The Hamlet Project

Swearing by God
By my honor
By my virtue
By my art
By my love
I swear by my life
As I do live
Swearing upon one’s very breath
We give the oaths
Such weighty companions
Hoping to lend them credence
But we don’t have a word
For “forsworn” anymore.
If you swore, on your life,
And then broke your oath,
You might be applauded for doing so
You might be chastised
But it is only for the Gods
To tie your promise together
With your breath
As you suggested.