King Arthur

[Merlin Orr]

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 youth and ideals. So, the monarch offered him his freedom, as

long as he could answer a very difficult question. Arthur would have a

year to figure out the answer and, if after a year, he still had no

answer, he would be put to death.

The question?....What do women really want?

Such a question would perplex even the most knowledgeable man, and to

young Arthur, it seemed an impossible query. 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 everyone: the princess, the

priests, the wise men and even the court jester. He spoke with everyone,

but no one could give him a satisfactory answer.

Many people advised him to consult the old witch, for only she would

have the answer.

But the price would be high; as the witch was famous throughout the

kingdom for the exorbitant prices she charged.

The last day of the year arrived and Arthur had no choice but to talk to

the witch. She agreed to answer the question, but he would have to agree

to her price first.

The old witch wanted to marry Sir Lancelot, the most noble of the

Knights of the Round Table and Arthur's closest friend!

Young Arthur was horrified. She was hunchbacked and hideous, had only

one tooth, smelled like sewage, made obscene noises, etc. He had never

encountered such a repugnant creature in all his life.

He refused to force his friend to marry her and endure such a terrible

burden, but Lancelot, learning of the proposal, spoke with Arthur.

He said nothing was too big of a sacrifice compared to Arthur's life and

the preservation of the Round Table.

Hence, a wedding was proclaimed and the witch answered Arthur's question

thus:

What a woman really wants, she answered.... is to be in charge of her

own life.

Everyone in the kingdom instantly knew that the witch had uttered a

great truth and that Arthur's life would be spared.

And so it was, the neighboring monarch granted Arthur his freedom and

Lancelot and the witch had a wonderful wedding.

The honeymoon hour approached and Lancelot, steeling himself for a

horrific experience, entered the bedroom. But, what a sight awaited him.

The most beautiful woman he had ever seen, lay before him on the bed.

The astounded Lancelot asked what had happened.

The beauty replied that since he had been so kind to her when she

appeared as a witch, she would henceforth, be her horrible deformed self

only half the time and the beautiful maiden the other half.

Which would he prefer? Beautiful during the day....or night?

Lancelot pondered the predicament. During the day, a beautiful woman to

show off to his friends, but at night, in the privacy of his castle, an

old witch? Or, would he prefer having a hideous witch during the day,

but by night, a beautiful woman for him to enjoy wondrous, intimate

moments?

Noble Lancelot, knowing the answer the witch gave Arthur to his

question, said that he would allow HER to make the choice herself.

Upon hearing this, she announced that she would be beautiful all the

time because he had respected her enough to let her be in charge of her

own life.

Now....what is the moral to this story?

The moral of the story is ... if you don't let a woman have her own way ...

things are gonna get UGLY!

[SiG Lady]

Now, THAT is a great story. Bravo!!!!

The Great Merlin does it again!!!

[tightloop]

Kudo's Dude

[texasag93]

So true!

[Duane Thomas]

Y'know, except for the last paragraph, that could be a very deep story that says much about male/female relationships. Obviously inspired by Chaucer's Wife of Baths' Tale.

[kevin c]

Jeez, Duane, you read too much...

[Duane Thomas]

No such thing.

[tightloop]

Chin up Duane. Lots of us read Chaucer in college