Subject: The mystery of a woman
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>>Young King Arthur was ambushed and imprisoned by the monarch of a
>>neighbouring 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; but, 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. Since it was better than death, however, 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 neighbouring
>>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 the moral of this story?
>>
>>The moral is that it doesn't matter if your woman is pretty or ugly,
>>smart or dumb. Underneath it all, she's still a witch. |
