The reason why the author choose to only have a fouler looking creature is that it is one that people could hardly (scarcely) imagine that it will be.
The Wife of Bath's Tale is known to be a Book that was written by Geoffrey Chaucer. The fundamental message of The Wife of Bath's tale is that husbands should respect their wives and give them the reins. The women of the court assume control of the issue right away, giving the knight one last opportunity to save his life.
Folklore as well as poetry are known to be both made of extensive use of the Wife of Bath's story in regards to the transformation of an old hag into a lovely maid. A version of the same story by Chaucer's contemporary and poet John Gower was highly well-known at the time.
Therefore, from the story, the author uses that term to show that people can hardly believe or ever imagine the creature to be that.
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