64. _Crueltee_, Cruelty, here corresponds to the Fury Tisiphone, who is
introduced by Statius (_Theb._ xi. 483) to suppress the peaceful feelings
excited by Pietas, who had been created by Jupiter to control the passions
even of the gods (l. 465). At the siege of Thebes, Pietas was for once
overruled by Tisiphone; and Chaucer complains here that she is again being
controlled; see ll. 80, 89-91. Very similar is the character of _Daungere_
or Danger (F. _Dangier_) in the Romaunt of the Rose; in l. 3549 of the
English Version (l. 3301 of the original), we find Pity saying--
'Wherefore I pray you, Sir Daungere,
For to mayntene no lenger here
Such cruel werre agayn your man.'
We may also compare Machault's poem entitled Le Dit du Vergier, where we
find such lines as--
'Einssi encontre Cruauté
Deffent l'amant douce Pité.'