Ah, dear Juliet,
Why art thou yet so fair? shall I believe
That unsubstantial death is amorous,
And that the lean abhorred monster keeps
Thee here in dark to be his paramour?
For fear of that, I still will stay with thee;
And never from this palace of dim night
Depart again.
– William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, Act 5, Scene 3. Romeo is overcome by his love for Juliet, as he sees her lying in the Capulet family tomb. He wonders why she is still so beautiful, not realizing that she is not dead but sleeping. Personifying death, Romeo speaks of it being in love with Juliet and keeping her for his lover. He pledges to take his own life and stay with her forever in this metaphorical "palace of dim night." The final scene in the tomb is one of the most striking examples of dramatic irony in the play.