We were told that this would not be the case; that we were by nature a poetical people, a nation easily duped by words, ready to array clouds in splendour, and bestow honour on the dust.
— from The Last Man by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

There were also bills of the play, auction notices, etc., depending upon the character of the place.
— from All About Coffee by William H. (William Harrison) Ukers

Court attendance infinite tedious Cure of the King’s evil, which he do deny altogether Diana did not come according to our agreement Did not like that Clergy should meddle with matters of state Dined with my wife on pease porridge and nothing else Dined upon six of my pigeons, which my wife has resolved to kill Do press for new oaths to be put upon men Drink at a bottle beer house in the Strand Drinking of the King’s health upon their knees in the streets Duke of York and Mrs. Palmer did talk to one another very wanton Else he is a blockhead, and not fitt for that imployment Fashionable and black spots Finding my wife’s clothes lie carelessly laid up First time I had given her leave to wear a black patch First time that ever I heard the organs in a cathedral Five pieces of gold for to do him a small piece of service Fixed that the year should commence in January instead of March Formerly say that the King was a bastard and his mother a whore Gave him his morning draft Gentlewomen did hold up their heads to be kissed by the King God help him, he wants bread.
— from The Diary of Samuel Pepys — Complete by Samuel Pepys

Difference there will be between my father and mother about it Dine with them, at my cozen Roger’s mistress’s Dined with my wife on pease porridge and nothing else Dined upon six of my pigeons, which my wife has resolved to kill Dined at home alone, a good calves head boiled and dumplings
— from The Diary of Samuel Pepys — Complete by Samuel Pepys

It may be objected that the annual waste is partial, and not equally derived from the general surface of the country, inasmuch as plains, water-sheds, and level ground at all heights remain comparatively unaltered; but this, as Mr. Geikie has well pointed out, does not affect our estimate of the sum total of denudation.
— from The Student's Elements of Geology by Lyell, Charles, Sir

She who had her hand caught by the iron gate leading into the area of the square in a high wind, and nearly crushed to pieces; who next fell into a pond, and narrowly escaped drowning; and was finally, at six years of age, so burned by her cap taking fire, that she soon after died.
— from Homes and Haunts of the Most Eminent British Poets, Vol. 2 (of 2) by William Howitt

Just that you, my precious, are now entirely different; you have met me so coldly.
— from Plays by Aleksandr Nikolaevich Ostrovsky

But the two young Italians seemed much attracted by the whole Fairfield party, and nearly every day after that they dropped in to tea, or invited them to go on little excursions, or brought small gifts to Nan and the girls.
— from Patty's Pleasure Trip by Carolyn Wells

These positions are not elaborately defended now, because to vindicate them would imply a possibility of our waiving them.
— from The Papers and Writings of Abraham Lincoln, Complete by Abraham Lincoln

Insane 38 among prisoners are not especially difficult to manage; no harsh measures are ever justifiable.
— from The Journal of Prison Discipline and Philanthropy (New Series, No. 46, January 1907) by Pennsylvania Prison Society

I—I do not own this building; at least—I mean—there are heavy incumbrances on it; I have to pay away nearly every dollar I receive."
— from Charlie Codman's Cruise: A Story for Boys by Alger, Horatio, Jr.

She was even rich enough to purchase a new evening dress and a pretty blouse which Mary had ordered to be sent up on approval, and not for many a year afterward did she guess why those charming things happened to be such bargains.
— from Molly Brown's Freshman Days by Nell Speed

Gentlemen see the difficulties of their theories, and are obliged to confess that these incidental powers are not easily defined.
— from Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856, Vol. 1 (of 16) by United States. Congress