The order of the thirde dumbe
shevve.
Before
the beginning of this .iij. Act did sound
a very dolefull noise of cornettes, during the
which there opened and appeared in the stage a
great Gulfe, immediately came in .vj. gentlemen
in their dublets and hose bringing vpō their shulders
baskets full of earth and threwe them into
the Gulfe to fill it vp, but it would not so close vp
nor be filled. Then came the ladyes and dames
that stoode by, throwing in their cheynes & Iewels,
so to cause it stoppe vp and close it self, but
when it would not so be filled, came in a knighte
with his sword drawen, armed at all poyntes,
who walking twise or thrise about it, & perusing
it, seing that it would neither be filled with earth
nor with their Iewells and ornamentes, after
solempne reuerence done to the gods, and curteous
leaue taken of the Ladyes and standers by,
sodeinly lepte into the Gulfe the which did close
vp immediatly, betokening vnto vs the loue that
euery worthy person oweth vnto his natiue coūtrie,
by the historye of
Curtius, who for the lyke
cause aduentured the like in Rome. This done,
blinde
Tyresias the deuine prophete led in by hys
daughter, and conducted by
Meneceus the sonne of
Creon, entreth by the gates
Electræ, and sayth as
followeth.
