1 / 6 SYCAMORE TREES - "Romeo & Juliet"

In "Romeo & Juliet" Act I Scene 1, in a moment where we catch our breath before this heartrending story rolls over our emotions to its sorrowful conclusion, there is a space where the stage empties (of yet another Verona 'gang' fight). At that moment, almost alone, a relieved, yet distraught, Lady Montague questions Benvolio about her son. "Where's Romeo?" Lady Montague wants to know. Benvolio is Romeo's cousin and best friend, and this is what he says: Madam, an hour before the worshippe'd sun Peer'd forth the golden window of the east, A troubled mind drave me to walk abroad; Where, underneath the grove of sycamore That westward rootheth from the city's side, So early walking did I see your son... No other version of this tragic old tale mentions sycamore trees. No scene in the play takes place there. We never actually see these sycamore trees. But from the mouth of Benvolio we hear about them. Richard Roe was intrigued. Sycamore trees? Is there really a grove of sycamores outside the western wall of Verona? Roe went to Italy to inspect. He hired a car whose driver took him to Verona's western wall. And so, what type of leafy branches can we stroll under today, as did heartsick Romeo in the 16th century? Sycamore trees. Remnants trees to be sure, but a grove of sycamores nonetheless--"that westward rootheth from the city's side."