The imperfect or pluperfect subjunctive is sometimes used, even when the leading verb is in a primary tense, to mark action more distinctly as non-occurrent ( 2091 ): as, eius negōtium sīc velim suscipiās, ut sī esset rēs mea , Fam.
— from A Latin Grammar for Schools and Colleges by George Martin Lane

"Dear Rick, when you are strong enough," returned my guardian.
— from Bleak House by Charles Dickens

Her filial impatience was seconded by the pious bishop: Theodoret, in a letter still extant, recommends Maria to the bishop of Aegae, a maritime city of Cilicia, which was frequented, during the annual fair, by the vessels of the West; most earnestly requesting, that his colleague would use the maiden with a tenderness suitable to her birth; and that he would intrust her to the care of such faithful merchants, as would esteem it a sufficient gain, if they restored a daughter, lost beyond all human hope, to the arms of her afflicted parent.
— from The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Table of Contents with links in the HTML file to the two Project Gutenberg editions (12 volumes) by Edward Gibbon

'I won't go so far as to say everything,' returned Mr Boffin, on whom his manner seemed to grate, 'because there's some things that I never found among the dust.
— from Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens

“How is that—what does your text say?” “Explain,” repeated Mr. Bamberger, looking intently at his part.
— from Sister Carrie: A Novel by Theodore Dreiser

Did he take that medicine, men?” “Aye, aye, sir, he took it, sure enough,” returned Morgan.
— from Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

For whence had that former grief so easily reached my very inmost soul, but that I had poured out my soul upon the dust, in loving one that must die, as if he would never die?
— from The Confessions of St. Augustine by Augustine, Saint, Bishop of Hippo

Indeed he scarcely ever ran more or greater risks in any of his wars than in this.
— from The Lives of the Twelve Caesars, Complete by Suetonius

Petrie, William, Esq; Patterson, John, Esq; Norwich Putland, William, Esq; Pye, Henry James, Esq; Pinckney, Charles, Esq; Charleston Payne, Mr. 6 Copies Phillips, Mr. 6 Copies R. Rivers, Lord Rose, George, Esq; Rittson, John, Esq; Rastall, Rev. Mr. Newark Robinson, Thomas, Esq; Rolt, Colonel, Bagden-Lodge, Marlborough Regiment, 73d Bengal Rudge, Samuel, Esq; Robson, Mr. 27 Copies Robinsons, Messrs. G. G. J. and J. 50 Copies Rivingtons, Messrs. F. and C. 6 Copies Richardson, Mr. 6 Copies Redhead, Henry, Esq; S. Salisbury, Marquis of Stafford, Marquis of Sydney, Viscount St. John, Lord Sanderson, Sir James, Lord Mayor of the City of London Smyth, John, Esq; Salisbury, E. W. V. Esq; Spencer, Earl Stanley, Colonel Smith, Sir John, Bart. Stephens, Phillip, Esq; Sotheron, William, Esq; Sturt, Charles, Esq; Scawen, James, Esq; Spence, George, Esq; Sylvester, Mr. John Stockdale, Mr. Jeremiah, Mill-Maker to his Majesty Scott, Rev. George Sael, Mr. 2 Copies Southern, Mr. 3 Copies Sewell, Mr. 6 Copies Strachan, Mr. 6 Copies Scatchard and Co. 6 Copies Symonds, Mr. 12 Copies Steel, Mr. 6 Copies T. Thornton, Robert, Esq; Townshend, Hon.
— from An Historical Journal of the Transactions at Port Jackson and Norfolk Island by John Hunter

We ask ourselves with surprise, whether some extraordinary revolutions may have carried away the earth and plants; or whether the granite nucleus of our planet shows itself bare, because the germs of life are not yet developed on all its points.
— from Personal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of America, During the Year 1799-1804 — Volume 2 by Alexander von Humboldt

"We are stupid," emphatically repeated Major Parker, who hated being contradicted, "and it is a great asset.
— from The Silence of Colonel Bramble by André Maurois

im Gesange sprang Ein rothes Mäuschen ihr aus dem Munde."
— from Zoological Mythology; or, The Legends of Animals, Volume 2 (of 2) by Angelo De Gubernatis

This was a sober and regular life, which the assured me would be still of the greatest service to me, and would be as powerful in its effects, as the intemperance and irregular one had been, in reducing me to the present low condition: and that I might be fully satisfied of its salutary effects, for though by my irregularities I was become infirm, I was not reduced so low, but that a temperate life, the opposite in every respect to an intemperate one, might still entirely recover me.
— from Discourses on a Sober and Temperate Life Wherein is demonstrated, by his own Example, the Method of Preserving Health to Extreme Old Age by Luigi Cornaro

Did I not give him my promise: "If I should ever regret my resolution," I said to him.
— from The Dangerous Age: Letters and Fragments from a Woman's Diary by Karin Michaëlis

The men who now enter the ranks are probably of much the same class as formerly, but they serve under improved conditions; and whilst I believe that they retain all the enterprise and courage of those who preceded them, they are undoubtedly far better educated, and therefore to some extent require more discrimination in their treatment than formerly prevailed.
— from Recollections of a Military Life by Adye, John, Sir

But, as I tirelessly returned, the Japanese retaliated by posting two of their 10½-centimetre batteries so far behind and so much on the side that their shrapnel easily reached me whilst I was circling over their heads.
— from My Escape from Donington Hall, Preceded by an Account of the Siege of Kiao-Chow in 1915 by Gunther Plüschow

Now, sir clerk," he continued, as a secretary entered, "read me the account, if it be as I see on wax.
— from Philip Augustus; or, The Brothers in Arms by G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford) James