All there sweet lives untroubled spend In bliss and joy that know not end, While pearl-decked maidens laugh, or sing To music of the silvery string.
— from The Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verse by Valmiki

These feelings are in themselves of a pleasurable nature, excepting when pity is too deep, or horror is aroused, as in hearing of a tortured man or animal.
— from The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals by Charles Darwin

The conversation which now ensued was pleasant enough; and with which, had it happened earlier in our history, we would have entertained our reader; but as we have now leisure only to attend to what is very material, it shall suffice to say that matters being entirely adjusted as to the afternoon visit Mr Western again returned home.
— from History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding

It is only after their initiation is completely finished that the young men have access to it: there are some who are not esteemed worthy [Pg 121] of this favour except after years of trial.
— from The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life by Émile Durkheim

The Roman commanders never undertook any naval expedition without propitiating Neptune by a sacrifice.
— from Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome by E. M. Berens

Now, ere we part, we must drink sweet friendship.
— from The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle

Yet I glory More in the cunning purchase of my wealth, Than in the glad possession; since I gain No common way; I use no trade, no venture; I wound no earth with plough-shares; fat no beasts, To feed the shambles; have no mills for iron, Oil, corn, or men, to grind them into powder: I blow no subtle glass; expose no ships To threat'nings of the furrow-faced sea; I turn no monies in the public bank, Nor usure private.
— from Volpone; Or, The Fox by Ben Jonson

The same Moses (the civill Soveraigne of Israel) when he consecrated Aaron (the High Priest,) and his Sons, did wash them with Water, (not Exorcised water,) put their Garments upon them, and anointed them with Oyle; and they were sanctified, to minister unto the Lord in the Priests office; which was a simple and decent cleansing, and adorning them, before hee presented them to God, to be his servants.
— from Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes

f the outer room was astonishing in its sumptuousness of decoration and furnishing, the one they now entered was positively breath-taking.
— from Astounding Stories of Super-Science, August 1930 by Various

Slipping off her sodden garments, she dried herself quickly and put on a low-necked, short-sleeved, silk nightgown embroidered with purple pansies.
— from A Son of the Sahara by Louise Gerard

It is wholly unnecessary to accept the romance of the passion of the Abbé for his sister-in-law imported into the story by Pitaval, and for which no evidence was produced later.
— from A Book of the Cevennes by S. (Sabine) Baring-Gould

At the banquet given there in his honour, a silver goblet, of artistic workmanship filled to the brim with his native earth, was presented to him.
— from Frederic Chopin: His Life, Letters, and Works, v. 1 (of 2) by Maurycy Karasowski

(2) The tube was placed so that the conical ends of the armatures were allowed to compress the centre of it between them; still no effect was produced on the flame.
— from Auroræ: Their Characters and Spectra by J. Rand Capron

All purchasers were accordingly asked to return their copies, and to send their names and addresses; a new edition was prepared, and distributed to those who had sent back their old copies, which the author gave away to various homes and hospitals.
— from The Life and Letters of Lewis Carroll (Rev. C. L. Dodgson) by Stuart Dodgson Collingwood

New England was practically safe, although the British held Newport; and all the country south of the Delaware was free from them.
— from Beacon Lights of History, Volume 11: American Founders by John Lord

I shall never either write plays or have them acted.
— from Letters of Anton Chekhov to His Family and Friends by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov