The Hymn is doubtless a very ancient form; but if no example of extreme antiquity survive this must be put down to the fact that until the age of literary consciousness, such things are not preserved.
— from Hesiod, the Homeric Hymns, and Homerica by Hesiod

Over the wide surface of France, ever and anon, through the spring months, as the Sower casts his corn abroad upon the furrows, sounds of congregating and dispersing; of crowds in deliberation, acclamation, voting by ballot and by voice,—rise discrepant towards the ear of Heaven.
— from The French Revolution: A History by Thomas Carlyle

71 The Nile which now adorns the Vatican, had been explored by some laborers in digging a vineyard near the temple, or convent, of the Minerva; but the impatient proprietor, who was tormented by some visits of curiosity, restored the unprofitable marble to its former grave.
— from The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Table of Contents with links in the HTML file to the two Project Gutenberg editions (12 volumes) by Edward Gibbon

The Russian wit is of the energetic kind, devoid of grace; all they care about is directness and vigour.
— from The Memoirs of Jacques Casanova de Seingalt, 1725-1798. Complete by Giacomo Casanova

I deduced a ventilator.”
— from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

And in Delaware and Virginia he is not impeachable till out of office.
— from The Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton

NEGATIVE CHARACTER OF SOCIALISM.—But although the constructive program of socialism is vague and unreal, its destructive or negative program is definite and very real.
— from Problems in American Democracy by Thames Williamson

[13] They interpreted the will of Heaven as mysteriously revealed in dreams and visions.
— from The History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic — Volume 1 by William Hickling Prescott

It describes a visit paid by Freyja to the Sibyl to learn the genealogy of her favourite Ottar.
— from The Edda, Volume 1 The Divine Mythology of the North Popular Studies in Mythology, Romance, and Folklore, No. 12 by L. Winifred Faraday

This washing must be continued until all traces of alkali have been destroyed, when the pigment is drained, and very slowly dried at a low temperature to avoid decomposition.
— from Pigments, Paint and Painting: A practical book for practical men by George Terry

To which he readily answered, "Oh, it describes a very fat man."
— from Reminiscences of Scottish Life & Character by Edward Bannerman Ramsay

"The Spaniards having sent out a great number of mortar and gun-boats, and armed launches, I directed a vigorous attack to be made on them; which was done with such gallantry, that they were drove and pursued close to the walls of Cadiz, and must have suffered considerable loss: and I have the pleasure to inform you, that two mortar-boats, and an armed launch, remain in our possession.
— from The Life of the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson, Volume 1 by James Harrison

I draw a veil over the explanations, the lectures, and the appeals which followed, as also I forbear to dwell upon the consternation of the man of science, and the cruel disorganisation of all his cherished theories.
— from Parkhurst Boys, and Other Stories of School Life by Talbot Baines Reed

Bericht über die Verhandlungen der vom 23 bis 28 September 1874 in Dresden abgehaltenen vierten allgemeinen Conferenz der Europäischen Gradmessung (Berlin, 1875).
— from Development of Gravity Pendulums in the 19th Century Contributions from the Museum of History and Technology, Papers 34-44 On Science and Technology, Smithsonian Institution, 1966 by Victor F. (Victor Fritz) Lenzen

“Your lives from this day may flow as smooth as a river, but the memory of this summer, with its joys and hopes, its perils, despairs, its defeats and victories can never be taken from you.”
— from Witches Cove A Mystery Story for Girls by Roy J. (Roy Judson) Snell