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;
Whole misadventured 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' traffic of our stage;
The which if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.
This sonnet serves several purposes. First, it introduces the setting of the play, Verona, and establishes the conflict between the two families. Second, it introduces the main characters, Romeo and Juliet, and foreshadows their tragic fate. Third, it asks the audience to be patient and attentive, promising that the play will be worth their time.
The sonnet is written in iambic pentameter, a type of meter that consists of ten syllables per line, with the stress falling on every second syllable. This meter is often used in Shakespeare's plays and sonnets, and it helps to create a sense of rhythm and flow.
The sonnet also uses a number of literary devices, such as alliteration (the repetition of consonant sounds, as in "fatal loins" and "piteous overthrows") and assonance (the repetition of vowel sounds, as in "civil blood" and "fatal loins"). These devices help to create a sense of unity and cohesion within the sonnet.
Overall, the sonnet in the prologue of Romeo and Juliet is a well-crafted and effective piece of writing that sets the stage for the play and introduces the main characters and conflict.