The Prologue
Enter Chorus.
1. Two households, both alike in dignity,
2. In fair Verona (where we lay our scene),
3. From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
4. Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
5. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
6. A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life;
7. Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
8. Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife.
9. The fearful passage of their death-marked love,
10. And the continuance of their parents’ rage,
11. Which but their children’s end nought could remove,
12. In now the two hours’ traffic of our stage;
13. The which if you with patient ears attend,
14. What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.
[Exit]
The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet
The prologue acts like a synopsis (a summary) it basically tells us what will happen during the play but it omits (leaves
out) all of the best bits.
The Prologue
Enter Chorus.
1. Two families which were equally posh and important,
2. In Verona (a nice city where this play is set)
3. An old and dangerous argument starts again
4. The blood of the rich makes the hands of the rich unclean
5. From these enemies were born
6. A pair of star crossed lovers who kill themselves
7. Whose unlucky and tragic circumstances
8. Ends their parents feud
9. The story of their love that was not meant to be
10. And their parents failure to stop their fighting
11. Could only be ended by their children’s death
12. Is now the story you will see on stage for the next two hours;
13. We hope you enjoy it – watch carefully,
14. If there’s anything you don’t understand yet, hopefully you will by the end.