For a lesson, I will let this darkness proceed, and spread night in the world; but whether I blot out the sun for good, or restore it, shall rest with you.
— from A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain

Knowing nothing whatever about the growing of roses, I steered a middle course—just as her Majesty’s judges do, when the scales of justice bother them by hanging even to a hair.
— from The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins

This bridge was fastened to the gate of the stronghold; and they worked it by the guidance of ropes, in such a way that it turned as if on some revolving hinge, and at one time let them pass across the river; while at another, drawn back from above by unseen cords, it helped to defend the entrance.
— from The Danish History, Books I-IX by Grammaticus Saxo

Throwing feet for dive from surface Diving For Lost Objects In covering a considerable area in search for bodies or lost objects, several ropes can be anchored with grapnels or rocks in squares and a systematic search thus maintained by divers.
— from Boy Scouts Handbook The First Edition, 1911 by Boy Scouts of America

How much rather ought you receivers to be considered as abandoned and execrable; who, when you usurp the dominion over those, who are as free and independent as yourselves, break the first law of justice, which ordains, "that no person shall do harm to another, without a previous provocation;" who offend against the dictates of nature, which commands, "that no just man shall be given or received into slavery against his own consent;" and who violate the very laws of the empire that you assume, by consigning your subjects to misery.
— from An Essay on the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species, Particularly the African Translated from a Latin Dissertation, Which Was Honoured with the First Prize in the University of Cambridge, for the Year 1785, with Additions by Thomas Clarkson

Thus Tlaloc, god of rain, is sometimes seen on ancient vases, his eyes circled with paper, his face running with water; or as an embryo cross, a perfect cross; and again in the form of a man lying on his back, supporting a vase to collect rain.
— from The Ancient Cities of the New World Being Travels and Explorations in Mexico and Central America From 1857-1882 by Désiré Charnay

A gentleman of rank in Salzburg was uncertain how to address the boy in conversation.
— from Life of Mozart, Vol. 1 (of 3) by Otto Jahn

Its etymology is not in books, but goes back to the first star that ever saw itself in running water; its cadence is that of a boat gliding over ripples; its syllables flow as liquidly as a woodland spring lingering in delight over shining pebbles.
— from Rosalind at Red Gate by Meredith Nicholson

What’s the good of ribbon, I should like to know?
— from A Dog Day; or, The Angel in the House by Walter Emanuel

I have rented an elegant chateau and furnished it in handsome style, according to what I fancied your taste would prefer; have engaged a retinue of servants; and there is a lovely garden of roses; in short, the home is ready, and only awaits its mistress.
— from An Old Man's Darling by Miller, Alex. McVeigh, Mrs.

Whatever you do for them, let your own being, that is you in relation to them, be the background, that so you may be a link between them and God, or rather I should say, between them and the knowledge of God.'
— from Robert Falconer by George MacDonald

Even speaking the truth on the ground of Righteousness is sufficient to dispel calamity, what can be said more to assert the good results of observing the Law?
— from The Gâtakamâlâ; Or, Garland of Birth-Stories by Aryasura