Their powers were great and extensive, and they are represented by some as
sitting at the foot of the throne of the King of Hell; while others make
them appear on radiant seats amidst the celestial spheres, clothed in robes
spangled with stars, and wearing crowns on their heads.
Their dresses are differently described by some authors.
Clotho has on a variegated robe, and on her head a crown of seven stars.
She holds a distaff in her hand, reaching from heaven to earth. The garment
which Lacheses wore was variegated with a great number of stars, and near
her a variety of spindles. Atropos was clothed in black; she held scissors
in her hand, with clues of threads of various sizes, according to the
length or shortness of the lives whose destinies they were supposed to
contain.
"The three Parcae, Fates fair offspring born,
The world's great spindle as its axle turn;
Round which eight spheres in beauteous order run,
And as they turn, revolving Time is spun,
Whose motions all things upon earth ordain,
Whence revolutions date their fickle reign.
These robed in white, at equal distance throned,
Sit o'er the spheres, and twirl the spindle round,
On each of which a syren loudly sings,
As from the wheel the fatal thread she flings;
The Parcae answer, in the choir agree
And all those voices make one harmony."
The worship of the Parcae was well established in some parts of Greece, and
though mankind knew they were inexorable, and that {150} it was impossible
to mitigate their decrees, yet they evinced a respect for their divinity,
by raising statues to them.
[Illustration]
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