To lose it would have meant utter ruin, for France has faced no such crisis since Charles Martel repelled the Saracens at Tours in 732.
— from The Note-Book of an Attaché: Seven Months in the War Zone by Eric Fisher Wood

We made up river for five miles; the road has certainly been constructed ages ago by a people possessing some degree of civilisation.
— from Sun, Sand and Somals Leaves from the note-book of a District Commissioner in British Somaliland by Henry A. Rayne

We are hardly surprised to find that in the middle of this fortnight the Duke made urgent request for fresh stores of champagne; he may well have needed the stimulant amid such pressure of work and fatigue.
— from A History of the British Army, Vol. 1 First Part—to the Close of the Seven Years' War by Fortescue, J. W. (John William), Sir

But we very soon had a more urgent reason for fear, for the genie, having got loose from the princess, came to the gallery where we stood, and blew flames of fire upon us.
— from Fairy Tales from the Arabian Nights by E. Dixon