The mahogany box was placed in a proper position, and I peeped in through its small round magnifying-window while the girl sat by my side and gave short descriptive sketches as one after another the pictures were unfolded to my view.
— from Twice Told Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne

For instance, in company at a dinner, or at an assembly, one says something in Latin, or makes some allusion from history or philosophy, and it pleases people, and it pleases me myself. . . .
— from Project Gutenberg Compilation of 233 Short Stories of Chekhov by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov

But though they make the greatest Appearance in the Field, and cry the loudest, the best on't is they are but a sort of French Huguenots, or Dutch Boors, brought over in Herds, but not Naturalized; who have not Lands of two Pounds per Annum in Parnassus , and therefore are not privileged to poll.
— from The Spectator, Volume 1 Eighteenth-Century Periodical Essays by Steele, Richard, Sir

The present culprit was extremely pale, Pale as if painted so; her cheek being red By nature, as in higher dames less hale 'T is white, at least when they just rise from bed.
— from Don Juan by Byron, George Gordon Byron, Baron

Paul Pry , an inquisitive person.
— from The Slang Dictionary: Etymological, Historical and Andecdotal by John Camden Hotten

It was a pretty invention, and received into most governments of the world, to institute certain vain and in themselves valueless distinctions to honour and recompense virtue, such as the crowns of laurel, oak, and myrtle, the particular fashion of some garment, the privilege to ride in a coach in the city, or at night with a torch, some peculiar place assigned in public assemblies, the prerogative of certain additional names and titles, certain distinctions in the bearing of coats of arms, and the like, the use of which, according to the several humours of nations, has been variously received, and yet continues.
— from Essays of Michel de Montaigne — Complete by Michel de Montaigne

Viswámitra was champion of the high priestly party and its political pretensions.
— from Demonology and Devil-lore by Moncure Daniel Conway

First, it is likely that before the rise of the Ionian epos there existed in Boeotia a purely popular and indigenous poetry of a crude form: it comprised, we may suppose, versified proverbs and precepts relating to life in general, agricultural maxims, weather-lore, and the like.
— from Hesiod, the Homeric Hymns, and Homerica by Hesiod

A LLUSION has occurred above to the Edicts of Grace which, in the earlier period, played an important part in the machinery of the Inquisition.
— from A History of the Inquisition of Spain; vol. 2 by Henry Charles Lea

While waiting, Mrs. Carmichael and Mr. Errol took a stroll in the dark woods adjoining, and brought back some floral specimens in the shape of Prince's Pines, Pyrolas, and Indian Pipes, which were deposited in the lap of the finder's daughter, with a suggestiveness that young lady felt disposed to resent.
— from Two Knapsacks: A Novel of Canadian Summer Life by John Campbell

The country on the borders of this desert, to the right and left, is inhabited by roving Arabs, at the distance of three or four days from the track which the caravan pursues; and is said to be partly plain, and in part hilly, with a little grass, and a few shrubs; when the cattle of these Arabs have consumed what grows in one spot, their owners remove to another.
— from An Account of Timbuctoo and Housa Territories in the Interior of Africa by Shabeeny, Abd Salam, active 1820

Nor need we imagine, because Greek literature abounds in references to paiderastia, and because this passion played an important part in Greek history, that therefore the majority of the race were not susceptible in a far higher degree to female charms.
— from A Problem in Greek Ethics Being an inquiry into the phenomenon of sexual inversion, addressed especially to medical psychologists and jurists by John Addington Symonds

Yet why do I mention those animals in which the property of the pneuma plays an important part, when it is possible to base one’s argument upon human beings, in whom it is either of no importance at all, or acts quite faintly and feebly?
— from Galen: On the Natural Faculties by Galen

[page 517] Any one who will observe a flower-head burying itself, will be convinced that the rocking movement, due to the continued circumnutation of the peduncle, plays an important part in the act.
— from The Power of Movement in Plants by Darwin, Francis, Sir

Dora Russell had declared, in Hester’s presence, and with intense energy in her manner, that the author of the insult to which she had been exposed should be publicly punished and, if possible, expelled.
— from A World of Girls: The Story of a School by L. T. Meade

With these considerations before us, we feel confident that every person who desires the well-being of the country, who wishes to see it prosperous and flourishing, will unite in putting down every course which may have a tendency to disturb the public peace, and in promoting, by every means in his power, the cause of justice, obedience to the laws, and mutual accommodation.
— from A History of Oregon, 1792-1849 Drawn From Personal Observation and Authentic Information by W. H. (William Henry) Gray

The joint of pork, so far prepared, must then be placed upon a trivet in a baking-dish containing plenty of peeled potatoes, and, if possible, a few apples for the children; add half a pint of water, pepper and salt, and if the joint happens to be a leg, it will require about two hours to bake it.
— from A Plain Cookery Book for the Working Classes by Charles Elmé Francatelli