7
Two households, both alike in dignity
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny
Where civil blood makes civil blood unclean
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life;
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
Do with their death bury their parents’ strife.
Their fearful passage of their death-marked love,
And continuance of their parents’ rage,
Which, but their children’s end, nought could remove
Is now the two hours’ traffic of our stage
The which, if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.
Prologue
Alas, that love, whose view is muffled still,
Should, without eyes, see pathways to his will!
Where shall we dine? Oh, me! What fray was here?
Yet, tell me not, for I have heard it all
Here’s much to do with hate, but more with love
Why, then, oh the browling love! The loving hate
O any thing, of nothing first create!
Oh, heavy lightness! Serious vanity!
Mis-shapen chaos of well-seeming forms!
Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire,
Sick health!
Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is!
This love feel I, that feel no love in this.
Romeo