What does Lady Macbeth mean when she says: "to beguile the time, look like the time, bear welcome in your eye, your hand, your tongue: look like...

Lady Macbeth utters these words in Act 1, Scene 5. This is
the scene in which she counsels her husband, Macbeth, on how he should behave when they
welcome king Duncan and his crew. What she specifically wants Macbeth to do is to come
across as a pleasant and welcoming host when the King arrives because doing so will not
reveal Macbeth's true intention, which is to kill the King and take the
throne.

Now, let us take a look at the quote, so that we
can examine the words more closely:

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 Your face, my thane, is as a book where
men
 May read strange matters. 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.

By saying that
Macbeth's face is like "a book where men may read strange matters," Lady Macbeth implies
that the King and his company may be able to discern Macbeth's real thoughts. Therefore,
she advises him to "look like the time" if he is to "beguile the time." What this means
is -- Lady Macbeth suggests that her husband must demonstrate the ability to conduct
himself as others expect him to despite his "black and deep desires." He must appear
"like the innocent flower," ready to protect his King and be his loyal subject.

This scene is very significant because it marks the
beginning of Macbeth's unscrupulousness and tyranny. Once he kills the King, he becomes
eager to kill anyone who could potentially stand in his way.