Several times he approached the bed with a view to taking off the boots and retiring to rest; but each time he failed, for the reason that the boots were so alluring in their make that he had no choice but to lift up first one foot, and then the other, for the purpose of scanning their elegant welts.
— from Dead Souls by Nikolai Vasilevich Gogol

Πριάμου ξύμπαν ὑπήκοον, (But since my speech has of its own accord reached this point in its course and has long been eager to praise the Emperor's wisdom and wise counsel
— from The Works of the Emperor Julian, Vol. 1 by Emperor of Rome Julian

A demon with the tail of a dragon, that causes eclipses by endeavouring to swallow the sun and moon.
— from The Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verse by Valmiki

But it was custom; they spoke Ballarat English, their bearing was charming and hospitable, and so all went well.
— from Following the Equator: A Journey Around the World by Mark Twain

With Napoleon it is not so hard to beat the Muscovites; he has already three times thrashed the hide of the Suabians, he has trodden down the nasty Prussians, and has cast back the English straight across the sea: surely he will be equal to the Muscovites.
— from Pan Tadeusz Or, the Last Foray in Lithuania; a Story of Life Among Polish Gentlefolk in the Years 1811 and 1812 by Adam Mickiewicz

"The undersigned Representatives remaining at liberty, assembled in Permanent Session,— "Considering the arrest of the majority of our colleagues, and the urgency of the moment: "Considering that for the accomplishment of his crime Louis Bonaparte has not contented himself with multiplying the most formidable means of destruction against the lives and property of the citizens of Paris, that he has trampled under foot every law, that he has annihilated all the guarantees of civilized nations: "Considering that these criminal madnesses only serve to augment the violent denunciation of every conscience and to hasten the hour of national vengeance, but that it is important to proclaim the Right: "Decree: "ARTICLE I.—The State of Siege is raised in all Departments where it has been established, the ordinary laws resume their authority.
— from The History of a Crime The Testimony of an Eye-Witness by Victor Hugo

In the intervals of her discourse with Mrs. Collins, she addressed a variety of questions to Maria and Elizabeth, but especially to the latter, of whose connections she knew the least, and who she observed to Mrs. Collins, was a very genteel, pretty kind of girl.
— from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

"Thanks," I managed, looking into the big eyes that were further magnified by her mannish, black-rimmed glasses.
— from Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

However, as it was brown, even to Bella's taste, the young lady graciously partook of it without reconsignment to the frying-pan, and also, in due course, of the contents of the two bottles: whereof one held Scotch ale and the other rum.
— from Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens

As capitals increase in any country, the profits which can be made by employing them necessarily diminish.
— from An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith

Is it to be expected that they will unfrock themselves?
— from The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 11 (of 12) Dresden Edition—Miscellany by Robert Green Ingersoll

Thousands had signed petitions for a reprieve; a favorable answer had been expected the night before, and though it had not come, even the sheriff felt confident that it would yet arrive.
— from McGuffey's Fifth Eclectic Reader by William Holmes McGuffey

May I inquire what it is you desire of Mayaro?" "This," said Boyd slowly; "and this is the real secret with which I am charged—a secret not to be entrusted to paper—a secret which you, sir, and even my comrade, Mr. Loskiel, now learn for the first time.
— from The Hidden Children by Robert W. (Robert William) Chambers

About the same time I began to receive information of the remarkable offers that were being made to prospective customers, offers which probably meant an indirect rebate of perhaps the full first year's premium; and I got to thinking and reaching back into my memory-box, and I raked out a number of instances of the same kind of offers which had been made to me in the past, and I ruminated to myself how all this was possible; for even if the Big Three were bold enough to get around the law against such practices, it puzzled me how they could pay to their agent the big cash commissions that new business called for.
— from Frenzied Finance, Vol. 1: The Crime of Amalgamated by Thomas William Lawson

Possibly she won’t be easy till you do post the sentinels round the house.”
— from The Works of Balzac: A linked index to all Project Gutenberg editions by Honoré de Balzac

In taking leave of this part of the subject, I must not omit to mention the route which a Russian army might be expected to follow in its progress westwards after the fall of Erzerum.
— from Armenia, Travels and Studies (Volume 2 of 2) The Turkish Provinces by H. F. B. (Harry Finnis Blosse) Lynch

Heretofore the slaveholders have uniformly, by enforcing the previous question, imposed their several gags by a silent vote.
— from The Anti-Slavery Examiner, Part 4 of 4 by American Anti-Slavery Society

They were dreadfully frightened; Giant Gilling asleep had been easy to manage, but a giant awake, a giant angry—they were not the same dwarfs that they had seemed half an hour ago—and so it happened that they quite easily let Suttung carry them all off to a low rock in the sea which was dry just then, but would be washed over by the morning tide.
— from The Heroes of Asgard: Tales from Scandinavian Mythology by Eliza Keary

He called twice, at long intervals, partly because it was not decent to neglect the duty, partly because a longing to draw near to her anguished him; but each time he came away maddened with jealous suspicions.
— from Isabel Clarendon, Vol. 1 (of 2) by George Gissing

According to the Constitution of 1793, all citizens twenty-one years old, born and living in France, were electors, and members of the sovereign people; according to the Constitution of 1795, on the contrary, it was necessary to pay a direct tax in order to be eligible to the electoral right.
— from The Sword of Honor; or, The Foundation of the French Republic A Tale of The French Revolution by Eugène Sue