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PRIN\u0162\u015eI CER\u015eETOR

Capitolul 1

NA\u015eTEREA PRIN\u0162ULUI\u015eI A CER\u015eETORULUI

\u00cen str\u0103vechea Cetate a Londrei, \u00eentr-o zi demn\u0103 ca toate celelalte, din al doilea p\u0103trar al celui de-al\u015faisprezecelea veac a venit pe lume un b\u0103ie\u0163a\u015f, \u00eentr-o familie s\u0103rac\u0103\u2014 pe nume Canty\u2014care nu-i dorise na\u015fterea.

\u00cen aceea\u015fi zi s-a n\u0103scut alt copil englez, al unei familii bogate\u2014pe nume Tudor\u2014 care dorea din tot sufletul venirea lui pe lume. \u00centreaga Anglie dorea acela\u015fi lucru. Poporul englez \u00eei dusese at\u00e2t de mult dorul\u015fi-\u015fi pusese at\u00e2ta n\u0103dejde \u00een na\u015fterea lui, \u00eenc\u00e2t acum\u2014c\u0103 se n\u0103scuse cu adev\u0103rat\u2014mul\u0163imea aproape-\u015fi pierduse min\u0163ile de fericire.

Oameni care abia dac\u0103 se v\u0103zuser\u0103 vreodat\u0103 se \u00eembr\u0103\u0163i\u015fau, se s\u0103rutau\u015fi v\u0103rsau lacrimi de

bucurie. Toat\u0103 lumea era \u00een s\u0103rb\u0103toare: m\u0103rimile, ca\u015fi cei umili, boga\u0163ii, ca\u015fi s\u0103racii,

petrecur\u0103, d\u0103n\u0163uir\u0103\u015fi c\u00e2ntar\u0103, se \u00eenduio\u015far\u0103\u015fi a\u015fa o\u0163inur\u0103 strun\u0103, zile\u015fi nop\u0163i \u00een\u015fir. \u00cen

timpul zilei \u00ee\u0163i bucura ochii priveli\u015ftea Londrei, cu steaguri voioase flutur\u00e2nd pe fiecare

balcon\u015fi pe creasta fiec\u0103rui acoperi\u015f,\u015fi cu alaiurile str\u0103lucite, care str\u0103b\u0103teau str\u0103zile. Noaptea era de asemeni o desf\u0103tare s\u0103 prive\u015fti ora\u015ful, cu focuri mari, s\u0103rb\u0103tore\u015fti, aprinse la fiecare r\u0103sp\u00e2ntie\u015fi cu cetele de oameni ce se veseleau \u00een jurul lor.

\u00cen \u00eentreaga Anglie nu se mai vorbea de altceva dec\u00e2t despre noul-n\u0103scut, Eduard

Tudor, prin\u0163 de Wales, care dormea \u00eenf\u0103\u015fat \u00een scutece de m\u0103tase\u015fi atlaz, f\u0103r\u0103 s-aib\u0103 habar

de toat\u0103 zarva\u015fi h\u0103rm\u0103laia din juru-i, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103\u015ftie c\u0103 seme\u0163ii lorzi\u015fi trufa\u015fele lor doamne \u00eel

d\u0103d\u0103cesc\u015fi vegheaz\u0103 asupra-i,\u015fi f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103-i pese c\u00e2tu\u015fi de pu\u0163in de asta.

Dar nimeni nu sufla nici un cuvin\u0163el despre cel\u0103lalt prunc, Tom Canty, \u00eenvelit \u00een

bietele lui zdren\u0163e\u2014nimeni, afar\u0103 de familia de cer\u015fetori al c\u0103rei trai tocmai \u00eel tulburase cu

venirea sa pe lume.

Capitolul 2

COPIL\u0102RIA LUI TOM

S\u0103 s\u0103rim cu g\u00e2ndul peste c\u00ee\u0163iva ani.

Londra era b\u0103tr\u00e2n\u0103 de cincisprezece veacuri\u015fi era un ora\u015f mare\u2014pentru vremea aceea. Avea o sut\u0103 de mii de locuitori\u2014unii socotesc c\u0103 avea poate\u015fi de dou\u0103 ori pe at\u00e2t. Uli\u0163ele erau foarte str\u00e2mte, \u00eentortocheate\u015fi murdare, mai cu seam\u0103 prin partea unde locuia

Tom Canty, nu departe de Podul Londrei. Casele erau de lemn, cu primul cat ie\u015fit \u00een afar\u0103

\u015fi al doilea parc\u0103s c o\u0163\u00e2ndu-\u015fi coatele peste primul. Cu c\u00e2t se \u00een\u0103l\u0163au mai sus casele, cu at\u00e2t

cre\u015fteau mai mult\u015fi \u00een l\u0103\u0163ime. Aveau schel\u0103rie din b\u00e2rne tari, \u00eencruci\u015fate, cu zid\u0103rie

temeinic\u0103 \u00eentre ele, acoperit\u0103 cu tencuial\u0103.

B\u00e2rnele erau date cu ro\u015fu, cu albastru sau cu negru, dup\u0103 cheful st\u0103p\u00e2nului casei,

ceea ce le d\u0103dea o \u00eenf\u0103\u0163i\u015fare foarte pitoreasc\u0103. Ferestrele pric\u0103jite, cu ochiuri m\u0103runte de

geam, \u00een form\u0103 de romb, se deschideau \u00een afar\u0103, pe\u0163\u00e2\u0163\u00e2ni, ca u\u015file.

Casa \u00een care locuia tat\u0103l lui Tom se afla la cap\u0103tul unei mici fund\u0103turi murdare,

numit\u0103 Curtea Gunoaielor, dincolo de Pudding Lane. Era o\u015fandrama pr\u0103p\u0103dit\u0103, d\u0103r\u0103p\u0103nat\u0103

\u015fi \u00een\u0163esat\u0103 cu o droaie de familii care n-aveau nici dup\u0103 ce bea ap\u0103. Liota lui Canty se

\u00eengr\u0103m\u0103dea \u00eentr-o odaie, la al treilea cat. Mama\u015fi cu tat\u0103l aveau un soi de lavi\u0163\u0103 \u00eentr-un

ungher, dar Tom cu bunic\u0103-sa\u015fi cu cele dou\u0103 surori ale lui, Bet\u015fi Nan, nu se aflau la str\u00e2mtoare\u2014st\u0103p\u00e2neau toat\u0103 podeaua\u015fi puteau s\u0103 doarm\u0103 pe jos oriunde pofteau. Mai erau pe-acolo\u015fi r\u0103m\u0103\u015fi\u0163ele a vreo dou\u0103 p\u0103turi\u015fi c\u00e2teva ghemotoace de paie vechi\u015fi murdare,

\u00eens\u0103 ele nu meritau numele de paturi, c\u0103ci nu erau str\u00e2nse \u00een or\u00e2nduial\u0103, ci doar tr\u00e2ntite

de-a valma \u00eentr-un morman, \u00een fiece diminea\u0163\u0103, iar seara fiecare \u00ee\u015fi alegea din gr\u0103mad\u0103 ce

socotea mai de folos.

Bet\u015fi Nan erau gemene\u015fi aveau cincisprezece ani. Erau fete cu inim\u0103 bun\u0103, dar

soioase\u015fi l\u0103\u0163oase, \u00eembr\u0103cate \u00een zdren\u0163e\u015fi cufundate \u00een bezna ne\u015ftiin\u0163ei. Mama lor sem\u0103na

leit cu ele. Dar tat\u0103l\u015fi cu bunica erau o pereche de diavoli cu chip de om. Se \u00eemb\u0103tau ori

de c\u00e2te ori aveau prilejul, apoi se \u00eenc\u0103ierau \u00eentre ei sau se luau la har\u0163\u0103 cu oricine le pica

\u00een cale, blestemau\u015fi \u00eenjurau, fie c\u0103 erau be\u0163i sau treji; John Canty era un t\u00e2lhar,\u015fi maic\u0103-

sa, o cer\u015fetoare. F\u0103cuser\u0103 ni\u015fte cer\u015fetori\u015fi din copii, \u00eens\u0103 nu izbutiser\u0103 s\u0103-i deprind\u0103\u015fi cu

n\u0103ravul ho\u0163iei.

Printre lep\u0103d\u0103turile care locuiau \u00een casa aceea, se afla\u2014dar f\u0103r\u0103 a se \u00eenh\u0103ita cu ele\u2014\u015fi un b\u0103tr\u00e2n preot, bun la inim\u0103, pe care regele \u00eel alungase din casa\u015fi c\u0103minul lui, d\u00e2ndu-i drept pensie doar c\u00e2\u0163iva gologani. Preotul acesta \u00eei lua adesea deoparte pe copii\u015fi-

i pov\u0103\u0163uia de bine \u00een tain\u0103. P\u0103rintele Andrew \u00eel mai \u00eenv\u0103\u0163a pe Tom\u015fi din pu\u0163ina latin\u0103 pe

care o\u015ftia; \u00eel \u00eenv\u0103\u0163a s\u0103 citeasc\u0103\u015fi s\u0103 scrie\u2014le-ar fi \u00eenv\u0103\u0163at\u015fi pe fete, dar ele se temeau de

batjocurile prietenelor, care n-ar fi r\u0103bdat sa le vad\u0103 c\u0103p\u0103t\u00e2nd o asemenea ciudat\u0103 poleial\u0103.

Toat\u0103 Curtea Gunoaielor era un viespar la fel de p\u0103c\u0103tos ca\u015fi vizuina lui Canty.

Be\u0163ia\u015fi har\u0163a \u00een fiece noapte, aproape p\u00e2n\u0103 la ziu\u0103, erau lege acolo. Capetele sparte erau

ceva la fel de obi\u015fnuit ca\u015fi foamea, \u00een aceste locuri. Totu\u015fi micul Tom nu era nefericit. O

ducea greu de tot, \u00eens\u0103 nu-\u015fi d\u0103dea seama de mizeria lui. Acela\u015fi trai amar \u00eel duceau to\u0163i

b\u0103ie\u0163ii din Curtea Gunoaielor, \u00eenc\u00e2t el \u00ee\u015fi \u00eenchipuia c\u0103 a\u015fa se\u015fi cuvine s\u0103 fie\u015fi mai bine

nici nu se poate. C\u00e2nd venea acas\u0103 cu m\u00e2na goal\u0103, \u00een asfin\u0163it,\u015ftia c\u0103 mai \u00eent\u00e2i o s\u0103-l

blesteme\u015fi-o s\u0103-l st\u00e2lceasc\u0103 \u00een b\u0103t\u0103i taic\u0103-s\u0103u, iar dup\u0103 ce va ispr\u0103vi el, o s-o ia de la cap bunic\u0103-sa cea cumplit\u0103, ar\u0103t\u00e2ndu-se\u015fi mai iscusit\u0103 \u00een aceast\u0103 \u00eendeletnicire.\u015etia la fel de bine c\u0103, \u00een inima nop\u0163ii, maic\u0103-sa\u2014\u00eenfometat\u0103 cum era\u2014se va strecura tiptil p\u00e2n\u0103 la el, cu

vreo firimitur\u0103 sau vreo coaj\u0103 uscat\u0103 de p\u00e2ine, pe care izbutise s-o p\u0103streze, r\u0103m\u00e2n\u00e2nd ea \u00eens\u0103\u015fi lihnit\u0103\u2014cu toate c\u0103 adesea era prins\u0103 tocmai c\u00e2nd f\u0103ptui asemenea tr\u0103dare\u015fi era sc\u0103rm\u0103nat\u0103 zdrav\u0103n din pricina aceasta, de c\u0103tre b\u0103rbatul ei.

Dar lui Tom i se p\u0103rea c\u0103 o duce de ajuns de bine, mai cu seam\u0103 vara. Cer\u015fea doar at\u00e2t c\u00e2t s\u0103 nu-\u015fi pun\u0103 pielea \u00een joc, c\u0103ci legile \u00eempotriva cer\u015fetoriei erau aspre\u015fi pedepsele grele, a\u015fa c\u0103-i r\u0103m\u00e2nea vreme destul\u0103 ca s\u0103 asculte \u00eenc\u00e2nt\u0103toarele basme\u015fi legende pe care i le povestea bunul p\u0103rinte Andrew\u2014despre uria\u015fi\u015fi z\u00e2ne, despre pitici\u015fi duhuri puternice, despre castele fermecate\u015fi crai\u015fi despre prin\u0163i a c\u0103ror str\u0103lucire \u00ee\u0163i ia ochii. Tot

ascult\u00e2ndu-le, aceste pove\u015fti minunate \u00eel \u00eenaripaser\u0103,\u015fi nop\u0163i de-a r\u00e2ndul, culcat pe m\u00e2na de paie sc\u00e2rboase, sleit de oboseal\u0103, mort de foame\u015fi-abia sc\u0103pat din vreo snopeal\u0103, b\u0103iatul \u00ee\u015fi desc\u0103tu\u015fa \u00eenchipuirea \u00een \u00eentuneric\u015fi uita cur\u00e2nd de durerile\u015fi suferin\u0163ele sale,

zugr\u0103vindu-\u015fi tablourile pline de desf\u0103tare ale vie\u0163ii fermec\u0103toare pe care o ducea un

prin\u0163i\u015for r\u0103sf\u0103\u0163at, \u00een vreun palat regal. Cu vremea, o dorin\u0163\u0103 arz\u0103toare \u00eencepu s\u0103 nu-i dea

pace zi\u015fi noapte: s\u0103 vad\u0103 cu ochii lui un prin\u0163 adev\u0103rat. Pomenise odat\u0103 despre asta

tovar\u0103\u015filor lui de joac\u0103 din Curtea Gunoaielor, dar ei \u00eel luaser\u0103 peste picior\u015fi-l

batjocoriser\u0103 at\u00e2t de nemilos, \u00eenc\u00e2t dup\u0103 aceea fu bucuros s\u0103-\u015fi p\u0103streze visul pentru el.

Deseori citea c\u0103r\u0163ile cele vechi ale preotului\u015fi-i cerea s\u0103-i l\u0103mureasc\u0103 cuprinsul lor

\u015fi s\u0103-l ajute s\u0103 le \u00een\u0163eleag\u0103. \u00cencetul cu \u00eencetul, visele \u015fi cititul aduser\u0103 unele schimb\u0103ri \u00een

via\u0163a lui. F\u0103pturile din visele sale erau at\u00e2t de alese, \u00eenc\u00e2t Tom \u00eencepu s\u0103 se sc\u00e2rbeasc\u0103 de

straiele sale ferfeni\u0163ate\u015fi de murd\u0103ria \u00een care tr\u0103ia\u015fi s\u0103-\u015fi doreasc\u0103 a fi curat\u015fi a avea

straie mai bune. Se juca mai departe \u00een noroi, ca\u015fi p\u00e2n-atunci,\u015fi chiar cu pl\u0103cere, dar \u00een loc s\u0103 se b\u0103l\u0103ceasc\u0103 \u00een Tamisa doar de haz, \u00eencepu s\u0103 pre\u0163uiasc\u0103 mai mult \u00eendeletnicirea aceasta, fiindc\u0103 a\u015fa putea totodat\u0103 s\u0103 se spele\u015fi s\u0103 se cure\u0163e.

Tom g\u0103sea totdeauna c\u00e2te ceva la care s\u0103 ca\u015fte gura prin \u00eemprejurimi, prin Maypole

\u015fi Cheapside \u015fi pe la iarmaroace, iar din c\u00e2nd \u00een c\u00e2nd, ca \u015fi ceilal\u0163i locuitori ai Londrei,

avea norocul s\u0103 vad\u0103 o parad\u0103 militar\u0103, c\u00e2nd vreun n\u0103p\u0103stuit de neam mare era dus \u00een

lan\u0163uri la \u00eenchisoarea din Turnul Londrei\u2014pe jos sau cu o barc\u0103. \u00centr-o frumoas\u0103 zi de

var\u0103 o v\u0103zu pe s\u0103rmana Ana Askezo laolalt\u0103 cu trei b\u0103rba\u0163i, urc\u00e2nd treptele rugului din

Smithfield\u015fi auzi pe un fost episcop rostindu-le o predic\u0103, ce nu-l interes\u0103 c\u00e2tu\u015fi de pu\u0163in.

Da, la urma urmei, via\u0163a lui Tom se scurgea destul de interesant\u015fi de pl\u0103cut.

Treptat, tot citind\u015fi vis\u00e2nd \u00eentruna la via\u0163a prin\u0163ilor, Tom fu at\u00e2t de puternic

\u00eenr\u00e2urit, \u00eenc\u00e2t\u2014f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103-\u015fi dea seama\u2014\u00eencepu s\u0103 fac\u0103 pe prin\u0163ul. Graiul\u015fi purt\u0103rile sale

devenir\u0103 ciudat de simandicoase, potrivite cu ceremonialul cur\u0163ii regale, spre ne\u0163\u0103rmurita

\u00eenveselire a prietenilor s\u0103i apropia\u0163i. Dar, zi cu zi, influen\u0163a lui Tom asupra b\u0103ie\u0163ilor

cre\u015ftea\u015fi cu timpul ei ajunser\u0103 s\u0103-l socoteasc\u0103, cu un fel de respect amestecat cu team\u0103,

drept o fiin\u0163\u0103 deosebit\u0103. P\u0103rea c\u0103\u015ftie at\u00e2t de multe\u015fi putea s\u0103 spun\u0103\u015fi s\u0103 fac\u0103 lucruri at\u00e2t

de minunate.

\u015ei dup\u0103 toate, avea at\u00e2ta \u00een\u0163elepciune, o minte at\u00e2t de p\u0103trunz\u0103toare! Spusele lui

Tom\u015fi ispr\u0103vile lui erau povestite de b\u0103ie\u0163i celor mai \u00een v\u00e2rst\u0103 \u015fi cur\u00e2nd \u00eencepur\u0103 \u015fi

ace\u015ftia s\u0103 vorbeasc\u0103 despre Tom Canty\u015fi s\u0103-l socoteasc\u0103 drept o f\u0103ptur\u0103 neobi\u015fnuit\u0103 \u015fi

nespus de \u00eenzestrat\u0103. Oameni \u00een toat\u0103 firea veneau de multe ori la Tom dup\u0103 o pova\u0163\u0103 \u015fi

r\u0103m\u00e2neau adesea uimi\u0163i, v\u0103z\u00e2nd c\u00e2t de plin\u0103 de miez\u015fi bine cump\u0103nit\u0103 era judecata lui.

\u00centr-un cuv\u00e2nt, devenise un adev\u0103rat erou pentru to\u0163i cei care-l cuno\u015fteau, afar\u0103 de familia

sa, c\u0103ci numai ei nu vedeau nimic de soi \u00eentr-\u00eensul.

Dup\u0103 o bucat\u0103 de vreme, Tom \u00ee\u015fi \u00eenjgheb\u0103 \u00een tain\u0103 o curte regal\u0103. El \u00eensu\u015fi era

prin\u0163ul, tovar\u0103\u015fii s\u0103i de joac\u0103 prefera\u0163i erau str\u0103jerii,\u015fambelanii, scutierii, sfetnicii, lorzii

\u015fi doamnele din suit\u0103 \u015fi familia regal\u0103. \u00cen fiecare zi, a\u015fa-zisul prin\u0163 era primit de prietenii

s\u0103i cu un \u00eentreg ceremonial complicat, \u00eenv\u0103\u0163at de Tom din lecturile sale roman\u0163ioase. \u00cen

fiecare zi, treburile \u00eensemnate ale maimu\u0163\u0103relii aceleia de regat erau dezb\u0103tute \u00een consiliul

regal,\u015fi \u00een fiecare zi ,,\u00cen\u0103l\u0163imea Sa" tr\u00e2mbi\u0163a decrete c\u0103tre \u00eenchipuitele sale o\u015ftiri, flotile

\u015fi c\u0103tre viceregii \u0163inuturilor st\u0103p\u00e2nite de el.

Dup\u0103 care, se ducea \u00een zdren\u0163e s\u0103 cer\u015feasc\u0103 vreo c\u00e2\u0163iva gologani, s\u0103 road\u0103 o biat\u0103

coaj\u0103 de p\u00e2ine, s\u0103-\u015fi primeasc\u0103 tainul de scatoalce\u015fi sud\u0103lmi\u015fi apoi s\u0103 se tr\u00e2nteasc\u0103 pe

mald\u0103rul de paie puturoase, spre a-\u015fi lua de la cap\u0103t de\u015farta-i m\u0103re\u0163ie, \u00een vis.

\u015ei totu\u015fi dorin\u0163a de a vedea m\u0103car o dat\u0103 un prin\u0163a d e v\u0103rat, \u00een carne \u015fi oase, cre\u015ftea

zi de zi, s\u0103pt\u0103m\u00e2n\u0103 de s\u0103pt\u0103m\u00e2n\u0103, tot mai aprins\u0103, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce \u00een cele din urm\u0103 absorbi toate

celelalte dorin\u0163e, ea devenind singura patim\u0103 a vie\u0163ii sale.

\u00centr-o zi de ianuarie, umbl\u00e2nd ca de obicei cu cer\u015fitul, hoin\u0103rea am\u0103r\u00e2t \u00een sus\u015fi-n

jos pe uli\u0163ele din preajma lui Mincing Lane1\u015fi a ulicioarei East Cheap. Ceasuri \u00een\u015fir,

descul\u0163 \u015fi rebegit, privea la geamurile pr\u0103v\u0103liilor cu de-ale gurii, poftind amarnic la

\u00eembietoarele pl\u0103cinte cu carne de porc\u015fi la celelalte n\u0103scociri ucig\u0103toare, r\u00e2nduite acolo spre a fi privite\u2014c\u0103ci pentru el erau bucate alese, bune pentru \u00eengeri\u2014cel pu\u0163in a\u015fa p\u0103reau, judec\u00e2nd dup\u0103 miros, fiindc\u0103 norocul nu-i h\u0103r\u0103zise s\u0103 se \u00eenfrupte vreodat\u0103 cu asemenea bun\u0103t\u0103\u0163i. C\u0103dea o burni\u0163\u0103 rece, v\u0103zduhul se \u00eentunecase: era o zi posomor\u00e2t\u0103.

Seara, Tom ajunse acas\u0103, p\u0103truns de ploaie p\u00e2n\u0103 la oase,\u015fi at\u00e2t de sleit de oboseal\u0103

\u015fi de lihnit, \u00eenc\u00e2t p\u00e2n\u0103 \u015fi tat\u0103l \u015fi bunica lui \u00ee\u015fi d\u0103dur\u0103 seama \u00een ce hal jalnic era \u015fi fur\u0103

mi\u015fca\u0163i \u00een felul lor. De aceea \u00eei traser\u0103 un toc de b\u0103taie\u015fi-l trimiser\u0103 pe dat\u0103 la culcare. O

bun\u0103 bucat\u0103 de vreme, durerea\u015fi foamea, \u00eenjur\u0103turile\u015fi zarva \u00eenc\u0103ier\u0103rilor care nu mai conteneau \u00een cas\u0103 nu-l l\u0103sar\u0103 s\u0103 \u00eenchid\u0103 ochii. Dar, \u00een cele din urma, g\u00e2ndurile sale plutir\u0103 alene c\u0103tre \u00eendep\u0103rtate\u015fi romantice meleaguri\u015fi adormi \u00een tov\u0103r\u0103\u015fia unor vl\u0103stare princiare, care tr\u0103iau \u00een vaste palate\u015fi aveau cete de slujitori, ce f\u0103ceau plec\u0103ciuni la picioarele lor sau zburau s\u0103 le \u00eemplineasc\u0103 poruncile. Apoi, ca de obicei, vis\u0103 c\u0103 el \u00eensu\u015fi era odrasl\u0103 de vi\u0163\u0103 regeasc\u0103.