З життя
Султан і його чотири дружини: історія кохання до наймолодшої та найніжнішої
Колись у одного козацького гетьмана було чотири жінки. Найбільше він кохав свої четверту дружину — молоденьку та ласкаву. Він дарував їй найдорожчі намиста, шовкові убрання, ніжно доглядав і пестив її.
Третя жінка була дивовижною красунєю. У кожну подорож — до Львова, до Стамбулу — він брав її з собою, щоб усі милувалися її вродою. Але завжди тремтів, що одного дня вона покине його заради іншого.
Друга дружина була мудрою та хитромудрою. Вона знала, як розв’язувати навіть найскладніші справи, завжди дозволяла йому спокійно подумати, коли на гетьмана навалилися турботи. Вона була його вірою й правдою в усіх справах.
А перша дружина — належала йому здавна, ще від брата. Вона була йому вірною, керувала господарством і старанно плекала його статки. Але гетьман не цікавився нею, не бачив її старань, навіть не помічав її любові.
Одного разу захворів гетьман. Лежачи на ліжку, згадав він своє життя, сповнене розкошів, і подумав: «У мене чотири жінки, але коли помру, залишуся сам».
Сказав він четвертій дружині:
— Я любив тебе найпалкіше, дарував тобі все найкраще, оберігав, як очима. Тепер, коли я вмираю, чи підеш ти зі мною в темний світ?
— Навіть не думай! — відповіла вона і пішла геть, не озирнувшись.
Заплакав гетьман і спитав третьої дружини:
— Я зводив з тобою очі всіх сусідніх країв. Чи підеш ти за мною, коли смерть прийде по мене?
— Ні! — відказала вона. — Життя таке чарівне! А коли ти помреш, я знайду собі іншого чоловіка.
Ще гірше стало на душі в гетьмана. Звернувся він до другої дружини:
— Ти завжди була моєю порадницею. Чи підеш за мною до царства вічного суму?
— Шкода, що не зможу допомогти тобі, — відповіла вона. — Максимум — з почестями поховаю.
Серце гетьмана розривалося від болю. Та раптом почув він голос:
— Я піду за тобою. Куди б ти не пішов — я буду поруч.
Підвів очі — і побачив свою першу дружину, змарнілу від сліз і самотності. Здивований гетьман прошепотів:
— Я мав бути до тебе добрішим, поки ще був час…
Кожен з нас має чотири дружини.
Четверта — це наше тіло. Скільки б ми його не доглядали, але колись воно залишить нас.
Третя — це наше багатство, слава та влада. Коли нас не стане, воно перейде до інших.
Друга — це наші рідні й близькі. Вони проводжать нас у останню путь, але далі не підуть.
А перша — це наша душа. Ми часто забуваємо про неї в погоні за тим, що блищить. Але саме вона — єдина, що йде за нами аж до кінця.
Слід дбати про неї, поки-developСлід дбати про неї, поки не пізно, бо лише вона залишиться з нами у вічності.
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