The loathly lady is an archetype commonly used in medieval literature, most famously in Geoffrey Chaucer's The Wife of Bath's Tale. The motif was prominent in Celtic mythology and to a lesser extent Germanic mythology, where the lady often represented sovereignty.
Read more about Loathly Lady: Characteristics, Bibliography
Famous quotes containing the words loathly and/or lady:
“Turns to meet the loathly birds
Flocking round him from the skies,
Waiting for the flesh that dies.”
—Ralph Hodgson (c. 1871–1962)
“London Bridge is broken down,
Dance o’er my lady lee,
London Bridge is broken down,
With a gay lady.
How shall we build it up again?
Dance o’er my lady lee,”
—Unknown. London Bridge (l. 1–6)