At this place—on the Hiwassee—they found a large town, having “upwards of ninety houses, and large quantities of corn,” and “we encamped among the corn, where we had a great plenty of corn, peas, beans, potatoes, and hogs,” and on the next day “we were ordered to assemble in companies to spread through the town to destroy, cut down, and burn all the vegetables belonging to our heathen enemies, which was no small undertaking, they being so plentifully supplied.”
— from Myths of the Cherokee Extract from the Nineteenth Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology by James Mooney

You have done a beautiful action to-day, dear child.
— from The Importance of Being Earnest: A Trivial Comedy for Serious People by Oscar Wilde

This was done at his return from the little paltry town, even then when Master Antitus of Cressplots was licentiated, and had passed his degrees in all dullery and blockishness, according to this sentence of the canonists, Beati Dunces, quoniam ipsi stumblaverunt.
— from Gargantua and Pantagruel by François Rabelais

On “little Easter Sunday” the freeholders of the town and manor assembled together, either in person or by their deputies, and one among them, as it fell to his lot by turn, gaily attired and gallantly mounted, with a crown on his head, a sceptre in his hand, and a sword borne before him, rode through the principal street to the church, dutifully attended by all the rest on horseback.
— from The Golden Bough: A Study of Magic and Religion by James George Frazer

It appears that a tendency to public good, and to the promoting of peace, harmony, and order in society, does always, by affecting the benevolent principles of our frame, engage us on the side of the social virtues.
— from An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals by David Hume

Well, Chaerephon, as you know, was very impetuous in all his doings, and he went to Delphi and boldly asked the oracle to tell him whether—as I was saying, I must beg you not to interrupt—he asked the oracle to tell him whether anyone was wiser than I was, and the Pythian prophetess answered, that there was no man wiser.
— from Apology by Plato

They fell together all, as by consent; They dropp'd, as by a thunder-stroke.
— from The Complete Works of William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare

At such a time I found out for certain that this bleak place overgrown with nettles was the churchyard; and that Philip Pirrip, late of this parish, and also Georgiana wife of the above, were dead and buried; and that Alexander, Bartholomew, Abraham, Tobias, and Roger, infant children of the aforesaid, were also dead and buried; and that the dark flat wilderness beyond the churchyard, intersected with dikes and mounds and gates, with scattered cattle feeding on it, was the marshes; and that the low leaden line beyond was the river; and that the distant savage lair from which the wind was rushing was the sea; and that the small bundle of shivers growing afraid of it all and beginning to cry, was Pip. “Hold your noise!” cried a terrible voice, as a man started up from among the graves at the side of the church porch.
— from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Scarce a general of those who had commanded divisions and brigades at the Alma now remained, and the regimental officers had suffered proportionally.
— from Jack Archer: A Tale of the Crimea by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty

Perhaps I may see the Baron this very day, and be able to snatch him at once from poverty and disgrace.”
— from The Works of Balzac: A linked index to all Project Gutenberg editions by Honoré de Balzac

You will, therefore, be sensible, Sir, that though the President is not the organ for doing what is just in the present case, it will be effectually done by those to whom the Constitution has ascribed the duty, and be assured that the interests, the rights and the dignity of the French nation will receive within the bosom of the United States all the support which a friendly nation could desire, and a natural one yield.
— from The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 3 (of 9) Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private by Thomas Jefferson

You will abandon it, but by degrees; as the truth increases you will begin by first exploding the old notion that infants are damned, and by avowing the salvation of all who die in early life.
— from Fifty Notable Years Views of the Ministry of Christian Universalism During the Last Half-Century; with Biographical Sketches by John G. (John Greenleaf) Adams

She turned away as though in a dream, and began absently to take off her garden hat.
— from John Ward, Preacher by Margaret Wade Campbell Deland

They did actually beat against the wainscot of his secret chamber, but hearing nothing, they left the spot, but continued to keep guard round the house, shouting out execrations against him.
— from Stray Pearls: Memoirs of Margaret De Ribaumont, Viscountess of Bellaise by Charlotte M. (Charlotte Mary) Yonge

We had apple pies once a week or so; and I was told by an employee in the kitchen, who had been a farmer in his time, that the apples were such as could be bought at a dollar a barrel, and that the charge appearing in bills submitted to the Government was five dollars.
— from The Subterranean Brotherhood by Julian Hawthorne

She liked its situation, its river, its luxuriant banks; altogether, she had an extraordinary desire to spend a day at Bridgnorth, and take her child.
— from The Manoeuvring Mother (vol. 2 of 3) by Bury, Charlotte Campbell, Lady

[Pg 377] very night), had found the lodges crammed with the spoil of the Custer battle, had killed several warriors and burned every ounce of Indian stores or provisions they could not use, and had two days' ringing, spirited fighting with Crazy Horse and his charging hosts among the fog wreaths and dripping crags of those strange, picturesque upheavals; then burying their dead and bringing away their wounded, they were once more within reach of supplies, though it might be weeks before they could come home.
— from Marion's Faith. by Charles King