Vol. 08 · Shakespeare ·Romeo and Juliet, Act Prologue ·Chorus
"Two star-crossed lovers."
Not quite the line.
How it's usually quoted
"Two star-crossed lovers."
What Shakespeare actually wrote
"A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life." Chorus — Romeo and Juliet, Act Prologue
Why it matters
Shakespeare coined "star-cross'd" in the Prologue. "Two star-crossed lovers" is the paraphrase-from-memory; "a pair of" is the original and it scans differently.
More from the canon.
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