The energy and capacity of the Genoese seemed to rise with their success, and both in seamanship and in splendour they began almost to surpass their old rivals.
— from The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 1 by Rustichello of Pisa

After the chevalier was gone I betook myself to my studies again, but I supped every night with Madame Denis, who had formerly been a dancer in the King of Prussia’s service, and had retired to Florence.
— from The Memoirs of Jacques Casanova de Seingalt, 1725-1798. Complete by Giacomo Casanova

Miss Matty made no reply, and I tried in vain to think of some subject which should effectually turn the conversation; but I was very stupid; and before I spoke he went on— p. 248 “It was Holbrook, that fine manly fellow who lived at Woodley, that I used to think would carry off my little Matty.
— from Cranford by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell

At another visit, when speaking about baptism, I said, 'Now, suppose you are baptized, and your friends should ask you whether it was true,—what would you say?'
— from Some Jewish Witnesses For Christ by Aaron Bernstein

LANGBORNE WARD, AND FENNIE ABOUT Langborne ward, so called of a long bourne of sweet water, which of old time breaking out into Fenchurch street, ran down the same street and Lombard street to the west end of St. Mary Woolnoth’s church, where turning south, and breaking into small shares, rills, or streams, it left the name of Share borne lane, or South borne lane (as I have read), because it ran south to the river of Thames.
— from The Survey of London by John Stow

But she left him no peace till he consented, saying, "Ah, but I shall regret the poor children."
— from Grimm's Fairy Stories by Wilhelm Grimm

I have now all the reason that can be, to apprehend my master will be here soon; for the servants are busy in setting the house to rights; and a stable and coach-house are cleaning out, that have not been used some time.
— from Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded by Samuel Richardson

Fellows will stare so at a pretty girl, you know; and I can't bear to think my pearl should be stared at by impertinent strangers."
— from Charlotte's Inheritance by M. E. (Mary Elizabeth) Braddon

It was at the University of Edinburgh, however, where his uncle had had such a brilliant if short career, that he took his degree as Master of Arts in 1683.
— from The Academic Gregories by Agnes Grainger Stewart

"Sorry," says Amby, "but I shan't be here."
— from Torchy As A Pa by Sewell Ford

Alfalfa is usually sown alone, but in some instances it maybe advantageous to sow more or less of some other kind or kinds of grass or clover along with it.
— from Clovers and How to Grow Them by Thomas Shaw

They had to be sea attacks because Islam, so long as it was under Arab rule, never surmounted the barrier of the Taurus Mountains.
— from The Outline of History: Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind by H. G. (Herbert George) Wells

The sign of the “Duke of Wellington” long ceased to specially attract, but it survived for many years because of his own greatness, and, inversely, because of the smallness of the men who commanded our armies in the Crimean War, at the end of the long thirty-nine years’ peace between Waterloo and the Alma.
— from The Old Inns of Old England, Volume 2 (of 2) A Picturesque Account of the Ancient and Storied Hostelries of Our Own Country by Charles G. (Charles George) Harper

Then the stones are boiled in sulphuric acid, which, carbonising the honey, imparts a deep black colour to the porous layers which it had permeated, and by thus setting-off the white layers to the best advantage, changes a previously almost worthless stone into a beautiful onyx or sardonyx.
— from The Subterranean World by G. (Georg) Hartwig

They started ahead, but it speedily developed that the others were not following.
— from The Broncho Rider Boys with Funston at Vera Cruz Or, Upholding the Honor of the Stars and Stripes by Frank Fowler