The Chorus - Setting Up Act 2
The Chorus returns with another sonnet that summarises what's just happened and previews the challenges ahead. Romeo's old desire for Rosaline is described as dying, replaced by "young affection" for Juliet.
The Chorus emphasises the obstacles the lovers now face - they're "held a foe" to each other's families, making normal courtship impossible. They can't openly court each other or even meet easily.
However, there's hope in the final line: "passion lends them power, time means, to meet." Love will find a way, even if it involves extreme risks and "extreme sweet" rewards.
The formal sonnet structure creates a pause between acts, giving the audience time to process the dramatic events and anticipate what's coming next.
Structure Note: Shakespeare uses the Chorus to bridge between acts and remind us that this is a story about fate - these events were always destined to happen.