“It really is very extraordinary,” thought she: “he seems as if he was spell-bound—obliged by his notions of politeness to let me pass incognita.”
— from Tales and Novels — Volume 09 by Maria Edgeworth

As the two young men walked up the private road they heard from the rear of the house a confused barking of dogs, and above the noise a girl's clear voice, raised in vain endeavour to still the joyful tumult.
— from The Prophet's Mantle by E. (Edith) Nesbit

Stiff and erect as a Hungarian hussar, he curvetted along the smooth roads, till he had worked his slight-framed, spirited animal into a fever of excitement, which flung the foam over his rider, as he tossed his head, swelled his curved neck, and champed his bit in rage, in vain efforts to spring away, free from his thraldom; but the rider fingered the slight bridle-rein with the ease and skill of a master.
— from The South-West, by a Yankee. In Two Volumes. Volume 2 by J. H. (Joseph Holt) Ingraham

The matter in Sir E.'s book renders it very easy to show what has been done of late years.
— from Memoirs of the Life and Correspondence of Henry Reeve, C.B., D.C.L. In Two Volumes. Volume II. by Henry Reeve

When he found these conditions, proved and tried, He owned he marvelled, but was satisfied— Relaxed in vigilance enough to smile
— from The Old Soldier's Story: Poems and Prose Sketches by James Whitcomb Riley

Cosmopolitan, always, is sorrow; at home In all countries and lands, thriving well while we roam In vain efforts to slay it.
— from Three Women by Ella Wheeler Wilcox