[“The virgin, astonished and attracted by the glittering apple, stops her career, and seizes the rolling gold.” —Ovid, Metam., x. 666.]
— from Essays of Michel de Montaigne — Complete by Michel de Montaigne

We have, also, seen in a large number of animals, belonging to widely distinct classes, that the erection of the hair or feathers is almost always accompanied by various voluntary movements—by threatening gestures, opening the mouth, uncovering the teeth, spreading out of the wings and tail by birds, and by the utterance of harsh sounds; and the purpose of these voluntary movements is unmistakable.
— from The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals by Charles Darwin

At noon to dinner, and then to White Hall in hopes of a meeting of Tangier about Yeabsly’s business, but it could not be obtained, Sir G. Carteret nor Sir W. Coventry being able to be there, which still vexes [me] to see the poor man forced still to attend, as also being desirous to see what my profit is, and get it.
— from The Diary of Samuel Pepys — Complete by Samuel Pepys

“I understand how strong the imagination would be at first, but this element should have been much diminished after the first or second assault; and, above all, because she differs from me in a matter which I cannot conceal and she cannot supply.”
— from The Memoirs of Jacques Casanova de Seingalt, 1725-1798. Complete by Giacomo Casanova

Calabria was the native country of Barlaam, who has already appeared as a sectary and an ambassador; and Barlaam was the first who revived, beyond the Alps, the memory, or at least the writings, of Homer.
— from The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Table of Contents with links in the HTML file to the two Project Gutenberg editions (12 volumes) by Edward Gibbon

Maybe connected with the Italian BECCO , which means a (bird’s) beak , and also a blockhead .—
— from The Slang Dictionary: Etymological, Historical and Andecdotal by John Camden Hotten

As for those miracles which history ascribes to the gods of the heathen,—I do not refer to those prodigies which at intervals happen from some unknown physical causes, and which are arranged and appointed by Divine Providence, such as monstrous births, and unusual meteorological phenomena, whether startling only, or also injurious, and which are said to be brought about and removed by communication with demons, and by their most deceitful
— from The City of God, Volume I by Augustine, Saint, Bishop of Hippo

To take these private feelings for the substance of other beings is evidently a gross blunder; yet this blunder, without ceasing to be one in point of method, ceases to be one in point of fact when the other being happens to be similar in nature and situation to the mythologist himself and therefore actually possesses the very emotions and thoughts which lie in the mythologist's bosom and are attributed by him to his fellow.
— from The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress by George Santayana

Pity, then, is related to benevolence; and malice to anger: And as benevolence has been already found to be connected with love, by a natural and original quality, and anger with hatred; it is by this chain the passions of pity and malice are connected with love and hatred.
— from A Treatise of Human Nature by David Hume

Sure that the convict who had broken his ban could not be far off, he established sentinels, he organized traps and ambuscades, and beat the quarter all that night.
— from Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

For 25 cc. of this gas we found, after absorption by potash 20.6, and after absorption by pyrogallic acid, 17.3.
— from The Harvard Classics Volume 38 Scientific Papers (Physiology, Medicine, Surgery, Geology) by Various

The room was a large one, with a grand piano at one 93 end and music and books strewn about; and as Bunker Hill shouted for his wife and daughter Denver stared about in astonishment.
— from Silver and Gold: A Story of Luck and Love in a Western Mining Camp by Dane Coolidge

Of the four men it contained, three alighted and approached Bixby.
— from The Flying Machine Boys in the Wilds; Or, The Mystery of the Andes by Frank Walton

Perhaps you are, after all, better off in your home in the clouds than we on this dark earth, where one has to suffer much of corns and other earthly sensations which are unknown to you airy dwellers on high.
— from Problematic Characters: A Novel by Friedrich Spielhagen

He was anxious to know whether the valley would lead to an opening from among the mountains, and after a brief halt pushed hurriedly on.
— from The Treasure of Hidden Valley by Willis George Emerson

Mont Blanc, and the Valley of Chamounix, and the Mer de Glace, and all the wonders of that most wonderful place, are above and beyond one's wildest expectations.
— from The Life of Charles Dickens, Vol. I-III, Complete by John Forster

Mäsh-kwa-sha-kwong at this time gave his sons an awl, a beaver's tooth, and a hone, also a dry coal, and directed them to place a small piece of the coal on the ground every evening, so soon as they should encamp, from which fire would be produced and given to them; he told his eldest son to place his brother in the leather bag, and in that manner carry him upon his back; he then bade them farewell.
— from The Indian in his Wigwam; Or, Characteristics of the Red Race of America From Original Notes and Manuscripts by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft

I don't think it was half as much of an affair as bringing out the Teaser, for we had to use some science on that occasion," replied Christy quietly.
— from On The Blockade by Oliver Optic