Question

Read these lines from the prologue of Romeo and Juliet.

And the continuance of their parents’ rage,
Which, but their children’s end, nought could remove,

What is the best paraphrasing of these lines?

Even their children’s deaths could not end the parents’ rage.
Nothing but their children’s deaths could stop the parents’ anger.
The parents continued their feud even after their children died.
The parents tried to make peace before their children died.

Answer 1

"Nothing but their children’s deaths could stop the parents’ anger."

Explanation: "but" here means "except" and "nought could remove" = nothing could end the rage — except the death ("end") of their children.