The cruel fates. The Greeks and Romans supposed there were threeParcæ or Fates, who arbitrarily controlled the birth, events, and death of every man. They are calledcruel because they pay no regard to the wishes and requirements of anyone.
⁂ The three Fates were Clotho (who held the distaff), Lachĕsis (who spun the thread of life), and Atrŏpos (who cut it off when life was ended).
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