亚瑟王与女巫
这是一篇极富哲理意味的小故事，在故事中提出的问题和角色面临的选择都非常困难，如果是你，会给出什么样的答案，又会怎样选择呢？
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.
年轻的亚瑟王遭到埋伏被临国的国王俘虏。邻国的国王本可以杀了他，但最终被年纪轻轻却很有思想的亚瑟王打动，决定只要他能正确回答出一个非常困难的问题，就可以给他一个重获自由的机会。亚瑟将有一年的时间来思考这个问题，如果一年以后他还是找不到答案的话，就将被处死。
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.
究竟是什么问题需要用一年的时间来思考呢？那就是：女人最想要什么？这个问题甚至让最有学识的人困惑，对于年轻的亚瑟来说，似乎是一个不可无解之密。但是，总好过立即被处死，于是他接受了邻国国王的提议，答应在一年之内给出答案。
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.
亚瑟返回他的王国开始询问每一个人：王子、教士、聪明人甚至宫廷小丑。他逢人就问，但是没有人能给出满意的答案。
Many people advised him to consult the old witch,
for only she would have the answer.
很多人建议亚瑟去咨询一位老巫婆，因为只有她有可能知道答案。
But the price would be high; as the witch was famous throughout the kingdom for the exorbitant prices she charged.
但代价将会很高，那位老巫婆开价之高全国闻名。
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.
到了一年斯限的最后一天，亚瑟别无选择，只好去找巫婆。她同意回答问题，但要求亚瑟必须先同意她的价码。
The old witch wanted to marry Sir Lancelot,
the most noble of the
Knights of the Round Table and Arthur's closest friend!
老巫婆想要嫁给兰斯洛特爵士，亚瑟王圆桌武士中最尊贵的勇士，也是亚瑟最亲密的朋友。
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.
年轻的亚瑟非常惊骇。老巫婆驼背，容貌丑陋地可怕，只有一颗牙，混身散发着下水道的臭味，不停地发出粗鲁的噪音。他一生中还从没遇到过如此令人恶心的人。
He refused to force his friend to marry her and endure such a terrible burden; but Lancelot, learning of the proposal, spoke with Arthur.
他不愿强迫他的朋友娶她，去承受这样一种可怕的负担。但是兰斯洛特听到了这个要求，就去见亚瑟。
He said nothing was too big of a sacrifice compared to
Arthur's life and the preservation of the Round Table.
他说没有什么比起亚瑟的生命和圆桌骑士的存废更重要的。
Hence, a wedding was proclaimed and the witch
answered Arthur's question thus:
因而，一场婚礼就这样定下来了。老巫婆也就回答了亚瑟的问题。
What a woman really wants, she answered....
女人最想要的，她回答说，就是.......
Everyone in the kingdom instantly knew that
the witch had uttered
a great truth and that Arthur's life would be spared.
亚瑟王国的所有人都立即意识到巫婆说出一个重大事实，亚瑟的生命有救了。
And so it was, the neighboring monarch
granted Arthur his freedom
and Lancelot and the witch
had a wonderful wedding.
的确如此，邻国国王让亚瑟重获自由。兰斯洛特也女巫也举办了一场精彩的婚礼。
The honeymoon hour approached and Lancelot, steeling
himself for a horrific experience, entered the bedroom.
要入洞房了，兰斯洛特鼓起全身勇气，做好充份的心理准备，然后进入洞房。
But, what a sight awaited him.
The most beautiful woman he had ever seen
lay before him on the bed.
但是，等待他的是一幅什么样的场景啊！他曾见过的最美的女人正躺在面前的床上。
The astounded Lancelot asked what had happened
极度惊奇的兰斯洛特问这是怎么回事。
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.
那位美人回答说既然他在她是老巫婆时对她这么好，她将会一半时间里做老巫婆，一半时间里变成美女。
Which would he prefer?
Beautiful during the day....or night?
他想要她怎么样呢？白天美丽还是晚上美丽呢？
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?
兰斯洛特认真思考起这个难题。选择一个白天可以向朋友们炫耀的美丽妻子，晚上在自己的私人城堡里，面对一个老巫婆？还是选择一个白天丑陋可怖，晚上却可以独自享有的美女？
What would YOU do?
如果是你，你会怎么选择呢？
What Lancelot chose is below.
BUT....make YOUR choice before you scroll down below.
OKAY?
下面是兰斯洛特的选择。
不过，在看他的回答前先做一下自己的选择吧。
Now....what is the moral to this story?
现在，这篇故事的寓意是什么呢？
Scroll down
向下滚屏。
The moral is.....
If you don't let a woman have her own way....
寓意就是
如果你不能让一个女人得到她想要的......
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