| CE II.ii.170 | [Antipholus of Syracuse to Dromio of Syracuse] What is the course and drift of your compact? |
| Ham III.i.1 | [Claudius to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, of Hamlet] can you by no drift of conference / Get from him why he puts on this confusion |
| TC III.iii.113 | [Ulysses to Achilles, of his book] I do not strain at the position ... but at the author's drift |
| Tem V.i.29 | [Prospero to Ariel, of the lords] They being penitent, / The sole drift of my purpose doth extend / Not a frown further |
| Tim I.i.46 | [Poet to Painter, of his poem] My free drift / Halts not particularly |