1. The Prologue 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-cross'd lovers take their life; 7 Whose misadventured piteous overthrows 8 Do with their death bury their parents' strife. 9 The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love, 10 And the continuance of their parents' rage, 11 Which, but their children's end, nought could remove, 12 Is 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.

2. What’s a Prologue? is an opening to a story that establishes the setting and gives background details, often some earlier story that ties into the main one, and other miscellaneous information.

3. Beauty and the Beast Prologue http://www.kjmclaughlin.com/2012/06/prolo gues-in-movies-vs-prologues-in.html http://www.kjmclaughlin.com/2012/06/prolo gues-in-movies-vs-prologues-in.html

4. Romeo and Juliet: The Prologue Actual TextTranslation 1 Two households, both alike in dignity, 2. In fair Verona, where we lay our scene 3. From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, 1. Two rich and powerful families 2. Live in Verona, the setting of this play 3. These families have been fighting for a long time and now it’s become even worse

5. Romeo and Juliet: The Prologue Actual TextTranslation 4 Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean 5 From forth the fatal loins of these two foes 6 A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life; 4 Even though they have high social standing they continue to fight and kill each other 5 Two children of these enemy families fall in love 6 This couple commits suicide

6. Romeo and Juliet: The Prologue Actual TextTranslation 7 Whose misadventured piteous overthrows 8 Do with their death bury their parents' strife. 9 The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love, 7 It was a sad adventure that went wrong 8 But the good thing about it was that their parents stopped fighting 9 Their entire relationship was dangerous and it was their fate to die

7. Romeo and Juliet: The Prologue Actual TextTranslation 10 And the continuance of their parents' rage, 11 Which, but their children's end, nought could remove 12 Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage; 10 All of the past fighting of their parents was stopped 11 These families only stopped fighting because their children died 12 This play will last two hours

8. Romeo and Juliet: The Prologue Actual TextTranslation 13 The which if you with patient ears attend, 14 What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend. 13 Pay attention closely 14 Any details we left out in this prologue will be told in the play, and we’ll work hard to make you understand those details!