| Play | Key Line | Modern Text | Original Text |
| Hamlet | Ham III.iv.166 | That aptly is put on. Refrain tonight, | refraine to night, |
| Henry VI Part 3 | 3H6 II.ii.110 | Break off the parley; for scarce I can refrain | Breake off the parley, for scarse I can refraine |
| King John | KJ II.i.525 | Nay, ask me if I can refrain from love; | Nay aske me if I can refraine from loue, |
| Macbeth | Mac II.iii.113 | Unmannerly breeched with gore. Who could refrain, | Vnmannerly breech'd with gore: who could refraine, |
| Othello | Oth IV.i.98 | He, when he hears of her, cannot refrain | He, when he heares of her, cannot restraine |