Young King Arthur was ambushed and imprisoned by the monarch of a neighboring kingdom. The monarch could have killed him, but was moved by Arthur's youthful happiness. So he offered him freedom, as long as he could answer a very difficult question. Arthur would have a year to figure out the answer; if, after a year, he still had no answer, he would
be killed.
The question was: What do women really want?
Such a question would perplex even the most knowledgeable man, and, to
young Arthur, it seemed an impossible query.
Well, since it was better than death, he accepted the monarch's
proposition to have an answer by year's end. He returned to his kingdom
and began to poll everybody: the princess, the prostitutes, the priests,
the wise men, the court jester.
In all, he spoke with everyone but no one could give him a satisfactory answer. What most people did tell him was to consult the old witch, as only
she would know the answer. The price would be high, since the witch was
famous throughout the kingdom for the exorbitant prices she charged.
The last day of the year arrived and Arthur had no alternative but to
talk to the witch. She agreed to answer his question, but he'd have to
accept her price first: The old witch wanted to marry Gawain, the most
noble of the Knights of the Round Table and Arthur's closest friend!
Young Arthur was horrified: she was hunchbacked and awfully hideous,
had only one tooth, smelled like sewage water, often made obscene
noises...He had never run across such a repugnant creature.
He refused to force his friend to marry her and have to endure such a
burden.
Gawain, upon learning of the proposal, spoke with Arthur. He told him
that nothing was too big of a sacrifice compared to Arthur's life and the
preservation of the Round Table.
Hence, their wedding was proclaimed, and the witch answered Arthur's
question: What a woman really wants is to be able to be in charge of her
own life. Everyone instantly knew that the witch had uttered a great
truth and that Arthur's life would be spared.
And so it went. The neighboring monarch spared Arthur's life and
granted him total freedom.
What a wedding Gawain and the witch had! Arthur was torn between
relief and anguish.
Gawain was proper as always, gentle and courteous.
The old witch put her worst manners on display. She ate with her hands, belched and farted, and made everyone uncomfortable.
The wedding night approached: Gawain, steeling himself for a horrific
night, entered the bedroom.
What a sight awaited!
The most beautiful woman he'd ever seen lay before him! Gawain was
astounded and asked what had happened. The beauty replied that since he
had been so kind to her (when she'd been a witch), half the time she
would be her horrible, deformed self, and the other half, she would be
her beautiful maiden self. Which would he want her to be during the day
and which during the night?
What a cruel question!
Gawain began to think of his predicament: During the day a beautiful
woman to show off to his friend, but at night, in the privacy of his
home, an old spooky witch? Or would he prefer having by day a hideous
witch, but by night a beautiful woman to enjoy many intimate moments?
What would you do? What Gawain chose follows below, but don't read until you've made your own choice.
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Noble Gawain replied that he would let her choose for herself.
Upon hearing this, she announced that she would be beautiful all the
time, because he had respected her and had let her be in charge of her
own life.
What is he moral of this story?
THE MORAL IS THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOUR WOMAN IS PRETTY OR UGLY, UNDERNEATH IT ALL, SHE'S STILL A BEAUTY!