Sit, Jessica: look how the floor of heaven Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold; There's not the smallest orb which thou behold'st But in his motion like an angel sings, Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubins; Such harmony is in immortal souls; But, whilst this muddy vesture of decay Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it.
— from The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare

wherefore runs it into that torrent of pitch bubbling forth those monstrous tides of foul lustfulness, into which it is wilfully changed and transformed, being of its own will precipitated and corrupted from its heavenly clearness?
— from The Confessions of St. Augustine by Augustine, Saint, Bishop of Hippo

Substantially adopting the scheme just epitomized, he so carries it out and fortifies it and merges everything in it, with certain serious gaps now for the first time fill'd, that it becomes a coherent metaphysical system, and substantial answer (as far as there can be any answer) to the foregoing question—a system which, while I distinctly admit that the brain of the future may add to, revise, and even entirely reconstruct, at any rate beams forth to-day, in its entirety, illuminating the thought of the universe, and satisfying the mystery thereof to the human mind, with a more consoling scientific assurance than any yet.
— from Complete Prose Works Specimen Days and Collect, November Boughs and Goodbye My Fancy by Walt Whitman

It is worth crossing many oceans to see.
— from What Is Man? and Other Essays by Mark Twain

"Were it not for this one hill," Chia Cheng explained, "whatever scenery is contained in it would clearly strike the eye, as soon as one entered into the garden, and what pleasure would that have been?" "Quite so," rejoined all of them.
— from Hung Lou Meng, or, the Dream of the Red Chamber, a Chinese Novel, Book I by Xueqin Cao

, on Saponaria Matteucci, on the electric organs of rays Matthiola, reciprocal crosses of Maurandia Means of dispersal Melipona domestica Merrill, Dr., on the American cuckoo Metamorphism of oldest rocks Mice destroying bees —acclimatisation of —tails of Miller, Prof., on the cells of bees Mirabilis, crosses of Missel-thrush Mistletoe, complex relations of Mivart, Mr., on the relation of hair and teeth —on the eyes of cephalopods —various objections to Natural Selection —on abrupt modifications —on the resemblance of the mouse and antechinus Mocking-thrush of the Galapagos Modification of species, not abrupt Moles, blind Molothrus, habits of Mongrels, fertility and sterility of —and hybrids compared Monkeys, fossil Monachanthus Mons, Van, on the origin of fruit-trees Monstrosities Moquin-Tandon, on sea-side plants Morphology Morren, on the leaves of Oxalis Moths, hybrid Mozart, musical powers of Mud, seeds in Mules, striped Muller, Adolph, on the instincts of the cuckoo Muller, Dr. Ferdinand, on Alpine Australian plants Muller, Fritz, on dimorphic crustaceans —on the lancelet —on air-breathing crustaceans —on the self-sterility of orchids —on embryology in relation to classification —on the metamorphoses of crustaceans —on terrestrial and fresh-water organisms not undergoing any metamorphosis —on climbing plants Multiplication of species not indefinite Murchison, Sir, R., on the formations of Russia —on azoic formations —on extinction Murie, Dr., on the modification of the skull in old age Murray, Mr. A., on cave-insects Mustela vison Myanthus Myrmecocystus Myrmica, eyes of Nageli, on morphological characters Nails, rudimentary Nathusius, Von, on pigs Natural history, future progress of —selection —system Naturalisation of forms distinct from the indigenous species —in New Zealand Naudin, on analagous variations in gourds —on hybrid gourds —on reversion Nautilus, Silurian Nectar of plants Nectaries, how formed Nelumbium luteum Nests, variation in Neuter insects New Zealand, productions of, not perfect —naturalised products of —fossil birds of —glaciers of —crustaceans of —algae of —number of plants of —flora of Newman, Col., on humble-bees Newton, Prof., on earth attached to a partridge's foot Newton, Sir I., attacked for irreligion Nicotiana, crossed varieties of —certain species very sterile Nitsche, Dr., on the Polyzoa Noble, Mr., on fertility of Rhododendron Nodules, phosphatic, in azoic rocks Oak, varieties of Onites apelles Orchids, fertilisation of —the development of their flowers —forms of Orchis, pollen of Organisation, tendency to advance Organs of extreme perfection —electric, of fishes —of little importance —homologous —rudiments of, and nascent Ornithorhynchus, mammae of Ostrich not capable of flight —habit of laying eggs together —American, two species of Otter, habits of, how acquired Ouzel, water Owen, Prof., on birds not flying —on vegetative repetition —on variability of unusually developed parts —on the eyes of fishes —on the swim-bladder of fishes —on fossil horse of La Plata —on generalised form —on relation of ruminants and pachyderms —on fossil birds of New Zealand —on succession of types —on affinities of the dugong —on homologous organs —on the metamorphosis of cephalopods Pacific Ocean, faunas of Pacini, on electric organs Paley, on no organ formed to give pain Pallas, on the fertility of the domesticated descendants of wild stocks Palm with hooks Papaver bracteatum Paraguay, cattle destroyed by flies Parasites Partridge, with ball of dirt attached to foot Parts greatly developed, variable Parus major Passiflora Peaches in United States Pear, grafts of Pedicellariae Pelargonium, flowers of —sterility of Peloria Pelvis of women Period, glacial Petrels, habits of Phasianus, fertility of hybrids Pheasant, young, wild Pictet, Prof., on groups of species suddenly appearing —on rate of organic change —on continuous succession of genera —on close alliance of fossils in consecutive formations —on change in latest tertiary forms —on early transitional links Pierce, Mr., on varieties of wolves Pigeons with feathered feet and skin between toes —breeds described, and origin of —breeds of, how produced —tumbler, not being able to get out of egg —reverting to blue colour —instinct of tumbling —young of Pigs, black, not affected by the paint-root —modified by want of exercise Pistil, rudimentary Plants, poisonous, not affecting certain coloured animals —selection, applied to —gradual improvement of —not improved in barbarous countries —dimorphic —destroyed by insects —in midst of range, have to struggle with other plants —nectar of —fleshy, on sea-shores —climbing —fresh-water, distribution of —low in scale, widely distributed Pleuronectidae, their structure Plumage, laws of change in sexes of birds Plums in the United States Pointer dog, origin of —habits of Poison not affecting certain coloured animals Poison, similar effect of, on animals and plants Pollen of fir-trees —transported by various means Pollinia, their development Polyzoa, their avicularia Poole, Col., on striped hemionus Potemogeton Pouchet, on the colours of flat-fish Prestwich, Mr., on English and French eocene formations Proctotrupes Proteolepas Proteus Psychology, future progress of Pyrgoma, found in the chalk Quagga, striped Quatrefages, M., on hybrid moths Quercus, variability of Quince, grafts of Rabbits, disposition of young Races, domestic, characters of Race-horses, Arab —English Radcliffe, Dr., the electrical organs of the torpedo Ramond, on plants of Pyrenees Ramsay, Prof., on subaerial denudation —on thickness of the British formations —on faults Ramsay, Mr., on instincts of cuckoo Ratio of increase Rats, supplanting each other —acclimatisation of —blind, in cave Rattle-snake Reason and instinct Recapitulation, general Reciprocity of crosses Record, geological, imperfect Rengger, on flies destroying cattle Reproduction, rate of Resemblance, protective, of insects —to parents in mongrels and hybrids Reversion, law of inheritance —in pigeons, to blue colour Rhododendron, sterility of Richard, Prof., on Aspicarpa Richardson, Sir J., on structure of squirrels —on fishes of the southern hemisphere Robinia, grafts of Rodents, blind Rogers, Prof., Map of N. America Rudimentary organs Rudiments important for classification Rutimeyer, on Indian cattle Sageret, on grafts Salamandra atra Saliva used in nests Salmons, males fighting, and hooked jaws of Salt-water, how far injurious to seeds —not destructive to land-shells Salter, Mr., on early death of hybrid embryos Salvin, Mr., on the beaks of ducks Saurophagus sulphuratus Schacht, Prof., on Phyllotaxy Schiodte, on blind insects —on flat-fish Schlegel, on snakes Schobl, Dr., on the ears of mice Scott, Mr. J., on the self-sterility of orchids —on the crossing of varieties of verbascum Sea-water, how far injurious to seeds —not destructive to land-shells Sebright, Sir J., on crossed animals Sedgwick, Prof., on groups of species suddenly appearing Seedlings destroyed by insects Seeds, nutriment in —winged —means of dissemination —power of resisting salt-water —in crops and intestines of birds —eaten by fish —in mud —hooked, on islands Selection of domestic products —principle not of recent origin —unconscious —natural —sexual —objections to term —natural, has not induced sterility Sexes, relations of Sexual characters variable —selection Sheep, Merino, their selection —two sub-breeds, unintentionally produced —mountain, varieties of Shells, colours of, littoral —hinges of —seldom embedded Shells, fresh-water, long retain the same forms —fresh-water, dispersal of —of Madeira —land, distribution of —land, resisting salt water Shrew-mouse Silene, infertility of crosses Silliman, Prof., on blind rat Sirenia, their affinities Sitaris, metamorphosis of Skulls of young mammals Slave-making instinct Smith, Col. Hamilton, on striped horses Smith, Dr., on the Polyzoa Smith, Mr. Fred., on slave-making ants —on neuter ants Snake with tooth for cutting through egg-shell Somerville, Lord, on selection of sheep Sorbus, grafts of Sorex Spaniel, King Charles' breed Specialisation of organs Species, polymorphic —dominant —common, variable —in large genera variable —groups of, suddenly appearing —beneath Silurian formations —successively appearing —changing simultaneously throughout the world Spencer, Lord, on increase in size of cattle Spencer, Mr. Herbert, on the first steps in differentiation —on the tendency to an equilibrium in all forces Sphex, parasitic Spiders, development of Sports in plants Sprengel, C.C., on crossing —on ray-florets Squalodon Squirrels, gradations in structure Staffordshire, heath, changes in Stag-beetles, fighting Star fishes, eyes of —their pedicellariae Sterility from changed conditions of life —of hybrids —laws of —causes of —from unfavourable conditions —not induced through natural selection St. Helena, productions of St. Hilaire, Aug., on variability of certain plants —on classification St. John, Mr., on habits of cats Sting of bee Stocks, aboriginal, of domestic animals Strata, thickness of, in Britain Stripes on horses Structure, degrees of utility of Struggle for existence Succession, geological —of types in same areas Swallow, one species supplanting another Swaysland, Mr., on earth adhering to the feet of migratory birds Swifts, nests of Swim-bladder Switzerland, lake inhabitants of System, natural Tail of giraffe —of aquatic animals —prehensile —rudimentary Tanais, dimorphic Tarsi deficient Tausch, Dr., on umbelliferae Teeth and hair correlated —rudimentary, in embryonic calf Tegetmeier, Mr., on cells of bees Temminck, on distribution aiding classification Tendrils, their development Thompson, Sir W., on the age of the habitable world —on the consolidation of the crust of the earth Thouin, on grafts Thrush, aquatic species of —mocking, of the Galapagos —young of, spotted —nest of Thuret, M., on crossed fuci Thwaites, Mr., on acclimatisation Thylacinus Tierra del Fuego, dogs of —plants of Timber-drift Time, lapse of —by itself not causing modification Titmouse Toads on islands Tobacco, crossed varieties of Tomes, Mr., on the distribution of bats Transitions in varieties rare Traquair, Dr., on flat-fish Trautschold, on intermediate varieties Trees on islands belong to peculiar orders —with separated sexes Trifolium pratense —incarnatum Trigonia Trilobites —sudden extinction of Trimen, Mr., on imitating-insects Trimorphism in plants Troglodytes Tuco-tuco, blind Tumbler pigeons, habits of, hereditary —young of Turkey-cock, tuft of hair on breast Turkey, naked skin on head —young of, instinctively wild Turnip and cabbage, analogous variations of Type, unity of Types, succession of, in same areas Typotherium Udders enlarged by use —rudimentary Ulex, young leaves of Umbelliferae, flowers and seeds of —outer and inner florets of Unity of type Uria lacrymans Use, effects of —under domestication —in a state of nature Utility, how far important in the construction of each part Valenciennes, on fresh-water fish Variability of mongrels and hybrids Variation, under domestication —caused by reproductive system being affected by conditions of life —under nature —laws of —correlated Variations appear at corresponding ages —analogous in distinct species Varieties, natural —struggle between —domestic, extinction of —transitional, rarity of Varieties, when crossed —fertile —sterile —classification of Verbascum, sterility of —varieties of, crossed Verlot, M., on double stocks Verneuil, M. de, on the succession of species Vibracula of the Polyzoa Viola, small imperfect flowers of —tricolor Virchow, on the structure of the crystalline lens Virginia, pigs of Volcanic islands, denudation of Vulture, naked skin on head Wading-birds Wagner, Dr., on Cecidomyia Wagner, Moritz, on the importance of isolation Wallace, Mr., on origin of species —on the limit of variation under domestication —on dimorphic lepidoptera —on races in the Malay Archipelago —on the improvement of the eye —on the walking-stick insect —on laws of geographical distribution —on the Malay Archipelago —on mimetic animals Walsh, Mr. B.D., on phytophagic forms —on equal variability Water, fresh, productions of Water-hen Waterhouse, Mr., on Australian marsupials —on greatly developed parts being variable —on the cells of bees —on general affinities Water-ouzel Watson, Mr. H.C., on range of varieties of British plants —on acclimatisation —on flora of Azores —on rarity of intermediate varieties —on Alpine plants —on convergence —on the indefinite multiplication of species Weale, Mr., on locusts transporting seeds Web of feet in water-birds Weismann, Prof., on the causes of variability —on rudimentary organs West Indian islands, mammals of Westwood, on species in large genera being closely allied to others —on the tarsi of Engidae —on the antennae of hymenopterous insects Whales Wheat, varieties of White Mountains, flora of Whittaker, Mr., on lines of escarpment Wichura, Max, on hybrids Wings, reduction of size —of insects homologous with branchiae —rudimentary, in insects Wolf crossed with dog —of Falkland Isles Wollaston, Mr., on varieties of insects —on fossil varieties of shells in Madeira Wollaston, Mr., on colours of insects on sea-shore —on wingless beetles —on rarity of intermediate varieties —on insular insects —on land-shells of Madeira naturalised Wolves, varieties of Woodcock with earth attached to leg Woodpecker, habits of —green colour of Woodward, Mr., on the duration of specific forms —on Pyrgoma —on the continuous succession of genera —on the succession of types World,
— from The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection Or, the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life, 6th Edition by Charles Darwin

Who is so foolish as not to see that these oracles were either composed by a clever man with a strong animus against the Christians, or were uttered as responses by impure demons with a similar design,—that is to say, in order that their praise of Christ may win credence for their vituperation of Christians; and that thus they may, if possible, close the way of eternal salvation, which is identical with Christianity?
— from The City of God, Volume II by Augustine, Saint, Bishop of Hippo

If in the shape of a bird or an insect it was caught in the snare, the man would infallibly die.
— from The Golden Bough: A Study of Magic and Religion by James George Frazer

But in his age it had come to be associated generally with the idea of subtle dialectics and profitless speculation; while in this particular instance it was combined with a mystic cosmogony and angelology which contributed a fresh element of danger.
— from St. Paul's Epistles to the Colossians and Philemon A revised text with introductions, notes and dissertations by J. B. (Joseph Barber) Lightfoot

[21] nor letter from him & to this purpose I desired Mr. Leiftenant to lett me see my Confession who told me I should not unlesse I wold inlarge it w ch he did p'ceive I had no meaning to doe.
— from The Identification of the Writer of the Anonymous Letter to Lord Monteagle in 1605 by Monteagle, William Parker, Baron

I do not myself know a single Christian doctrine to which I could not get most Shiahs to agree, if I was careful to state it in language with which they were familiar, and not to dwell on its divergence from the Mussulman idea.
— from Five Years in a Persian Town by Napier Malcolm

When, as in the present instance, scholarship is united with a deep and active interest in whatever concerns the practical well-being of men, we have one of the best results of our modern civilization.
— from The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 05, No. 31, May, 1860 A Magazine of Literature, Art, and Politics by Various

There would be something particularly humorous in the barefacedness of this august Sultan of Zanzibar, if it were connected with anything less horrible than slavery.
— from Black Ivory by R. M. (Robert Michael) Ballantyne

Many factories had to be closed, owners were ruined, and men thrown out of work; it happened that, by a law passed in 1873, the last duty on imported iron would cease on the 31st of December, 1876.
— from Bismarck and the Foundation of the German Empire by James Wycliffe Headlam

So it is with cause and effect: so too with order.
— from Biographia Literaria by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

With the revival of interest in all "antiques," which is so widely spread at this time, any of us who chance to own an old piece of furniture feel an added degree of affection for it if we can give it an approximate date and assign it to a maker or a country.
— from The Old Furniture Book, with a Sketch of Past Days and Ways by N. Hudson Moore

A New York journal recently said: “The reports to the Society for the Prevention of Crime show that the city is in worse condition than ever before.
— from Chicago, Satan's Sanctum by L. O. Curon

There stretched Silvertip's dark figure, lying still and stark, and there was Kate's white form in its winding, crimson wreath of blood.
— from The Spirit of the Border: A Romance of the Early Settlers in the Ohio Valley by Zane Grey

So far as the major's part in it was concerned, it was the Stickney veto story all over again, with variations.
— from The Escape of Mr. Trimm His Plight and other Plights by Irvin S. (Irvin Shrewsbury) Cobb