Vol. 08 · Shakespeare ·The Merchant of Venice, Act IV.i ·Portia
"A pound of flesh."
Not quite the line.
How it's usually quoted
"A pound of flesh."
What Shakespeare actually wrote
"Nearest his heart: those are the very words." Portia — The Merchant of Venice, Act IV.i
Why it matters
The phrase "pound of flesh" is Shakespeare's; it became idiom for an unreasonable demand. The qualifier "nearest his heart" — which makes the bond lethal — is routinely dropped.
More from the canon.
Browse the rest of the shelf, or try a cold reading.