The most famous of all, perhaps, is the episode of the Forty-Seven R[=o]nins, which is a constant favorite in the theatres, and has been so graphically narrated or pictured by scores of native poets, authors, artists, sculptors and dramatists, and told in English by Mitford, Dickens and Grecy.
— from The Religions of Japan, from the Dawn of History to the Era of Méiji by William Elliot Griffis

On sic a day as this is, Is sure an uncouth sight to see, Amang thae birth-day dresses Sae fine this day.
— from Poems and Songs of Robert Burns by Robert Burns

"In everything take heed to thyself what thou doest, and what thou sayest; and direct all thy purpose to this, that thou please Me alone, and desire or seek nothing apart from Me.
— from The Imitation of Christ by à Kempis Thomas

The shepherds and drovers accompanying the flock shouted to him to desist; seeing it was no use, they ungirt their slings and began to salute his ears with stones as big as one's fist.
— from Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

—But the painting of this journey, upon reviewing it, appears to be so much above the stile and manner of any thing else I have been able to paint in this book, that it could not have remained in it, without depreciating every other scene; and destroying at the same time that necessary equipoise and balance, (whether of good or bad) betwixt chapter and chapter, from whence the just proportions and harmony of the whole work results.
— from The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman by Laurence Sterne

Accordingly, Cassius came into Syria, in order to receive the forces that were at Apamia, where he procured a reconciliation between Bassus and Marcus, and the legions which were at difference with him; so he raised the siege of Apamia, and took upon him the command of the army, and went about exacting tribute of the cities, and demanding their money to such a degree as they were not able to bear.
— from The Wars of the Jews; Or, The History of the Destruction of Jerusalem by Flavius Josephus

Some rain, this day prove Cloudy and Showerry all day, all the Indians Continue at their Camp near us, two other Canoes arrived, one from the War ci a cum Village with 3 indians and the other of 3 men & a Squar from higher up the river and are of the Skil-lute nation, those people brought with them Some Wappato roots, mats made of flags and rushes dried fish, and a fiew Shaw-na tah-que and Dressed Elk Skins, all of which they asked enormous prices for, perticularly the dressed Elk Skins, I purchased of those people Some Wap pa to two mats and about 3 pipes of their tobacco in a neet little bag made of rushes—This tobacco was much like what we had Seen before with the So So ne or Snake indians, for those articles I gave a large fishing hook and Several other Small articles, the fishinghooks they were verry fond of.
— from The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806 by William Clark

Remember him also who was ignorant whither the way did lead, and how that reason being the thing by which all things in the world are administered, and which men are continually and most inwardly conversant with: yet is the thing, which ordinarily they are most in opposition with, and how those things which daily happen among them, cease not daily to be strange unto them, and that we should not either speak, or do anything as men in their sleep, by opinion and bare imagination: for then we think we speak and do, and that we must not be as children, who follow their father's example; for best reason alleging their bare successive tradition from our forefathers we have received it.
— from Meditations by Emperor of Rome Marcus Aurelius

In the house, all were startled, all dismayed, at the disclosure in the letter; all, save Rebecca, were filled with sadness.
— from Leah Mordecai: A Novel by Belle K. (Belle Kendrick) Abbott

Another of his miniatures is in Lord Hothfield's collection, and represents Lady Mary Nugent ; it is signed and dated, and the owner has kindly permitted us to illustrate it in these pages ( Plate XXXII., No. 1 ).
— from Portrait Miniatures by George Charles Williamson

Upon the broad stone verandah on the other side of the fluted columns the master of the house had doubtless feasted his guests, or smoked and dozed away the time in his hammock, while the fountain played merrily and the air was redolent of the perfume of flowers.
— from George at the Wheel; Or, Life in the Pilot-House by Harry Castlemon

By this time, also, I was made aware that the great, army that had assembled at Corinth at the end of May had been scattered and dissipated, and that terrible disasters had befallen our other armies in Virginia and the East.
— from Memoirs of General W. T. Sherman, Volume I., Part 2 by William T. (William Tecumseh) Sherman

The beauty and malice of a seeming imbecile, and the same characteristics in a woman subtle and decided as this, awaken very different emotions in the mind.
— from The Mill Mystery by Anna Katharine Green

Sometimes the rear stairway is of the same general style and design as the front.
— from Convenient Houses, With Fifty Plans for the Housekeeper by Louis H. (Louis Henry) Gibson

That very afternoon, when he had slept after dinner, and the sun was low, he would have himself rowed to the Governor's house, and he would deliver the letter himself, or if possible he would see the dignitary and explain even more fully that Zorzi, called the Ballarin, was a liar, a thief and an assassin.
— from Marietta: A Maid of Venice by F. Marion (Francis Marion) Crawford

The air was still and dreamy, and the campus, usually so full of noise and life, empty and deserted.
— from Sea-gift: A Novel by Edwin W. (Edwin Wiley) Fuller