For thogh that I be foul, and oold, and poore
I nolde for al the metal, ne for oore
That under erthe is grave or lith above,
But if thy wyf I were, and eek thy love.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Wife of Bath’s Tale. No matter how ugly, old and poor a woman is, she desires love and to have a mate. The Loathly Lady declares that she would prefer to be the Knight’s wife and love than to have all the gold and silver in the world.