Romeo and Juliet many members of the Strumieri were murdered. When years later, half-paralyzed from a battle-wound, he wrote "Giulietta e Romeo" in Montorso Vicentino (from where he could see the "castles" of Verona), he dedicated the "novella" to "bellisima e leggiadra madonna" Lucina Savorgnan. Da Porto presented his tale as historically true and claimed it took place a century earlier than Salernitano had it, in the days Verona was ruled by Bartolomeo II della Scala (anglicized as Prince Escalus). Da Porto gave Romeo and Juliet most of its modern form, including the names of the lovers, the rival families of Montecchi and
Romeo and Juliet during which Shakespeare was London's dominant playwright. The date of the first performance is unknown. The First Quarto, printed in 1597, says that "it hath been often (and with great applause) plaid publiquely", setting the first performance before that date. The Lord Chamberlain's Men were certainly the first to perform it. Besides their strong connections with Shakespeare, the Second Quarto actually names one of its actors, Will Kemp, instead of Peter, in a line in Act Five. Richard Burbage was probably the first Romeo, being the company's actor, and Master Robert Goffe (a boy) the first Juliet. The premiere is