They were standing where a brook, bending like a Shepherd's crook, Flashed its silver, and thick ranks of willow fringed its mossy banks. ( is/are) being compared to ​

the tone of the passage is sympathetic to the forbidden love of romeo and juliet. the nurse plays a significant role in the play. she is responsible for making their meeting again possible. additionally, there is a sense of warning in the choice of words of the nurse. she seems to be authoritative when she calls romeo "scurvy knave", and at the same time the fact that she addresses to him as "sir" reflects respect. the nurse is "vexed", this word describes her confused state of mind. on the one hand, she finds romeo a fine and eloquent man, but on the other, it is thought that man's nature forces men to try to trick women.  

the anecdote makes readers feel sorry for the man’s lack of heritage, then reminds readers that the man has an equally valuable heritage.

what excerpt? i would generally think a.

peace, morning, sun glooming, sorrow, woe pardon’d, punished, more hence, talk, story. all of these three words have to do something with a depressed, regretful tone. woe is another word for misery, heartache, so all of these words are about unhappy feelings.