Both Uses of
perjury
in
Romeo and Juliet
- Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say "ay,"
And I will take thy word. Yet, if thou swear'st,
Thou mayst prove false. At lovers' perjuries,
They say Jove laughs.
Scene 2.2 *perjuries = lieseditor's notes: Jove is a synonym for Jupiter--the King of the Roman gods. "At lovers perjuries they say Jove laughs." references an at-the-time well-known line from Ovid, "Jupiter from on high smiles at the perjuries of lovers.". Ovid was a famous Roman poet.
- Thy dear love sworn, but hollow perjury,
Scene 3.3perjury = lie (something that is not true)editor's notes: It might be easier to read this as "but a hollow perjury."
Definition:
-
(perjury) the criminal offense of telling lies after formally promising to tell the truth -- such as when testifying in a court trial