In view of his determination a revolver was now of no use to Sigaev, but the shopman, meanwhile, getting more and more enthusiastic, persisted in displaying his wares before him.
— from Project Gutenberg Compilation of 233 Short Stories of Chekhov by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov

Since I am now upon the subject of my Venetian acquaintance, I must not forget one which I still preserved for a considerable time after my intercourse with the rest had ceased.
— from The Confessions of Jean Jacques Rousseau — Complete by Jean-Jacques Rousseau

He was forced to subsist on carcasses and roots, and not until the spring fishing began and a provision caravan sent by Bering arrived, did he escape this dire distress.
— from Vitus Bering: the Discoverer of Bering Strait by Peter Lauridsen

Martin, having remonstrated with the people against this superstition, was told of a woman’s having come out of the valley a lunatic because she had not uttered the spell of three sentences.
— from Demonology and Devil-lore by Moncure Daniel Conway

On the days of solemn festivals, they assembled in great numbers under the spreading shade of some consecrated trees; sheep and oxen were slaughtered and roasted; and this rural entertainment was sanctified by the use of incense, and by the hymns which were sung in honor of the gods.
— 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

It is known that the governor claims the right of nomination, upon the strength of some ambiguous expressions in the constitution; but it is not known to what extent, or in what manner he exercises it; nor upon what occasions he is contradicted or opposed.
— from The Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton

“I do not understand thee!” said Death.
— from Andersen's Fairy Tales by H. C. (Hans Christian) Andersen

{*3} We kept on our course, between the south and west, with variable weather, until the twentieth of the month, when we found ourselves on the debated ground, being in latitude 53 degrees 15’ S., longitude 47 degrees 58’ W.—that is to say, very nearly upon the spot indicated as the situation of the most southern of the group.
— from The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven Edition Table Of Contents And Index Of The Five Volumes by Edgar Allan Poe

Philip of Macedon dreamed he sealed up his wife’s belly, whereby he did expound it, that his wife should be barren; but Aristander the soothsayer told him his wife was with child, because men do not use to seal vessels that are empty.
— from Bacon's Essays, and Wisdom of the Ancients by Francis Bacon

It was not until the sun rose over the long swell that we slept for an hour or more; and after sleep we were both calmer, looking for ships with much expectation, and that longing which the derelict only may know.
— from The Iron Pirate: A Plain Tale of Strange Happenings on the Sea by Max Pemberton

And they heard the voice of murmuring winds, And the bird songs free and wild, Till their souls were filled with subtle sweets, As nature upon them smiled.
— from Canadian Battlefields, and Other Poems by J. R. (John Richardson) Wilkinson

So one by one, with Nod's clear flame for guide, they trod noiselessly up the sandy earth-run.
— from The Three Mulla-mulgars by Walter De la Mare

I added words and figures to the checks, like the fool that I was, not using the same ink that father used for the signatures, and—and the bank found out.” “Horrible! horrible!
— from The Scarlet Feather by Houghton Townley

She did not understand the suddenness of this invitation.
— from John Sherman; and, Dhoya by W. B. (William Butler) Yeats

“You never understood that speech of mine,” he replied, with prompt mendacity.
— from Penelope's Experiences in Scotland Being Extracts from the Commonplace Book of Penelope Hamilton by Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin

Martin was not used to such attention, and appreciated it.
— from Rufus and Rose; Or, The Fortunes of Rough and Ready by Alger, Horatio, Jr.

After all was quiet, they sought for a door-step, and lay down for the night under the stars.
— from The Huguenots in France by Samuel Smiles