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

It was late in the evening. William Shakespeare is at the palace of King James I.

Mr Shakespeare! Welcome, welcome.

Your majesty, it is a great honour to perform The Merchant of Venice for you a second time.

The Queen and I enjoyed it so much we just had to see it again.

You fell asleep halfway through dear, that's why you want to see it again.

Nonsense. Mr Shakespeare, I particularly enjoyed your character Shylock.

But what was all that about a pound of flesh?

Well, Shylock lent some money to the businessman Antonio.

And Antonio promised that if he didn't pay the money back,

Shylock could cut a pound of flesh from his body.

That's right, that's right. I remember it well now.

What did he say? If you repay me not on such a day…

If you repay me not on such a day, In such a place, such sum or sums as are

Express'd in the condition, let the forfeit Be nominated for an equal pound

Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken In what part of your body pleaseth me.

We'll leave them there for now.

The district attorney will argue that although the defendant is mentally ill,

he is not insane under the law, and society deserves its pound of flesh from him.

I apologised and paid for the repairs after I crashed his car, but it isn't enough for him.

He wants his pound of flesh. I think he's going to call the police…

Mr Shakespeare, please tell the King what happens in the end, just in case he falls asleep again.

I did not fall asleep! But yes, do tell me.

Well, Antonio didn't pay the money back.

The court agreed that Shylock could have his pound of flesh,

but the court also said that he could not take even a single drop of blood.

Aha! So Antonio was saved.

Yes, your majesty.

Ooh, the play is starting. Now do stay awake this time, dear…

To sleep or not to sleep: that is the question…