I fear, too early: for my mind misgives
Some consequence yet hanging in the stars
Shall bitterly begin his fearful date
With this night’s revels and expire the term
Of a despised life closed in my breast
By some vile forfeit of untimely death.
– William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, Act 1, Scene 4. Romeo agrees to gatecrash the Capulets’ ball with Benvolio and Mercutio, but fears that it will lead to tragic and deadly consequences. He is responding to Benvolio’s claim that they will be too late for the party. This passage reflects the theme of fate and free will found throughout the play. The stars are a metaphor for fate, with people then believing that their movements determined the course of their lives. The passage, with its sense of fear and foreboding, also foreshadows the tragic deaths that are to come.