Unspeak mine own detraction, here abjure
The taints and blames I laid upon myself,
For strangers to my nature. 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.
– William Shakespeare
Macbeth, Act 4, Scene 3. Earlier in the scene Malcolm listed out the numerous vices he claimed to have, in order to test Macduff’s loyalty. Here he reveals the truth, that he is none of the despicable and sinful things he said earlier. Instead of being a womanizer he is a virgin, he has never broken a vow, and far from coveting other people’s possessions he barely wants his own. Malcolm is an innocent compared to the evil Macbeth.