Romeo and Juliet
Two households, both alike in dignity,- Two familes alike in power
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,- Verona where we live
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,- A long lasting family feud
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.- The town is involved in the grudge
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes- Two lovers born into death
A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life; –Two lovers kill themselves
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows- The parents pity over there childrens death
Do with their death bury their parents’ strife.– The death causing the strife the end
The fearful passage of their death-mark’d love– The death of them marked love
And the continuance of their parents’ rage,– And the strife still continues
Which, but their children’s end, nought could remove– But the death of there children did not end the strife
Is now the two hours’ traffic of our stage; -This is going to be the story of on our stage
The which if you with patient ears attend,– patiently you listen
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend– And here we try to mend the strife
This is good. The lines beginning “The fearful passage of their death-mark’d love” are better all read together. Have a go at reading them as one block and see what changes you should make to your translated version (clue: this is the chorus character speaking directly to the audience about the play)
CW