Clavis Libri

Literary device

Aside

In the theater, a short speech that the character addresses to the audience, or to himself, without the others on stage hearing it.

In Macbeth

Stars, hide your fires; / Let not light see my black and deep desires.

Macbeth speaks in a low voice, to himself, right after Duncan names Malcolm heir. Only the audience hears that he has "deep and dark desires," something he cannot say to the others on stage.

Act I: The Prophecy and the Temptation, Macbeth, aside