The Magical darkness which Marco ascribes to the evil arts of the Karaunas is explained by Khanikoff from the phenomenon of Dry Fog , which he has often experienced in Khorasan, combined with the Dust Storm with which we are familiar in Upper India.
— from The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 1 by Rustichello of Pisa

Some fortunate conjectures of future events, which impartial reasoners might ascribe to the experience and judgment of Athanasius, were attributed by his friends to heavenly inspiration, and imputed by his enemies to infernal magic.
— 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

But Aristotle, in the first book of his Treatise on Philosophy, says, that the Magi are more ancient than the Egyptians; and that according to them there are two principles, a good demon and an evil demon, and that the name of the one is Jupiter or Oromasdes, and that of the other Pluto or Arimanius.
— from The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers by Diogenes Laertius

He appeared disposed to add more, but indignation choked his utterance, so he lifted up one of his very pliable legs, and, flourishing it above his head a little, to insure his aim, administered a good sound kick to Gabriel Grub; immediately after which, all the goblins in waiting crowded round the wretched sexton, and kicked him without mercy, according to the established and invariable custom of courtiers upon earth, who kick whom royalty kicks, and hug whom royalty hugs.
— from The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens

We must not forget a very curious privilege which, in certain cases, was left to the culprit as a last resource; he might appeal to the emperor, and solicit an order which required the execution of the sentence to be applied after a delay of one hundred years, six weeks, and one day .
— from Manners, Customs, and Dress During the Middle Ages and During the Renaissance Period by P. L. Jacob

The fakirs of India, 39 and the monks of the Oriental church, were alike persuaded, that in the total abstraction of the faculties of the mind and body, the purer spirit may ascend to the enjoyment and vision of the Deity.
— 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

If with this intention we first of all review the interminable series of animals, consider the infinite variety of their forms, as they exhibit themselves always differently modified according to their element and manner of life, and also ponder the inimitable ingenuity of their structure and mechanism, which is carried out with equal perfection in every individual; and finally, if we take into consideration the incredible expenditure of strength, dexterity, prudence, and activity which every animal has ceaselessly to make through its whole life; if, approaching the matter more closely, we contemplate the untiring diligence of wretched little ants,
— from Introduction to the Science of Sociology by E. W. (Ernest Watson) Burgess

The idea of the women of America, (extricated from this daze, this fossil and unhealthy air which hangs about the word lady ,) develop'd, raised to become the robust equals, workers, and, it may be, even practical and political deciders with the men—greater than man, we may admit, through their divine maternity, always their towering, emblematical attribute—but great, at any rate, as
— from Complete Prose Works Specimen Days and Collect, November Boughs and Goodbye My Fancy by Walt Whitman

There is a sister science of harmonical motion, adapted to the ear as astronomy is to the eye, and there may be other applications also.
— from The Republic by Plato

The hail stopped, the thunder rolled and muttered away to the eastward, and the sun burst out merry and radiant over a world so changed that it seemed an absurd thing to think that a scant three quarters of an hour could have effected such a transformation.
— from Anne of Avonlea by L. M. (Lucy Maud) Montgomery

"The kingdom of God cometh not by observation;" and the only solution of the mystery is in the reflection that through the humble instrumentality Divine power was manifested, and that the Everlasting Arm was beneath the human one.
— from The Works of John Greenleaf Whittier, Volume VII, Complete The Conflict with Slavery, Politics and Reform, the Inner Life, and Criticism by John Greenleaf Whittier

Flashes and waves of pain darted up my arm to the elbow and the muscles in my forearm jumped.
— from Highways in Hiding by George O. (George Oliver) Smith

Rows of small books at the top of a bookcase look as petty to the mind as to the eyes, and, indeed, are in general more appropriately placed in dwarf bookcases specially fitted for their reception.
— from The Private Library What We Do Know, What We Don't Know, What We Ought to Know About Our Books by Arthur Lee Humphreys

This second structure, though less extensive and less solid than the first, was more attractive to the eye, as it abounded with scientifical and diversified decorations.
— from The Eulogies of Howard: A Vision by William Hayley

To the west lies a boundless prairie; to the north and south the fantastic valley of the Mississippi; and to the east a wilderness of forests and prairie, apparently reaching to the shores of Michigan.
— from A Summer in the Wilderness embracing a canoe voyage up the Mississippi and around Lake Superior by Charles Lanman

Wade needed meat, and to that end, as he went on, he kept a sharp lookout for deer, especially after he espied fresh tracks crossing the trail.
— from The Mysterious Rider by Zane Grey

In stating these pretentions, there is nothing I shall more avoid than the enthusiasm arising from that vanity or self-conceit, which leads people into the ridicule of over-rating the xii png 007 merit or importance of their profession.
— from A Treatise on the Art of Dancing by Giovanni-Andrea Gallini

They had turned to the right, he was certain as to that, and he pushed through the crowd of men around the theatre entrance, and hastened to overtake them.
— from Keith of the Border: A Tale of the Plains by Randall Parrish

Two months later, both father and mother were drowned during a terrible gale while on a yachting excursion in the Mediteranean, and this tragic event and terrible affliction nearly deprived him of his mind for a time and aged him many years in appearance.
— from The Heatherford Fortune a sequel to the Magic Cameo by Sheldon, Georgie, Mrs.