The order of the fourth dumbe
shevve.
Before
the beginning of this fourth Acte, the
Trumpets sounded, the drummes and fifes,
and a greate peale of ordinaunce was shot of, in
the which ther entred vpon the stage .vj. knights
armed at al points, whereof three came in by the
Gates
Electræ, and the other foure by the Gates
Homoloides, either parte beeing accompanied
with vij. other armed men: and after they had
marched twice or thrice about the Stage, the
one partie menacing the other by their furious
lookes and gestures, the .vj. knights caused their
other attendants to stand by, and drawing their
Swords, fell to cruell and couragious combate,
continuing therein, till two on the one side were
slayne: the third perceiuing, that he only remayned
to withstand the force of .iij. enemies, did politiquely
runne aside, wherewith immediatly one
of the .iij. followed after him, and when he hadde
drawen his enimie thus from his companie, hee
turned againe and slewe him: Then the seconde
also ranne after him, whome he slewe in like māner,
and consequently the thirde, and then triumphantly
marched aboute the Stage with hys
sword in his hand. Hereby was noted the incomparable
force of concord betweene brethren, who
as long as they holde togither may not easily by
any meanes be ouercome, and being once disseuered
by any meanes, are easily ouerthrowen. The
history of the brethren
Horatij &
Curiatij, who agreed
to like combate and came to like ende. After
that the dead carkasses were caried from the
Stage by the armed men on both parties, and
that the victor was triumphantly accompanied
out, also came in a messanger armed from the
campe, seeking the Queene, and to hir spake as
followeth.
