Two households both alike in dignity
(Two families both similar in nobility)
In fair Verona where we lay our scene
(In the city of Verona where we make our play)
From ancient grudge break to a new mutiny
(From old wounds break to a new violence)
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean
(Where civilian blood makes other hands dirty)
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
(The deadly dark side of these two families)
A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life
(The two lovers kill themselves)
Who’s misadventur’d piteous overthrows
(Whos bad luck causes pity to overcome)
Doth their death bury their parents strife
(Achieve their deaths stop their parents conflict)
The fearful passage of their death-marked love
(The scary passage of their love marked by death)
And the continuance of their parents rage
(The parents anger continues)
Which, but their children, naught could remove
(Yet what happened to their children, could not be changed)
Is now the two hours’ traffic of our stage
(Is what these two hours will show)
The which if you with patient ears attend
(And if you stay present amongst this play)
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend
(What here shall miss, our effort will attempt to cure)