Young King Arthur was ambushed and imprisoned by the monarch of a
neighbouring kingdom. The monarch decided he would spare Arthur's life if 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?"

The question seemed impossible to answer but 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. 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 shit, and farted constantly. He had never run
across such a foul 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, bracing 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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"The Answer"

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.

Index