The Only Use of
covet
in
Macbeth
- I am yet
Unknown to woman; never was forsworn;
Scarcely have coveted what was mine own;
At no time broke my faith; would not betray
The devil to his fellow; and delight
No less in truth than life: my first false speaking
Was this upon myself.p. 147.7coveted = desirededitor's notes: These lines from Malcolm could be paraphrased as: "I have never been with a woman, never broken a promise, hardly ever desired even what was already mine, never betrayed my word, wouldn’t betray even the devil to his companion, and value truth as much as life itself."
Definition:
to strongly want (something--especially something that belongs to another)