🎭 A pound of flesh - Learn English vocabulary & idioms with 'Shakespeare Speaks'

79,616 views ・ 2016-04-29

BBC Learning English


Please double-click on the English subtitles below to play the video.

00:08
It was late in the evening. William Shakespeare is at the palace of King James I.
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00:17
Mr Shakespeare! Welcome, welcome.
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00:21
Your majesty, it is a great honour to perform The Merchant of Venice for you a second time.
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00:28
The Queen and I enjoyed it so much we just had to see it again.
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00:34
You fell asleep halfway through dear, that's why you want to see it again.
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00:38
Nonsense. Mr Shakespeare, I particularly enjoyed your character Shylock.
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00:45
But what was all that about a pound of flesh?
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00:49
Well, Shylock lent some money to the businessman Antonio.
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00:55
And Antonio promised that if he didn't pay the money back,
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00:59
Shylock could cut a pound of flesh from his body.
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01:04
That's right, that's right. I remember it well now.
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01:09
What did he say? If you repay me not on such a day…
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01:16
If you repay me not on such a day, In such a place, such sum or sums as are
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01:23
Express'd in the condition, let the forfeit Be nominated for an equal pound
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01:28
Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken In what part of your body pleaseth me.
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01:37
We'll leave them there for now.
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02:04
The district attorney will argue that although the defendant is mentally ill,
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02:08
he is not insane under the law, and society deserves its pound of flesh from him.
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02:14
I apologised and paid for the repairs after I crashed his car, but it isn't enough for him.
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02:20
He wants his pound of flesh. I think he's going to call the police…
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02:28
Mr Shakespeare, please tell the King what happens in the end, just in case he falls asleep again.
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02:33
I did not fall asleep! But yes, do tell me.
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02:39
Well, Antonio didn't pay the money back.
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02:43
The court agreed that Shylock could have his pound of flesh,
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02:47
but the court also said that he could not take even a single drop of blood.
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02:55
Aha! So Antonio was saved.
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02:58
Yes, your majesty.
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03:01
Ooh, the play is starting. Now do stay awake this time, dear…
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03:07
To sleep or not to sleep: that is the question…
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