How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Line). We used the line numbering found on Librarius's online edition.
Quote #7
Or elles ye wol han me yong and fair,
And take youre aventure of the repair
That shal be to youre hous, by cause of me,
Or in som oother place may wel be.
(1229 – 1233)
This passage is a little curious because, despite the way the choice the lady offers the knight is often read, she doesn't guarantee that as a beautiful young woman she will necessarily be unfaithful to the knight. Instead, she's basically telling him he'll have to take his chances. This is what the phrase "take youre aventure" means.
Quote #8
'Kys me,' quod she, 'we be no lenger wrothe,
For, by my trouthe, I wol be to yow bothe!
This is to seyn, ye, bothe fair and good.'
(1245 – 1247)
The lady's promise to the knight here is his reward for choosing the correct answer, but it's also a rebuttal to the antifeminist notion that a beautiful wife can not remain faithful to her husband.
Quote #9
'And but I be to-morn as fair to seene
As any lady, emperice, or queene,
That is bitwixe the est and eke the west,
Dooth with my lyf and deth right as yow lest.'
(1251 – 1254)
This statement from the loathly lady draws upon the somewhat classist notion that noble women were more beautiful than poor ones. There's probably some historical truth to this idea, however, since rich women were more likely to have access to health care, hygiene, and beauty treatments to enhance their physical appearance.