‘Come, night. Come, Romeo.
You are like a day that comes during the night. You are whiter than snow on the black wings of a raven.
Come, gentle night. Come, loving, dark night. Give me my Romeo.
And when I die, turn him into stars and form a constellation in his image. His face will make the heavens so beautiful that the world will fall in love with the night and forget about the garish sun.’
‘Juliet, why are you still so beautiful? Should I believe that death is in love with you, and that the awful monster keeps you here to be his mistress?
I do not like that idea, so I will stay with you. And I will never leave this tomb.’
‘Here, here I will remain with worms that are your chamber-maids. Oh, I will rest here forever.
I will forget about all the bad luck that has troubled me.’
‘Eyes, look out for the last time! Arms, make your last embrace!
And lips, you are the doors of breath. Seal with a righteous kiss the deal I have made with death forever.’
Lichtenstein Castle – Maria Enzersdorf
Romeo and Juliet – William Shakespeare, 1597
Act III, Scene II & Act IV, Scene III
Photography by Electric Percival