How oft when men are at the point of death Have they been merry!
 William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet (1597). copy citation

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Author William Shakespeare
Source Romeo and Juliet
Topic death merry
Date 1597
Language English
Reference
Note Written between 1591 and 1595
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1112/pg1112.html

Context

“A grave? O, no, a lanthorn, slaught'red youth, For here lies Juliet, and her beauty makes This vault a feasting presence full of light. Death, lie thou there, by a dead man interr'd. [Lays him in the tomb.] How oft when men are at the point of death Have they been merry! which their keepers call A lightning before death. O, how may I Call this a lightning? O my love! my wife! Death, that hath suck'd the honey of thy breath, Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty. Thou art not conquer'd.” source