OLD FAMILY FEUD SPILLS BLOODThe residents of Verona were left shocked and grieved this afternoon when they learnt about the deaths of Mercutio Escalus a close friend of Romeo Montague and Tybalt Capulet as well as the exile of Romeo Montague. The city is trying to come to grips with this latest incident from the two households.

In an interview with the upset and distraught Benvolio Montague, an eye witness, he says that Tybalt started the fight. He has always wanted to fight Romeo. Romeo refused to duel with Tybalt which made Mercutio to feel honour bound to stand in Romeo’s place and fight. In the duel that ensued, Mercutio is slain and dies. Romeo was enraged and felt honour bound to avenge the death of friend Mercutio. He sought Tybalt and killed him in a duel.

The prince of Verona, when he heard about this, banished Romeo from the city of Verona. He was quoted saying, “Romeo will be banished from Verona forever, and never allowed back in this city again!”

However there are a lot of speculations surrounding this incident. An elderly Verona citizen was heard to say, “How long am I going to live to witness strife from these two families?” The enmity between the two houses; the Capulets and the Montagues is remembered since time immemorial. The enmity is such that when these two families meet they clash. Even Mercutio’s last words before he died were, “I wish a plague amongst the two households.”

The households of Montague and Capulets are reported to be mourning and threatening vengeance. Could this family feud spill more blood?

By Nikki Chirwa

Verona newsAlways making headlines - Since 1502

Verona, Italy 18 June 1597

Once again the Capulets and the Montagues shocked the citizens of Verona as their strife took to the streets which left Proud Tybalt Capulet and Boisterous Mercutio Escalus dead and Dashing Romeo Montague banished.