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
> , 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 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 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.
> >
> > 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 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.
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 enough to let her be in charge of her own
> > life.
> >
> > What is the moral of this story?
> > The moral is:
> >
> > If a woman doesn't get what she wants, things could get ugly.

Or how about this moral:
"Deep down, even the most beautiful woman can still be a witch."

one minor correction:  the woman who is concerned only with herself (getting what she wants, and getting it now) is already a witch and ugly.  it is being the witch that makes her want things only for her.  not the other way around!  [:D]  just a little insider insight.