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zakiah25
Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 155 Location: Oman
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Posted: Thu May 29, 2003 1:59 am Post subject: Bedtime story for Scotslat and others........ |
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Hi guys - this one been doing the rounds of the net for a while so just in case you missed it ..........
(John, I'm veiled with a tea towel and ManFred is looking through the kitchen window over my shoulder so does that count as being accompanied by a male into this Saudi forum?)
>> 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 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 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
>>
>> 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. Many people advised him to consult the old
>>
>> witch -- only she would know the answer. The price
>>
>> would be high; the witch was famous throughout the
>>
>> kingdom for the exorbitant prices she exacted.
>>
>>
>>
>> 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
>>
>> hideous, had only one tooth, smelled like sewage, made
>>
>> obscene noises, etc. He had never encountered such a
>>
>> repugnant creature. He refused to force his friend
>>
>> to marry her and have to endure such a burden.
>>
>>
>>
>> But Gawain, upon learning of the proposal, spoke
>>
>> with Arthur. He told him that nothing was too big 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 thus: "What a woman really
>>
>> wants is 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 was. The neighboring monarch granted Arthur
>>
>> 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, and generally made everyone
>>
>> very uncomfortable.
>>
>>
>>
>> The honeymoon hour approached. Gawain, steeling
>>
>> himself for a horrific experience, entered the
>>
>> bedroom. But what a sight awaited him! The most
>>
>> beautiful woman he'd ever seen lay before him!
>>
>>
>> The astounded Gawain asked what had happened.
>>
>>
>>
>> The beauty replied that since he had been so kind to
>>
>> her when she'd appeared as a witch, she would
>>
>> henceforth be her horrible, deformed self half the
>>
>> time, 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 pondered his predicament. During the day, a
>>
>> beautiful woman to show off to his friends, but at
>>
>> night, in the privacy of his home, an old witch? Or
>>
>> would he prefer having by day a hideous witch, but by
>>
>> night a beautiful woman with whom 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.
>>
>> ***
>>
>> ***
>>
>> ***
>>
>> WAIT!
>>
>> ***
>>
>> ***
>>
>> THINK!
>>
>>
>>
>> Noble 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
>>
>> enough to let her be in charge of her own life.
>>
>>
>>
>> What is the moral of this story?
>>
>>
>>
>> WAIT!
>>
>> ***
>>
>> ***
>>
>> ***
>>
>> THINK!
>>
>> ***
>>
>> ***
>>
>> ***
>>
>> The moral is: If a woman doesn't get her own way,
>>
>> things are going to get ugly!
>>
>>
>> MEN: take notes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nighty night and sweet dreams ..............................
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> .
>>
>>
>>
>> |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 13859 Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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Posted: Thu May 29, 2003 4:15 am Post subject: A Knight to Remember |
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Dear zakiah25,
Although I had seen the story before, thanks for posting it. It's always good to be reminded of the eternal verities. May I offer Mr. William Blake:
" What is it men in women do require? The lineaments of Gratified Desire. / What is it women do in men require? The lineaments of Gratified Desire "
Regards,
John
P.S. This ties in nicely with your " perfect soul mate " posting on the General Forum. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA
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Posted: Thu May 29, 2003 3:04 pm Post subject: gratified desire? |
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Therein lies the problem. Each individual will have a different and often mutually exclusive definition of 'gratified desire.'
Veiled (aren't tea towels a little small, Zakiah?? shocking!!) |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 13859 Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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Posted: Thu May 29, 2003 3:13 pm Post subject: Alone |
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Dear veiledsentiments,
Exactly - but then, poets aren't scientists. Poets can pierce the veil ( sorry, coudn't resist ) of outer reality and reveal the truth within, but the human condition admits of no " unversal answers ". Poetic truth can " set you free ", but freedom's not something everyone can handle all that well.
Everyone travels a different road, and each travels alone, even when they have someone beside them.
Regards,
John |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA
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Posted: Fri May 30, 2003 3:42 am Post subject: don't touch that veil!! |
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Wait - let me see - 'poets aren't scientists' - so are you suggesting that scientists are the ones that have the answer to this little question? Does that mean we have hopes of a pill to cure it? Sorta like Viagara?
I won't hold my breathe for that one. Luckily 'alone' doesn't have to mean 'lonely.'
VS |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 13859 Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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Posted: Fri May 30, 2003 4:31 am Post subject: Hello, Dolly ( he said sheepishly ) |
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Desr veiledsentiments,
Nope - didn't mean to suggest that scientists will ever pin down the human condition, either - though who knows? With cloning and genetic engineering only in their infancy, what the eventual consequences may be when they really get rolling is anyone's guess. Maybe the " Brave New World " will have programmed people, whose " lineaments of Gratified Desire " are all pre-set and totally predictable. Hope not, but it could happen ( if it does, I'm glad I'll be long gone ). I agree completely, though, that " alone " and " lonely " are by no means necessarily synonymous - though, again, that might be the case for some people, the compulsive extroverts who really NEED company. But I think those who can take it or leave it are the best off - more adaptable, more easily satisfied. The more you can simplify your needs, the better off you are, I'd say. Blessed are those who need little for they shall be much more likely to be content with what they have.
Regards,
John |
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