The Only Use of
beguile
in
Macbeth
- To beguile the time,
Look like the time. Bear welcome in your eye,
Your hand, your tongue. Look like the innocent flower,
But be the serpent under't.p. 35.3beguile = deceiveeditor's notes: This could be paraphrased as: "To deceive in the current situation, act appropriate for the moment. Look welcoming and innocent like a flower, while really being lethal and deceitful like a snake."
Definitions:
-
(1)
(beguile) to charm, enchant, or entertain someone; or to deceive -- especially through charm
-
(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
Much less commonly, in classic literature, beguile can mean to "pass time pleasantly."