Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient [bad word] break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;
Whole misadventured piteous overthrows
Do with their death bury their parents' strife.
The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,
And the 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.