| Play | Key Line | Modern Text | Original Text |
| The Comedy of Errors | CE I.i.66 | But longer did we not retain much hope, | But longer did we not retaine much hope; |
| Hamlet | Ham III.iii.56 | May one be pardoned and retain th' offence? | May one be pardon'd, and retaine th'offence? |
| Henry VI Part 1 | 1H6 V.iv.136 | Retain but privilege of a private man? | Retaine but priuiledge of a priuate man? |
| King Edward III | E3 I.i.3 | Thou shalt retain as great a seigniory, | Thou shalt retayne as great a Seigniorie: |
| King Edward III | E3 II.i.239 | Away from her, and yet retain my soul. | A waie from her and yet retaine my soule,. |
| King Edward III | E3 IV.i.22 | Or else retain and keep thee captive still. | Or else retayne and keepe thee captiue still: |
| King Lear | KL I.i.135 | Make with you by due turn. Only we shall retain | Make with you by due turne, onely we shall retaine |
| King Lear | KL III.vi.58 | That you so oft have boasted to retain? | That you so oft haue boasted to retaine? |
| Romeo and Juliet | RJ II.ii.46 | Retain that dear perfection which he owes | Retaine that deare perfection which he owes, |
| The Tempest | Tem IV.i.185 | Thy shape invisible retain thou still. | Thy shape inuisible retaine thou still: |
| The Two Noble Kinsmen | TNK I.ii.24 | For her repletion, and retain anew | For her repletion, and retaine anew |