Venus hidden in an ugly garment

Meaning

The source’s abbreviated or defective adjective heß modifies a garment concealing the feminine figure Venus. The supplied edition renders the contextual sense as ugly: outward appearance prevents the beholder from seeing her beauty. The garment-image repeats the larger contrast between despised appearance and hidden worth, also found in the incarnation mirror. It does not on its own identify an impurity, a particular compound or a physical technique of removal.