I am not such a heel-chafer as an old leather shoe in spring.
— from The Elder Eddas of Saemund Sigfusson; and the Younger Eddas of Snorre Sturleson by Snorri Sturluson

Some pity to a suppliant's name afford, Who shared the gifts of Ceres at thy board; Whom late thy conquering arm to Lemnos bore, Far from his father, friends, and native shore; A hundred oxen were his price that day, Now sums immense thy mercy shall repay.
— from The Iliad by Homer

In about a quarter of an hour we got to a small Hamlet built on the side of a hill, with a narrow street and houses huddled up together.
— from Erewhon; Or, Over the Range by Samuel Butler

He neither ate nor slept as he had been accustomed, and his former habit of turning suddenly as though someone were speaking from behind him revived.
— from Dracula's Guest by Bram Stoker

Great numbers of ships have been refitted there, and all merchandise for Mexico and New Spain are here shipped or unladen.
— from The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo, Vol 1 (of 2) Written by Himself Containing a True and Full Account of the Discovery and Conquest of Mexico and New Spain. by Bernal Díaz del Castillo

" "I fear," said he, "that you are not sufficiently active here—you don't go about enough."
— from The Letters of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — Volume 01 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

For you too have a boy, Captain Ahab—though but a child, and nestling safely at home now—a child of your old age too—Yes, yes, you relent; I see it—run, run, men, now, and stand by to square in the yards.”
— from Moby Dick; Or, The Whale by Herman Melville

Lucy only wishes the negroes would keep it all to polish themselves with, and not send any home.
— from Little Lucy's Wonderful Globe by Charlotte M. (Charlotte Mary) Yonge

And indeed, if that be so, the people under his government are not a society of rational creatures, entered into a community for their mutual good; they are not such as have set rulers over themselves, to guard, and promote that good; but are to be looked on as an herd of inferior creatures under the dominion of a master, who keeps them and works them for his own pleasure or profit.
— from Second Treatise of Government by John Locke

Grit in a sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a nature such as his.
— from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

His attention to all their wants and comforts, his visits to the sick in hospital, his vigilant protection of the poor peasantry, his just severity to marauders, his generous treatment of such French prisoners and wounded as fell into his hands, made for him a warm place in the hearts of his soldiery; and where’er the survivors of that army are now scattered, assuredly Hill’s name and image are dearly cherished still.”
— from Wellington's Army, 1809-1814 by Charles Oman

Hundreds of pigeons on San Marco's square flew up, beating their wings, so that it sounded like a new storm, and hid themselves away in all the nooks and corners of the church roof.
— from From a Swedish Homestead by Selma Lagerlöf

As for Helena, having waved him gaily out of sight, she did not return and give way to a natural sorrow, as he imagined, typically penitent so soon as he had parted from her.
— from Helena Brett's Career by Desmond Coke

The gloomy Hurstwood, sitting in his cheap hotel, where he had taken refuge with seventy dollars—the price of his furniture—between him and nothing, saw a hot summer out and a cool fall in, reading.
— from Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser

As to his answer, no sacred author has ever more energetically proven God.
— from Letters to Madame Hanska, born Countess Rzewuska, afterwards Madame Honoré de Balzac, 1833-1846 by Honoré de Balzac

He was keen, practical business to the core, and no sentiment about him, for he arose promptly with the farewell words, shook hands with Bart in an off-hand way, and was gone like a flash to catch his train to the city.
— from Bart Stirling's Road to Success; Or, The Young Express Agent by Allen Chapman

His voice took a note softly, and held it.
— from The Trespasser, Volume 2 by Gilbert Parker

Mrs. Campbell is a natural storyteller, and has the gift of making a tale interesting.
— from Prisoners of Poverty Abroad by Helen Campbell

And now, soon after he had taken the city, came to him the Geit, that is as much as to say a bishop, and fell at his feet, and begged mercy for himself and his priests.
— from The Bondage and Travels of Johann Schiltberger, a Native of Bavaria, in Europe, Asia, and Africa, 1396-1427 by Johannes Schiltberger