de la Civilisation Moderne, i. 258.—M.] Ancient Germany, excluding from its independent limits the province westward of the Rhine, which had submitted to the Roman yoke, extended itself over a third part of Europe.
— 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

Now and then when Ealer had to stop to cough, I pulled my induction-talents together and hove the controversial lead myself: always getting eight feet, eight and a half, often nine, sometimes even quarter-less-twain—as I believed; but always "no bottom," as he said.
— from What Is Man? and Other Essays by Mark Twain

light, by which all this was visible; and which was doubtless the occasion of its using, in its duller moments, a great extinguisher for a cap, which it now held under its arm.
— from A Christmas Carol in Prose; Being a Ghost Story of Christmas by Charles Dickens

Here, therefore, we shall strictly adhere to a rule of Horace; by which writers are directed to pass over all those matters which they despair of placing in a shining light;—a rule, we conceive, of excellent use as well to the historian as to the poet; and which, if followed, must at least have this good effect, that many a great evil (for so all great books are called) would thus be reduced to a small one.
— from History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding

In Heidaby he met the Danish king, Nikolas, who received him in the most friendly way, made a great entertainment for him, accompanied him north to Jutland, and gave him a ship provided with everything needful.
— from Heimskringla; Or, The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway by Snorri Sturluson

To cover a good deal of ground only to come back unwittingly to the starting-point, is to make a great effort for a result that is nil.
— from Laughter: An Essay on the Meaning of the Comic by Henri Bergson

Medicis are good enough for Florence.
— from The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain

I’ve made a great exception for you.
— from The Portrait of a Lady — Volume 1 by Henry James

[Pg 41] moments, a great extinguisher for a cap, which it now held under its arm.
— from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

To mistake a grave error for a duty has a grandeur of its own.
— from Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

Her chair inched steadily along the dull carpet, and once or twice she brought up just as she was about to make a gradual exit from the room.
— from A Poor Wise Man by Mary Roberts Rinehart

She leaned to me; a glow emanated from her.
— from Desert Dust by Edwin L. (Edwin Legrand) Sabin

Its extent and resources seemed to point it out as the future residence of millions; and he determined to share in the exploration of its geography, geology, mineralogy and general ethnology, for in this latter respect also it offered, by its curious mounds and antiquities and existing Indian tribes, a field of peculiar and undeveloped interest.
— from Personal Memoirs of a Residence of Thirty Years with the Indian Tribes on the American Frontiers by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft

igested Drainage Bill, applicable to Ireland, cannot be hastily prepared; if so it may be again a nugatory one, and it is some great measure, and great expenditure for some years to come, under a Drainage and reclaiming of waste lands Bill, that is to be of permanent and effectual relief to this impoverished country."— Mr. Lambert of Brookhill's letter to the Lord Lieutenant, October 4th .
— from The History of the Great Irish Famine of 1847 (3rd ed.) (1902) With Notices of Earlier Irish Famines by O'Rourke, John, Canon

He had been listening to our talking about the trip, and he thought that notice would make a good excuse for Jud to call on us and try to arrange passage for the two of them.”
— from The River Motor Boat Boys on the Yukon: The Lost Mine of Rainbow Bend by Harry Gordon

The younger children will probably want to go to the circus, and that will give me a good excuse for attending myself,” the lawyer went on with a laugh, in which Ruth joined.
— from The Corner House Girls on a Houseboat How they sailed away, what happened on the voyage, and what was discovered by Grace Brooks Hill

To be sure they called him "slow coach", "old tortoise", "fatty", and bestowed upon him many another gibing epithet, frankly telling him to his face that he was a big idiot.
— from Paul and the Printing Press by Sara Ware Bassett

I want you to call again anyhow and these cranks 'll make a good excuse for doin' it," he added.
— from Shavings: A Novel by Joseph Crosby Lincoln

Many appeared glad, either from hatred to the Duc du Maine, or from affection for the Comte de Toulouse; several were in consternation.
— from Court Memoirs of France Series — Complete by Various

[Pg 229] reputation and a handsome back is no disgrace and if that and a handful of costume is art far be it from me to say anything: but it is neither refinement nor does it make a good executor for a live organization like the Kittens.
— from Believe You Me! by Nina Wilcox Putnam