stances. The writer of the ballad added something to the history, which is a proof that he would have added more, if more had occurred to his mind; and more must have occurred if he had seen Shak

speare.

JOHNSON.

ROMEO AND JULIET.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

Escalus, prince o

Verona.

Paris, a young nobleman, kinsman to the prince.
Montague, heads of two houses, at variance
with each other.
Capulet,

An Old Man, uncle to Capulet.

Romeo, son to Montague.

Mercutio, kinsman to the prince, and friend to Romeo.

Benvolio, nephew to Montague, and friend to

Romeo.

Tybalt, nephew to Lady Capulet.
Friar Lawrence, a Franciscan.
Friar John, of the same order.

Balthazar, servant to Romeo.

Sampson,

Gregory,

servants to Capulet.

Abram, servant to Montague.

An Apothecary.

Three Musicians.

Chorus. Boy; page to Paris: Peter; an officer.

Lady Montague, wife to Montague.

Lady Capulet, wife to Capulet.

Juliet, daughter to Capulet.

Nurse to Juliet.

Citizens of Verona; several Men and Women, relations to both houses; Maskers, Guards, Watchmen, and Attendants.

Scene, during the greater part of the Play, in Verona: once in the fifth Act, at Mantua.

PROLOGUE.

Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes

A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;
Whose misadventur'd 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' traffick of our stage;

The which if you with patient ears attend,

What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.

E