een\u0163eles c\u0103 jelea \u00eentr-o lung\u0103 doin\u0103 pe Ileana, \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa cea b\u0103laie a lui F\u0103t-Frumos. Dar cine s\u0103 \u00een\u0163eleag\u0103 glasul izvorului \u00eentr-un pustiu, unde p\u00e2n\u0103-atunci nu c\u0103lcase picior de om?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar pe vremea aceea Domnul umbla \u00eenc\u0103 pe p\u0103m\u00e2nt. \u00centr-o zi se vedeau doi oameni c\u0103l\u0103torind prin pustiu. Hainele \u015fi fa\u0163a unuia str\u0103lucea ca alba lumin\u0103 a soarelui; cel\u0103lalt, mai umilit, nu p\u0103rea dec\u00e2t umbra celui luminat. Era Domnul \u015fi sf. Petrea. Picioarele lor \u00eenfierb\u00e2ntate de nisipul pustiului c\u0103lcar\u0103 atuncea \u00een r\u0103coarele \u015fi limpedele p\u00e2r\u0103u ce curgea din izvor. Prin cursul apei cu gleznele lor sf\u00e2\u015fiau valurile p\u00e2n\u0103 la umbritul lor izvor. Acolo Domnul b\u0103u din ap\u0103 \u015fi-\u015fi sp\u0103l\u0103 fa\u0163a sa cea sf\u00e2nt\u0103 \u015fi luminat\u0103 \u015fi m\u00e2inile sale f\u0103c\u0103toare de minuni. Apoi \u015fezur\u0103 am\u00e2ndoi \u00een umbr\u0103, Domnul cuget\u00e2nd la tat\u0103l s\u0103u din cer, \u015fi sf\u00e2ntul Petrea ascult\u00e2nd pe cugete doina izvorului pl\u00e2ng\u0103tor. C\u00e2nd se scular\u0103 spre a merge mai departe, zise sf. Petrea: “Doamne, f\u0103 ca acest izvor s\u0103 fie ce-a fost mai \u00eenainte”. “Amin!” zise Domnul ridic\u00e2nd m\u00e2na sa cea sf\u00e2nt\u0103, dup\u0103 care apoi se dep\u0103rtar\u0103 \u00eenspre mare, f\u0103r\u0103 a mai privi \u00eenapoi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ca prin farmec pieri izvorul \u015fi copacii, \u015fi F\u0103t-Frumos, trezit ca dintr-un somn lung, se uit\u0103 \u00eemprejur. Atunci v\u0103zu chipul cel luminat al Domnului, ce mergea pe valurile m\u0103rii, care se plecau \u00eenaintea lui, \u00eentocmai ca pe uscat; \u015fi pe sf. Petrea, care, merg\u00e2nd \u00een urma lui \u015fi \u00eenvins de firea lui cea omeneasc\u0103, se uita \u00eenapoia sa \u015fi-i f\u0103cea lui F\u0103t-Frumos din cap. F\u0103t-Frumos \u00eei urm\u0103ri cu ochii p\u00e2n\u0103 ce chipul sf. Petrea se risipi \u00een dep\u0103rtare, \u015fi nu se vedea dec\u00e2t chipul str\u0103lucit al Domnului arunc\u00e2nd o dung\u0103 de lumin\u0103 pe luciul apei, astfel \u00eenc\u00e2t dac\u0103 soarele n-ar fi fost \u00een amiezi, ai fi crezut c\u0103 soarele apune! El \u00een\u0163elesese minunea \u00eenvierii sale \u015fi \u00eengenunche \u00eenspre apusul acelui soare dumnezeiesc.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar apoi \u00ee\u015fi aduse aminte c\u0103 f\u0103g\u0103duise a r\u0103pi pe fata Genarului, \u015fi ceea ce f\u0103g\u0103duie\u015fte voinicul anevoie o las\u0103 nef\u0103cut\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Deci se porni \u015fi \u00eenspre sar\u0103 ajunse la castelul Genarului, ce str\u0103lucea \u00een \u00eentunericul serii ca o uria\u015f\u0103 umbr\u0103. El intr\u0103 \u00een cas\u0103\u2026 fata Genarului pl\u00e2ngea. Dar c\u00e2nd \u00eel v\u0103zu, fa\u0163a ei se-nsenin\u0103 cum se-nsenin\u0103 o und\u0103 de o raz\u0103. El \u00eei povesti cum \u00eenviase; atunci ea-i zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 De r\u0103pit nu m\u0103 po\u0163i r\u0103pi p\u00e2n\u0103 ce nu-i avea un cal asemene cu acela ce-l are tat\u0103l meu, pentru c-acela are dou\u0103 inimi; dar eu am s\u0103-l \u00eentreb \u00een ast\u0103 sar\u0103 de unde-\u015fi are calul, ca s\u0103 po\u0163i \u015fi tu s\u0103 cape\u0163i unul ca acela. P\u00e2n\u0103 atunci \u00eens\u0103, pentru ca s\u0103 nu te afle tat\u0103-meu, eu te voi preface \u00eentr-o floare.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0El \u015fezu pe un scaun, iar ea \u015fopti o vraj\u0103 dulce, \u015fi, cum \u00eel s\u0103rut\u0103 pe frunte, el se pref\u0103cu \u00eentr-o floare ro\u015fie \u00eenchis\u0103 ca vi\u015fina coapt\u0103. Ea-l puse \u00eentre florile din fereastr\u0103 \u015fi c\u00e2nta de veselie, de r\u0103suna castelul tat\u0103lui ei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Atunci intr\u0103 \u015fi Genarul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Vesel\u0103 fata mea? \u015fi de ce e\u015fti vesel\u0103? \u00eentreb\u0103 el.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Pentru c\u0103 nu mai este F\u0103t-Frumos ca s\u0103 m\u0103 r\u0103peasc\u0103, r\u0103spunse ea r\u00e2z\u00e2nd.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se puser\u0103 la cin\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Tat\u0103, \u00eentreb\u0103 fata, de unde ai calul d-tale, cu care umbli la v\u00e2nat?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 La ce-\u0163i trebuie s-o \u015ftii? zise el \u00eencrunt\u00e2nd spr\u00e2ncenele.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u015etii prea bine, r\u0103spunse fata, c\u0103 nu vreau ca s-o \u015ftiu dec\u00e2t numai ia-a\u015fa ca s-o \u015ftiu, pentru c-acu nu mai e F\u0103t-Frumos s\u0103 m\u0103 r\u0103peasc\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u015etii tu c\u0103 nu m\u0103 \u00eempotrivesc \u0163ie niciodat\u0103, zise Genarul. De- parte de-aicea, l\u00e2ng\u0103 mare, \u015fede o bab\u0103 care are \u015fapte iepe. Ea \u0163ine oameni care s\u0103 i le p\u0103zeasc\u0103 un an (cu toate c\u0103 anul ei nu e dec\u00e2t de trei zile), \u015fi dac\u0103 cineva i le p\u0103ze\u015fte bine, ea-l pune s\u0103-\u015fi aleag\u0103 drept r\u0103splat\u0103 un m\u00e2nz, iar de nu, \u00eel omoar\u0103 \u015fi-i pune capul \u00eentr-un par. Chiar \u00eens\u0103 dac\u0103 p\u0103ze\u015fte cineva bine iepele, totu\u015fi ea-l viclene\u015fte pe om, c\u0103ci scoate inimile din caii to\u0163i \u015fi le pune \u00eentr-unul singur, \u00eenc\u00e2t cel ce-a p\u0103zit alege mai \u00eentotdeauna un cal f\u0103r\u0103 inim\u0103, care-i mai r\u0103u dec\u00e2t unul de r\u00e2nd\u2026 E\u015fti mul\u0163umit\u0103, fata mea?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Mul\u0163umit\u0103, r\u0103spunse ea z\u00e2mbind. Totodat\u0103 \u00eens\u0103 Genarul \u00eei arunc\u0103 \u00een fa\u0163\u0103 o batist\u0103 ro\u015fie, u\u015foar\u0103, mirositoare. Fata se uit\u0103 mult \u00een ochii tat\u0103lui s\u0103u, ca un om care se de\u015fteapt\u0103 dintr-un vis, de care nu-\u015fi poate aduce aminte. Ea uitase tot ce-i spusese tat\u0103-s\u0103u. \u00cens\u0103 floarea din fereastr\u0103 veghea printre frunzele ei, ca o stea ro\u015fie prin \u00eencre\u0163iturile unui nor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A doua zi Genarul plec\u0103 iar\u0103\u015fi des-diminea\u0163\u0103 la v\u00e2n\u0103toare. Fata s\u0103rut\u0103 murmur\u00e2nd floarea ro\u015fie \u015fi F\u0103t-Frumos n\u0103scu ca din nimica \u00eenaintea ei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ei, \u015ftii ceva? o \u00eentreb\u0103 el.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu \u015ftiu nimica, zise ea trist\u0103 \u015fi pun\u00e2nd dosul m\u00e2nii pe fruntea ei, am uitat tot.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u00cens\u0103 eu am auzit tot, zise el. R\u0103m\u00e2i cu bine, fata mea; \u00een cur\u00e2nd ne vom vedea iar.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0El \u00eenc\u0103lec\u0103 pe un cal \u015fi disp\u0103ru \u00een pustiuri. \u00cen ar\u015fi\u0163a cea dogoritoare a zilei\u2026 v\u0103zu aproape de p\u0103dure un \u0163\u00e2n\u0163ar zv\u00e2rcolindu-se \u00een nisipul cel fierbinte.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 F\u0103t-Frumos, zise \u0163\u00e2n\u0163arul, ia-m\u0103 de m\u0103 du p\u00e2n\u0103-n p\u0103dure, c\u0103 \u0163i-oi prinde \u015fi eu bine. Sunt \u00eemp\u0103ratul \u0163\u00e2n\u0163arilor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103t-Frumos \u00eel duse p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00een p\u0103durea prin care era s\u0103 treac\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ie\u015find din p\u0103dure, trecu iar prin pustiu de-a lungul m\u0103rii \u015fi v\u0103zu un rac at\u00e2t de ars de soare, \u00eenc\u00e2t nu mai avea nici putere s\u0103 se mai \u00eentoarc\u0103-napoi\u2026<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 F\u0103t-Frumos, zise el, arunc\u0103-m\u0103-n mare, c\u0103 \u0163i-oi prinde \u015fi eu bine. Sunt \u00eemp\u0103ratul racilor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103t-Frumos \u00eel arunc\u0103 \u00een mare \u015fi-\u015fi urm\u0103 calea. C\u00e2nd \u00eenspre sar\u0103 ajunse la un bordei ur\u00e2t \u015fi acoperit cu gunoi de cal. \u00cemprejur gard nu era, ci numai ni\u015fte lungi \u0163\u0103ru\u015fe ascu\u0163ite, din care \u015fase aveau fiecare-n v\u00e2rf c\u00e2te un cap, iar al \u015faptelea f\u0103r\u0103, se cl\u0103tina mereu \u00een v\u00e2nt \u015fi zicea: cap! cap! cap! cap!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pe prisp\u0103 o bab\u0103 b\u0103tr\u00e2n\u0103 \u015fi zb\u00e2rcit\u0103, culcat\u0103 pe un cojoc vechi, sta cu capul ei sur ca cenu\u015fa \u00een poalele unei roabe tinere \u015fi frumoase, care-i c\u0103uta \u00een cap.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Bine v-am g\u0103sit, zise F\u0103t-Frumos.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Bine-ai venit, fl\u0103c\u0103ule, zise baba scul\u00e2ndu-se. Ce-ai venit? ce cau\u0163i? Vrei s\u0103-mi pa\u015fti iepele poate?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Da.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Iepele mele pasc numai noaptea\u2026 Uite, chiar de-acu po\u0163i s\u0103 porne\u015fti cu ele la p\u0103scut\u2026 Fat\u0103 h\u0103i! ia d\u0103 tu fl\u0103c\u0103ului dem\u00e2ncatul ce i-am f\u0103cut eu \u015fi porne\u015fte-l.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Al\u0103turi cu bordeiul era sub p\u0103m\u00e2nt o pivni\u0163\u0103. El intr\u0103 \u00een ea \u015fi acolo v\u0103zu \u015fapte iepe negre str\u0103lucite \u2013 \u015fapte nop\u0163i, care de c\u00e2nd erau nu z\u0103rise \u00eenc\u0103 lumina soarelui. Ele nechezau \u015fi b\u0103teau din picioare.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nem\u00e2ncat toat\u0103 ziua, el cin\u0103 ce-i d\u0103duse baba \u015f-apoi, \u00eenc\u0103lec\u00e2nd pe una din iepe, m\u00e2n\u0103 pe celelalte \u00een aerul \u00eentunecos \u015fi r\u0103coare al nop\u0163ii. Dar, \u00eencet, \u00eencet sim\u0163i cum se strecoar\u0103 un somn de plumb prin toate vinele lui, ochii i se painjinir\u0103 \u015fi el c\u0103zu ca mort \u00een iarba paji\u015ftii. El se trezi pe c\u00e2nd mijea de ziu\u0103. C\u00e2nd colo, iepele nic\u0103ieri. El \u00ee\u015fi credea capul pus \u00een \u0163eap\u0103, c\u00e2nd vede ie\u015find dintr-o p\u0103dure-n dep\u0103rtare cele \u015fapte iepe alungate de un roi nem\u0103rginit de \u0163\u00e2n\u0163ari \u015fi un glas sub\u0163ire-i zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Mi-ai f\u0103cut un bine, \u0163i l-am f\u0103cut \u015fi eu. C\u00e2nd se \u00eentoarse cu caii, baba \u00eencepu s\u0103 turbe, s\u0103 r\u0103stoarne casa cu susu-n jos \u015fi s\u0103 bat\u0103 fata, care nu era de vin\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce ai, mam\u0103? \u00eentreb\u0103 F\u0103t-Frumos.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nimica, zise ea, mi-a venit \u015fi mie toane. Asupra ta n-am nimica\u2026 sunt foarte mul\u0163umit\u0103. Apoi intr\u00e2nd \u00een grajd, \u00eencepu s\u0103 bat\u0103 caii, \u0163ip\u00e2nd: Ascunde\u0163i-v\u0103 mai bine, bat\u0103-v-ar mama lui Dumnezeu, ca s\u0103 nu v\u0103 mai g\u0103seasc\u0103, ucig\u0103-l crucea \u015fi m\u0103n\u00e2nce-l moartea!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A doua zi porni cu caii, dar iar c\u0103zu jos \u015fi dormi p\u00e2n\u0103 ce mijea de ziu\u0103. Desperat, era s\u0103 ieie lumea-n cap, c\u00e2nd deodat\u0103 vede r\u0103s\u0103rind din fundul m\u0103rii cei \u015fapte cai, mu\u015fca\u0163i de-o mul\u0163ime de raci.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Mi-ai f\u0103cut un bine, zise un glas, \u0163i l-am f\u0103cut \u015fi eu. Era \u00eemp\u0103ratul racilor. El m\u00e2n\u0103 caii-nspre cas\u0103 \u015fi vede iar o priveli\u015fte ca-n ziua trecut\u0103. \u00cens\u0103 \u00een cursul zilei roaba babei s-apropie de el \u015fi-i zise \u00eencet str\u00e2ng\u00e2ndu-l de m\u00e2n\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Eu \u015ftiu c\u0103 tu e\u015fti F\u0103t-Frumos. S\u0103 nu mai m\u0103n\u00e2nci din bucatele ce-\u0163i fierbe baba, pentru c\u0103-s f\u0103cute cu somnoroas\u0103\u2026 \u0162i-oi face eu altfel de bucate.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata \u00eentr-ascuns \u00eei f\u0103cu merinde, \u015fi-nspre sar\u0103, c\u00e2nd era s\u0103 plece cu caii, \u00ee\u015fi sim\u0163i ca prin minune capul treaz.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Spre miezul nop\u0163ii se-ntoarse acas\u0103, m\u00e2n\u0103 caii \u00een grajd, \u00eei \u00eencuie \u015fi intr\u0103 \u00een odaie. Pe vatra cuptorului, \u00een cenu\u015f\u0103 mai licureau c\u00e2\u0163iva c\u0103rbuni. Baba sta \u00eentins\u0103 pe lai\u0163\u0103 \u015fi \u00een\u0163epenit\u0103 ca moart\u0103. El g\u00e2ndi c-a murit \u015f-o scutur\u0103. Ea era ca trunchiul \u015fi nu se mi\u015fca deloc. El trezi fata, ce dormea pe cuptor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Uite, zise el, \u0163i-a murit baba.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 A\u015f! asta s\u0103 moar\u0103!? r\u0103spunse ea suspin\u00e2nd. Adev\u0103rat c\u0103 acu e ca \u015fi moart\u0103. Acu-i miaz\u0103noaptea\u2026 un somn amor\u0163it \u00eei cuprinde trupul\u2026 dar sufletul ei cine \u015ftie pe la c\u00e2te r\u0103spinteni st\u0103, cine \u015ftie pe c\u00e2te c\u0103i a vr\u0103jilor umbl\u0103. P\u00e2n\u0103 ce c\u00e2nt\u0103 cuco\u015ful, ea suge inimile celor ce mor, ori pustie\u015fte sufletele celor nenoroci\u0163i. Da, b\u0103dic\u0103, m\u00e2ine \u0163i se-mpline\u015fte anul, ia-m\u0103 \u015fi pe mine cu d-ta, c\u0103 \u0163i-oi fi de mare folos. Eu te voi sc\u0103pa din multe primejdii pe care \u0163i le g\u0103te\u015fte baba.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ea scoase din fundul unei l\u0103zi h\u00e2rbuite \u015fi vechi o cute, o perie \u015fi o n\u0103fram\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A doua zi de diminea\u0163\u0103 i se \u00eemplinise lui F\u0103t-Frumos anul. Baba trebuia s\u0103-i dea unul din cai \u015f-apoi s\u0103-l lase s\u0103 plece cu Dumnezeu. Pe c\u00e2nd pr\u00e2nzeau, baba ie\u015fi p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00een grajd, scoase inimile din c\u00e2te\u015fi\u015fapte cai, spre a le pune pe toate \u00eentr-un tretin slab, c\u0103ruia-i priveai prin coaste. F\u0103t-Frumos se scul\u0103 de la mas\u0103 \u015fi dup\u0103 \u00eendemnarea babei se duse s\u0103-\u015fi aleag\u0103 calul ce trebuia s\u0103 \u015fi-l ieie. Caii cei f\u0103r\u0103 inimi erau de un negru str\u0103lucit, tretinul cel cu inimile sta culcat \u00eentr-un col\u0163 pe-o movil\u0103 de gunoi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Pe acesta-l aleg eu, zise F\u0103t-Frumos, ar\u0103t\u00e2nd la calul cel slab.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Da\u2019 cum Doamne iart\u0103-m\u0103, s\u0103 sluje\u015fti tu degeaba!? zise baba cea viclean\u0103. Cum s\u0103 nu-\u0163i iei tu dreptul t\u0103u? Alege-\u0163i unul din caii i\u015fti frumo\u015fi\u2026 oricare-ar fi, \u0163i-l dau.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu, pe acesta-l voi, zise F\u0103t-Frumos, \u0163in\u00e2nd la vorba lui. Baba scr\u00e2\u015fni din din\u0163i ca apucat\u0103, dar apoi \u00ee\u015fi str\u00e2nse moara cea h\u00e2rbuit\u0103 de gur\u0103, ca s\u0103 nu ias\u0103 prin ea veninul ce-i r\u0103scolea inima pestri\u0163\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Hai, ia-\u0163i-l! zise-n sf\u00e2r\u015fit. El se urc\u0103 pe cal cu buzduganul de-a umere. P\u0103rea c\u0103 fa\u0163a pustiu- lui se ia dup\u0103 urmele lui, \u015fi zbura ca un g\u00e2nd, ca o vijelie printre volburele de nisip ce se ridicau \u00een urm\u0103-i.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00centr-o p\u0103dure \u00eel a\u015ftepta fata fugit\u0103. El o urc\u0103 pe cal dup\u0103 d\u00e2nsul \u015fi fugea mereu.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Noaptea inundase p\u0103m\u00e2ntul cu aerul ei cel negru \u015fi r\u0103coare.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 M\u0103 arde-n spate! zise fata. F\u0103t-Frumos se uit\u0103 \u00eenapoi. Dintr-o volbur\u0103 nalt\u0103, verde, se vedeau nemi\u015fca\u0163i doi ochi de j\u0103ratic, a c\u0103ror raze ro\u015fii ca focul ars p\u0103trundeau \u00een r\u0103runchii fetei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Arunc\u0103 peria, zise fata. F\u0103t-Frumos o ascult\u0103. \u015ei deodat\u0103-n urm\u0103-le v\u0103zur\u0103 c\u0103 se ridic\u0103 o p\u0103dure neagr\u0103, deas\u0103, mare, \u00eenfiorat\u0103 de un lung fream\u0103t de frunze \u015fi de un urlet fl\u0103m\u00e2nd de lupi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u00cenainte! strig\u0103 F\u0103t-Frumos calului, care zbura asemenea unui demon urm\u0103rit de un blestem prin negura nop\u0163ii. Luna palid\u0103 trecea prin nouri suri ca o fa\u0163\u0103 limpede prin mijlocul unor vise turburi \u015fi seci.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103t-Frumos zbura\u2026 zbura necontenit.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 M\u0103 arde-n spate! zise fata c-un geam\u0103t ap\u0103sat, ca \u015fi c\u00e2nd s-ar fi silit mult ca s\u0103 nu spuie \u00eenc\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103t-Frumos se uit\u0103 \u015fi v\u0103zu o bufni\u0163\u0103 mare \u015fi sur\u0103, din care nu str\u0103luceau dec\u00e2t ochii ro\u015fii, ca dou\u0103 fulgere l\u0103n\u0163uite de un nor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Arunc\u0103 cutea, zise fata. F\u0103t-Frumos o arunc\u0103. \u015ei deodat\u0103 se ridic\u0103 din p\u0103m\u00e2nt un col\u0163 sur, drept, neclintit, un uria\u015f \u00eempietrit ca spaima, cu capul ating\u00e2nd de nori.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103t-Frumos v\u00e2j\u00e2ia prin aer a\u015fa de iute, \u00eenc\u00e2t i se p\u0103rea c\u0103 nu fuge, ci cade din \u00eenaltul cerului \u00eentr-un ad\u00e2nc nev\u0103zut.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 M\u0103 arde, zise fata. Baba g\u0103urise st\u00e2nca \u00eentr-un loc \u015fi trecea prin ea pref\u0103cut\u0103 \u00eentr-o funie de fum, a c\u0103rei cap\u0103t dinainte ardea ca un c\u0103rbune.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Arunc\u0103 n\u0103frama, zise fata. F\u0103t-Frumos o ascult\u0103. \u015ei deodat\u0103 v\u0103zur\u0103 \u00een urm\u0103-le un luciu \u00eentins, limpede, ad\u00e2nc, \u00een a c\u0103rui oglind\u0103 b\u0103laie se sc\u0103lda \u00een fund luna de argint \u015fi stelele de foc.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103t-Frumos auzi o vraj\u0103 lung\u0103 prin aer \u015fi se uit\u0103 prin nori. Cale de dou\u0103 ceasuri \u2013 pierdut\u0103 \u00een naltul cerului \u2013 plutea \u00eencet, \u00eencet prin albastrul t\u0103riei Miaz\u0103noaptea b\u0103tr\u00e2n\u0103 cu aripile de aram\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd baba \u00eenota smintit\u0103 pe la jum\u0103tatea lacului alb, F\u0103t-Frumos arunc\u0103 buzduganu-n nori \u015fi lovi Miaz\u0103noaptea \u00een aripi. Ea c\u0103zu ca plumbul la p\u0103m\u00e2nt \u015fi cronc\u0103ni jalnic de dou\u0103sprezece ori.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Luna s-ascunse \u00eentr-un nor \u015fi baba, cuprins\u0103 de somnul ei de fier, se afund\u0103 \u00een ad\u00e2ncul cel vr\u0103jit \u015fi necunoscut al lacului. Iar \u00een mijlocul lui se ridic\u0103 o iarb\u0103 lung\u0103 \u015fi neagr\u0103. Era sufletul cel os\u00e2ndit al babei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Am sc\u0103pat, zise fata.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Am sc\u0103pat, zise calul cel cu \u015fapte inimi. St\u0103p\u00e2ne, ad\u0103ogi calul, tu ai izbit Miaz\u0103noaptea, de a c\u0103zut la p\u0103m\u00e2nt cu dou\u0103 ceasuri \u00eenainte de vreme, \u015fi eu simt sub picioarele mele r\u0103scolindu-se nisipul. Scheletele \u00eenmorm\u00e2ntate de volburele nisipului arz\u0103tor al pustiilor au s\u0103 se scoale spre a se sui \u00een lun\u0103 la benchetele lor. E primejdios ca s\u0103 umbli acuma. Aerul cel \u00eenveninat \u015fi rece al sufletelor lor moarte v-ar putea omor\u00ee. Ci mai bine voi culca\u0163i-v\u0103, \u015fi eu p\u00e2n-atuncea m-oi \u00eentoarce la mama, ca s\u0103 mai sug \u00eenc-o dat\u0103 laptele cel de v\u0103paie alb\u0103 a \u0163\u00e2\u0163elor ei, pentru ca s\u0103 m\u0103 fac iar frumos \u015fi str\u0103lucit.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103t-Frumos \u00eel ascult\u0103. Se dete jos de pe cal \u015fi-\u015fi a\u015fternu mantaua pe nisipul \u00eenc\u0103 fierbinte.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar ciudat\u2026 ochii fetei se-nfundase \u00een cap, oasele \u015fi \u00eencheieturile fe\u0163ei \u00eei ie\u015fise afar\u0103, pieli\u0163a din oache\u015f\u0103 se f\u0103cuse v\u00e2n\u0103t\u0103, m\u00e2na grea ca plumbul \u015fi rece ca un sloi de ghea\u0163\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce \u0163i-i? o \u00eentreb\u0103 F\u0103t-Frumos.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nimica, nu mi-i nimica, zise ea cu glasul stins: \u015fi se culc\u0103 \u00een nisip, tremur\u00e2nd ca apucat\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103t-Frumos d\u0103du drumul calului, apoi se culc\u0103 pe mantaua ce \u015fi-o a\u015fternuse. El adormi; cu toate acestea-i p\u0103rea c\u0103 nu adormise. Peli\u0163ele de pe lumina ochiului i se ro\u015fise ca focul \u015fi prin el p\u0103rea c\u0103 vede cum luna se cobora \u00eencet, m\u0103rindu-se spre p\u0103m\u00e2nt, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce p\u0103rea ca o cetate sf\u00e2nt\u0103 \u015fi argintie, sp\u00e2nzurat\u0103 din cer, ce tremura str\u0103lucit\u0103\u2026 cu palate nalte, albe\u2026 cu mii de ferestre trandafirii; \u015fi din lun\u0103 se scobora la p\u0103m\u00e2nt un drum \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesc acoperit cu prund de argint \u015fi b\u0103tut cu pulbere de raze.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Iar\u0103 din \u00eentinsele pustii se r\u0103scoleau din nisip schelete nalte\u2026 cu capete seci de oase\u2026 \u00eenvelite \u00een lungi mantale albe, \u0163esute rar din fire de argint, \u00eenc\u00e2t prin mantale se z\u0103reau oasele albite de sec\u0103ciune. Pe frun\u0163ile lor purtau coroane f\u0103cute din fire de raze \u015fi din spini auri\u0163i \u015fi lungi\u2026 \u015fi \u00eenc\u0103lica\u0163i pe schelete de cai, mergeau \u00eencet-\u00eencet\u2026 \u00een lungi \u015firuri\u2026 dungi mi\u015fc\u0103toare de umbre argintii\u2026 \u015fi urcau drumul lunii, \u015fi se pierdeau \u00een palatele \u00eenm\u0103rmurite ale cet\u0103\u0163ii din lun\u0103, prin a c\u0103rora fere\u015fti se auzea o muzic\u0103 lunatec\u0103\u2026 o muzic\u0103 de vis.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Atunci i se p\u0103ru c\u0103 \u015fi fata de l\u00e2ng\u0103 el se ridica \u00eencet\u2026, c\u0103 trupul ei se risipea \u00een aer, de nu r\u0103m\u00e2neau dec\u00e2t oasele, c\u0103, inundat\u0103 de o manta argintie, apuca \u015fi ea calea luminoas\u0103 ce ducea \u00een lun\u0103. Se ducea \u00een turburea \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ie a umbrelor, de unde venise pe p\u0103m\u00e2nt, momit\u0103 de vr\u0103jile babei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Apoi peli\u0163a ochilor lui se \u00eenverzi\u2026 se \u00eennegri \u2013 \u015fi nu mai v\u0103zu nimica.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd deschise ochii, soarele era sus de tot. Fata lipsea \u015fi aievea. Dar \u00een pustiul arid necheza calul frumos, str\u0103lucit, \u00eemb\u0103tat de lumina aurit\u0103 a soarelui, pe care el acu o vedea pentru-nt\u00e2ia oar\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103t-Frumos se av\u00e2nt\u0103 pe el \u015fi-n r\u0103stimpul c\u00e2torva g\u00e2nduri fericite ajunse la castelul \u00eencol\u0163it al Genarului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0De ast\u0103 dat\u0103 Genarul v\u00e2na departe cale de \u015fapte zile. El o lu\u0103 pe fat\u0103 pe cal dinaintea lui. Ea-i cuprinse g\u00e2tul cu bra\u0163ele ei \u015fi-\u015fi ascunsese capul \u00een s\u00e2nul lui, pe c\u00e2nd poalele lungi ale hainei ei albe atingeau din zbor nisipul pustiei. Mergeau a\u015fa de iute, \u00eenc\u00e2t i se p\u0103rea c\u0103 pustiul \u015fi valurile m\u0103rii fug, iar ei stau pe loc. \u015ei numai \u00eencet se auzea motanul mieun\u00e2nd din c\u00e2te \u015fapte capetele.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pierdut \u00een p\u0103duri, Genarul \u00ee\u015fi aude calul nechez\u00e2nd.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce e? \u00eel \u00eentreb\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 F\u0103t-Frumos \u00ee\u0163i fur\u0103 fata, r\u0103spunse calul n\u0103zdr\u0103van.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Putea-l-om ajunge? \u00eentreb\u0103 Genarul mirat, pentru c\u0103 \u015ftia c\u0103-l omor\u00e2se pe F\u0103t-Frumos.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu, z\u0103u, r\u0103spunse calul, pentru c-a \u00eenc\u0103lecat pe un frate al meu, care are \u015fapte inimi, pe c\u00e2nd eu n-am dec\u00e2t dou\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Genarul \u00ee\u015fi \u00eenfipse pintenii ad\u00e2nc \u00een coastele calului, care fugea scutur\u00e2ndu-se\u2026 ca o vijelie. C\u00e2nd \u00eel v\u0103zu pe F\u0103t-Frumos \u00een pustiu, zise calului s\u0103u:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Spune fr\u0103\u0163\u00e2ne-t\u0103u s\u0103-\u015fi arunce st\u0103p\u00e2nul \u00een nori \u015fi s\u0103 vin\u0103 la mine, c\u0103 l-oi hr\u0103ni cu miez de nuc\u0103 \u015fi l-oi ad\u0103pa cu lapte dulce.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Calul Genarului \u00eei nechez\u0103 fr\u0103\u0163\u00e2ne-s\u0103u ceea ce-i spusese, iar frate-s\u0103u i-o spuse lui F\u0103t-Frumos.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Zi fr\u0103\u0163\u00e2ne-t\u0103u, zise F\u0103t-Frumos calului s\u0103u, s\u0103-\u015fi arunce st\u0103p\u00e2nu-n nori, \u015fi l-oi hr\u0103ni cu j\u0103ratic \u015fi l-oi ad\u0103pa cu par\u0103 de foc.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Calul lui F\u0103t-Frumos o nechez\u0103 asta fr\u0103\u0163\u00e2ne-s\u0103u, \u015fi acesta azv\u00e2rli pe Genarul p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00een nori. Norii cerului \u00eenm\u0103rmurir\u0103 \u015fi se f\u0103cur\u0103 palat sur \u015fi frumos, iar din dou\u0103 gene de nouri se vedeau doi ochi alba\u015ftri ca cerul, ce repezeau fulgere lungi. Erau ochii Genarului, exilat \u00een \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ia aerului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0F\u0103t-Frumos domoli pasul calului \u015fi a\u015fez\u0103 pe fat\u0103 pe acela al t\u0103t\u00e2ne-s\u0103u. O zi \u00eenc\u0103, \u015fi ajunser\u0103 \u00een m\u00e2ndra cetate a \u00eemp\u0103ratului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Lumea-l crezuse mort pe F\u0103t-Frumos, \u015fi de aceea, c\u00e2nd se \u00eempr\u0103\u015ftie faima venirii lui, ziua-\u015fi muie aerul \u00een lumin\u0103 de s\u0103rb\u0103toare \u015fi oamenii a\u015fteptau murmur\u00e2nd la faima venirii lui, cum vuie\u015fte un lan de gr\u00e2u la suflarea unui v\u00e2nt.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar ce f\u0103cuse oare \u00een vremea aceea Ileana \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa? Ea, cum plecase F\u0103t-Frumos, s-a \u00eenchis \u00eentr-o gr\u0103din\u0103 cu nalte ziduri de fier, \u015fi acolo, culc\u00e2ndu-se pe pietre reci, cu capul pe un bolovan de cremene, pl\u00e2nse \u00eentr-o scald\u0103 de aur, a\u015fezat\u0103 l\u00e2ng\u0103 ea, lacrimi curate ca diamantul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cen gr\u0103dina cu multe straturi, neudat\u0103 \u015fi nec\u0103utat\u0103 de nimeni, n\u0103scur\u0103 din pietri\u015f sterp, din ar\u015fi\u0163a zilei \u015fi din sec\u0103ciunea nop\u0163ii flori cu frunze galbene \u015fi c-o culoare stins\u0103 \u015fi turbure ca turburii ochi ai mor\u0163ilor \u2013 florile durerii.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ochii \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesei Ilenei, orbi\u0163i de pl\u00e2ns, nu mai vedeau nimica, dec\u00e2t i se p\u0103rea numai c\u0103-n luciul b\u0103ii, plin\u0103 de lacrimile ei, vedea ca-n vis chipul mirelui ei iubit. Ci ochii ei, dou\u0103 izvoare secate, \u00eencetase de a mai v\u0103rsa lacrimi. Cine-o vedea cu p\u0103rul ei galben \u015fi lung, despletit \u015fi \u00eempr\u0103\u015ftiat ca cre\u0163ii unei mantii de aur pe s\u00e2nul ei rece, cine-ar fi v\u0103zut fa\u0163a ei de-o durere mut\u0103, s\u0103pat\u0103 parc\u0103 cu dalta \u00een tr\u0103s\u0103turile ei, ar fi g\u00e2ndit c\u0103-i o \u00eenm\u0103rmurit\u0103 z\u00e2n\u0103 a undelor, culcat\u0103 pe un morm\u00e2nt de prund.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar cum auzi vuietul venirii lui, fa\u0163a ei se-nsenin\u0103; ea lu\u0103 o m\u00e2n\u0103 de lacrimi din baie \u015fi stropi gr\u0103dina. Ca prin farmec, foile galbene ale aleilor de arbori \u015fi ale straturilor se-nverzir\u0103 ca smarandul. Florile triste \u015fi turburi se-n\u0103lbir\u0103 ca m\u0103rg\u0103ritarul cel str\u0103lucit, \u015fi din botezul de lacrimi luar\u0103 numele l\u0103cr\u0103mioare.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cemp\u0103r\u0103teasa cea oarb\u0103 \u015fi alb\u0103 umbl\u0103 \u00eencet prin straturi \u015fi culese \u00een poale o mul\u0163ime de l\u0103crimioare, pe care apoi, a\u015ftern\u00e2ndu-le l\u00e2ng\u0103 baia de aur, f\u0103cu un pat de flori.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Atunci intr\u0103 F\u0103t-Frumos. Ea s-arunc\u0103 la g\u00e2tul lui, \u00eens\u0103, amu\u0163it\u0103 de bucurie, ea nu putu dec\u00e2t s\u0103 \u00eendrepte asupr\u0103-i ochii s\u0103i stin\u015fi \u015fi orbi, cu care ar fi vrut s\u0103-l soarb\u0103 \u00een sufletul ei. Apoi ea \u00eel lu\u0103 de m\u00e2n\u0103 \u015fi-i ar\u0103t\u0103 baia de lacrimi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Luna limpede \u00eenflorea ca o fa\u0163\u0103 de aur pe seninul cel ad\u00e2nc al cerului. \u00cen aerul nop\u0163ii, F\u0103t-Frumos \u00ee\u015fi sp\u0103l\u0103 fa\u0163a \u00een baia de lacrimi, apoi, \u00eenvelindu-se \u00een mantaua ce i-o \u0163esuse din raze de lun\u0103, se culc\u0103 s\u0103 doarm\u0103 \u00een patul de flori. \u00cemp\u0103r\u0103teasa se culc\u0103 \u015fi ea l\u00e2ng\u0103 el \u015fi vis\u0103 \u00een vis c\u0103 Maica Domnului desprinsese din cer dou\u0103 vinete stele ale dimine\u0163ii \u015fi i le a\u015fezase pe frunte.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A doua zi, de\u015fteptat\u0103, ea vedea\u2026 A treia zi se cunun\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103ratul cu fata Genarului. A patra zi era s\u0103 fie nunta lui F\u0103t-Frumos. Un roi de raze venind din cer a spus l\u0103utarilor cum horesc \u00eengerii c\u00e2nd se sfin\u0163e\u015fte un sf\u00e2nt, \u015fi roiuri de unde r\u0103s\u0103rind din inima p\u0103m\u00e2ntului le-a spus cum c\u00e2nt\u0103 ursitorile c\u00e2nd urzesc binele oamenilor. Astfel l\u0103utarii m\u0103iestrir\u0103 hore nalte \u015fi ur\u0103ri ad\u00e2nci.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Trandafirul cel \u00eenfocat, crinii de argint, l\u0103crimioarele sure ca m\u0103rg\u0103ritarul, mironosi\u0163ele viorele \u015fi florile toate s-adunar\u0103, vorbind fiecare \u00een mirosul ei, \u015fi \u0163inur\u0103 sfat lung cum s\u0103 fie luminile hainei de mireas\u0103; apoi \u00eencredin\u0163ar\u0103 taina lor unui curtenitor flutur albastru stropit cu aur. Acesta se duse \u015fi flutur\u0103 \u00een cercuri multe asupra fe\u0163ei miresei c\u00e2nd ea dormea \u015f-o f\u0103cu s\u0103 vad\u0103 \u00eentr-un vis luciu ca oglinda cum trebuia s\u0103 fie-mbr\u0103cat\u0103. Ea z\u00e2mbi c\u00e2nd se vis\u0103 at\u00e2t de frumoas\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mirele-\u015fi puse c\u0103ma\u015f\u0103 de tort de raze de lun\u0103, br\u00e2u de m\u0103rg\u0103ritare, manta alb\u0103 ca ninsoarea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei se f\u0103cu nunt\u0103 m\u00e2ndr\u0103 \u015fi frumoas\u0103, cum n-a fost alta pe fa\u0163a p\u0103m\u00e2ntului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015e-au tr\u0103it apoi \u00een pace \u015fi \u00een lini\u015fte ani mul\u0163i \u015fi ferici\u0163i, iar dac-a fi adev\u0103rat ce zice lumea, c\u0103 pentru fe\u0163ii-frumo\u015fi vremea nu vremuie\u015fte, apoi poate c-or fi tr\u0103ind \u015fi ast\u0103zi.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00cen vremea veche, pe c\u00e2nd oamenii, cum sunt ei azi, nu erau dec\u00e2t \u00een germenii viitorului, pe c\u00e2nd Dumnezeu c\u0103lca \u00eenc\u0103 cu picioarele sale sfinte pietroasele pustii ale p\u0103m\u00e2ntului, \u2013 … <\/p>\n