1 Nay, take my life and all, pardon not that.
2 Promise me life, and I'll confess the truth.
3 Many a man his life hath sold But my outside to behold.
4 But when this ring Parts from this finger, then parts life from hence.
5 There may as well be amity and life 'Tween snow and fire as treason and my love.'
6 That thou shalt see the difference of our spirit, I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it.
7 Sweet lady, you have given me life and living; For here I read for certain that my ships Are safely come to road.
8 He seeks my life, his reason well I know: I oft deliver'd from his forfeitures Many that have at times made moan to me.
9 And then to scape drowning thrice, and to be in peril of my life with the edge of a feather-bed; here are simple 'scapes.'
10 You take my house when you do take the prop That doth sustain my house; you take my life When you do take the means whereby I live.
11 Antonio, I am married to a wife Which is as dear to me as life itself, But life itself, my wife, and all the world, Are not with me esteem'd above thy life.
12 It is very meet The Lord Bassanio live an upright life, For having such a blessing in his lady, He finds the joys of heaven here on earth, And if on earth he do not merit it, In reason he should never come to heaven.
13 In which predicament I say thou stand'st; For it appears by manifest proceeding That indirectly, and directly too, Thou hast contrived against the very life Of the defendant; and thou hast incurr'd The danger formerly by me rehears'd.
14 No, by my honour, madam, by my soul, No woman had it, but a civil doctor, Which did refuse three thousand ducats of me, And begg'd the ring, the which I did deny him, And suffer'd him to go displeas'd away, Even he that had held up the very life Of my dear friend.
15 I am enjoin'd by oath to observe three things: First, never to unfold to anyone Which casket 'twas I chose; next, if I fail Of the right casket, never in my life To woo a maid in way of marriage; Lastly, If I do fail in fortune of my choice, Immediately to leave you and be gone.'