Young King Arthur
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. 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 Nelson, 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.
Nelson, 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 Nelson and the witch had! Arthur was torn
between relief and anguish. Nelson was proper as always, gentle and
courteous. The old witch put her worst manners on display.
She ate with her hands, belched and passed gas, and made everyone
uncomfortable. The wedding night approached: Nelson, steeling himself
for a horrific night, entered the bedroom. What a sight awaited! The
most beautiful woman he'd ever seen lay before him! Nelson 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. Nelson 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 Nelson chose follows below, but don't read
until you've made your own choice.
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The Answer
Noble Nelson 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.
Love - Words