To conclude, I am so good a proficient in one quarter of an hour, that I can drink with any tinker in his own language during my life.
— from The Complete Works of William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare

Of the fable, myth, or allegory, Bailly has said that, "subordinate to history and philosophy, it only deceives that it may the better instruct us.
— from The Symbolism of Freemasonry Illustrating and Explaining Its Science and Philosophy, Its Legends, Myths and Symbols by Albert Gallatin Mackey

Many ages must elapse before the divers offsets of the British race in America cease to present the same homogeneous characteristics: and the time cannot be foreseen at which a permanent inequality of conditions will be established in the New World.
— from Democracy in America — Volume 1 by Alexis de Tocqueville

After these barbarians had glutted themselves for the present, with exercising on the unhappy prisoner the most distinguished cruelties, they again put irons on, and conveyed him to his former dungeon.
— from Fox's Book of Martyrs Or A History of the Lives, Sufferings, and Triumphant Deaths of the Primitive Protestant Martyrs by John Foxe

It will at once occur to the reader, as a possible improvement of the puzzle, to divide the board by a central vertical line and make the condition that this also shall not be crossed.
— from Amusements in Mathematics by Henry Ernest Dudeney

He sat down again and placed it on his knee.
— from Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

For although the plaintiff in ejectment must recover on the strength of his own title as against a defendant in possession, it is now settled that prior possession is enough if the defendant stands on his possession alone Possession is of course sufficient for trespass.5
— from The Common Law by Oliver Wendell Holmes

His mind was in a maze, and he wondered why there were in the world doctors, hospital assistants, merchants, clerks, and peasants instead of simple free men?
— from Project Gutenberg Compilation of 233 Short Stories of Chekhov by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov

I’ve only been a married man fower days, ‘account of poor old feyther deein, and puttin’ it off.
— from Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens

She went and got the book and placed it open before her on the table: then she drew her bow across the strings.
— from Stand Fast, Craig-Royston! (Volume II) by William Black

But we saw nothing, and I believe Mulinuu is (at least at present) incapable of any act of offence.
— from The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition, Vol. 25 by Robert Louis Stevenson

On the next day, the 13th, the new Papal Nuncio, a prelate who, by his rank, his eloquence, and his imprudence, was destined to exercise a powerful influence on the Catholic councils, made his public entry into that city.
— from A Popular History of Ireland : from the Earliest Period to the Emancipation of the Catholics — Complete by Thomas D'Arcy McGee

Shambler wanted to help, but Tom, Sid and Phil insisted on giving “first aid,” and they were sufficient.
— from For the Honor of Randall: A Story of College Athletics by Lester Chadwick

In the Aurora of Philad. I published a series of essays on this and other subjects, which, from the letters received at that time, I flatter myself tended in some degree to advance the manufacturing interest in the United States; an interest, which is connected with our individual and national prosperity, and the permanent and practical independence of the republic.
— from A System of Pyrotechny Comprehending the theory and practice, with the application of chemistry; designed for exhibition and for war. by James Cutbush

As the manager wheeled his horses from the creek road upon the bridge, he cracked his whip, which seemed to be the signal for the four spirited horses to dance and prance, in order to make a proper display as they reached the end of their journey.
— from Brother Against Brother; Or, The War on the Border by Oliver Optic

She wields a powerful influence over a certain clique in the spirit world and on earth, and therefore deserves to be noticed among the women of the times.
— from Strange Visitors A series of original papers, embracing philosophy, science, government, religion, poetry, art, fiction, satire, humor, narrative, and prophecy, by the spirits of Irving, Willis, Thackeray, Brontë, Richter, Byron, Humboldt, Hawthorne, Wesley, Browning, and others now dwelling in the spirit world; dictated through a clairvoyant, while in an abnormal or trance state by Henry J. Horn

—Cosmopolitan; Atlantic, Pacific, Indian Ocean, in the Tropical and warmer regions; Stations 159, 244, 266-272, 318, 352, &c. 12.
— from Report on the Radiolaria Collected by H.M.S. Challenger During the Years 1873-1876, Second Part: Subclass Osculosa; Index Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger During the Years 1873-76, Vol. XVIII by Ernst Haeckel

The remarks of Sergeant Palmer at this juncture are particularly impressive:— “Our captain,” he explains, “was no great orator, but he had a straightforward, manly manner of speech, which somehow stirred the blood.
— from The Battles of the British Army Being a Popular Account of All the Principal Engagements During the Last Hundred Years by Robert Melvin Blackwood

On all accounts, perhaps I ought not; but yet I know I can trust you; and I am sure you will take no advantage.
— from The Huguenot: A Tale of the French Protestants. Volumes I-III by G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford) James