Romeo and Juliet (Quarto 1, 1597)

Author: William Shakespeare

Editor: Roger Apfelbaum

Not Peer Reviewed

The Prologue.

¶Tvvo houshold Frends alike in dignitie,

¶(In faire Verona, where we lay our Scene)

¶From ciuill broyles broke into enmitie,

.5VVhose ciuill warre makes ciuill hands vncleane.

¶From forth the fatall loynes of these two foes,

¶A paire of starre-crost Louers tooke their life:

¶VVhose misaduentures, piteous ouerthrowes,

.10(Through the continuing of their Fathers strife,

¶And death-markt passage of their Parents rage)

¶Is now the two howres traffique of our Stage.

.15The which if you with patient eares attend,

¶VVhat here we want wee'l studie to amend.

Toolbox