The Lady of Shallot lived in a tower on an island and wove images that she saw reflected in a magic mirror, but was cursed to die if she looked directly at the outside world. One day, she saw Lancelot riding by and could no longer resist looking directly, which broke the spell of the mirror. Overcome by love, she abandoned her loom for the last time and sailed down the river, singing a song of love, until she died.