Romeo and Juliet - Prologue | Folger Shakespeare Library (2024)

THEPROLOGUE

⌜Enter⌝Chorus.

0001Twohouseholds,bothalikeindignity
0002(InfairVerona,wherewelayourscene),
0003Fromancientgrudgebreaktonewmutiny,
0004Wherecivilbloodmakescivilhandsunclean.
00055Fromforththefatalloinsofthesetwofoes
0006Apairofstar-crossedloverstaketheirlife;
0007Whosemisadventuredpiteousoverthrows
0008Dothwiththeirdeathburytheirparents’strife.
0009Thefearfulpassageoftheirdeath-markedlove
001010Andthecontinuanceoftheirparents’rage,
0011Which,buttheirchildren’send,naughtcouldremove,
0012Isnowthetwohours’trafficofourstage;
0013Thewhich,ifyouwithpatientearsattend,
0014Whathereshallmiss,ourtoilshallstrivetomend.
⌜Chorusexits.⌝