| 1H4 I.i.29 | [King Henry to all] bootless 'tis to tell you we will go |
| 3H6 I.iv.20 | [York alone] I have seen a swan / With bootless labour swim against the tide |
| 3H6 II.iii.12 | [Edward to George, of their enemies] Bootless is flight; they follow us with wings |
| 3H6 II.vi.23 | [Clifford alone] Bootless are plaints |
| 3H6 II.vi.70 | [Edward to dead Clifford] repent in bootless penitence |
| E3 V.i.10 | [King Edward to Calais Citizens] Mine ears are stopped against your bootless cries |
| H8 II.iv.61 | [Wolsey to Queen Katherine] It shall be therefore bootless / That longer you desire the court |
| KL V.iii.292.2 | [Edgar to Albany, of talking to Lear] Very bootless |
| LLL V.ii.64 | [Rosaline to Princess, of Berowne] I would make him ... spend his prodigal wits in bootless rhymes |
| MND II.i.233 | [Helena to Demetrius] the mild hind / Makes speed to catch the tiger - bootless speed, / When cowardice pursues, and valour flies |
| MV III.iii.20 | [Antonio to Solanio, of Shylock] I'll follow him no more with bootless prayers |
| Oth I.iii.207 | [Duke to Brabantio] He robs himself that spends a bootless grief |
| Per V.i.30 | [Helicanus to Lysimachus] bootless is your sight |
| R3 III.iv.102 | [Lovel to Hastings] 'Tis bootless to exclaim |
| Sonn.29.3 | [] I ... trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries |
| Tem I.ii.35 | [Miranda to Prospero] You have often ... left me to a bootless inquisition |
| Tit III.i.36 | [Titus to Lucius, of the Tribunes] yet plead I must, / And bootless unto them |
| TNK I.i.153 | [First Queen to Theseus] bootless toil must recompense itself / With its own sweat |
| Ven.422 | [Adonis to Venus] leave this idle theme, this bootless chat |