And in the first place, since primordials be So far beneath our senses, and much less E'en than those objects which begin to grow Too small for eyes to note, learn now in few How nice are the beginnings of all things— That this, too, I may yet confirm in proof: First, living creatures are sometimes so small That even their third part can nowise be seen; Judge, then, the size of any inward organ— What of their sphered heart, their eyes, their limbs, The skeleton?—How tiny thus they are!
— from On the Nature of Things by Titus Lucretius Carus

Scarcely had they entered the lists than all the passers-by stopped to watch.
— from Emile by Jean-Jacques Rousseau

He had hardly articulated a few words when someone had the effrontery to laugh aloud—probably some ignorant simpleton who knew nothing of the world, and was congenitally disposed to laughter.
— from The Possessed (The Devils) by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

She had to eat to live, and when she got her feet wet, she caught cold.
— from Martin Eden by Jack London

Nay, it is not only this perpetual struggle with danger on land, but, apart from the evils that always accompany war, they have to endure a misery like that ascribed by the poets to Tantalus: for being in possession of an extremely fertile district, no sooner have they expended their labour upon it and been rewarded by crops of the finest quality, than the barbarians sweep down, and either destroy them, or collect and carry them off; and then, to say nothing of the loss of their labour and expense, the very excellence of the crops enhances the misery and distress of seeing them destroyed before their eyes.
— from The Histories of Polybius, Vol. 1 (of 2) by Polybius

When she had thoroughly explained the localities of the place, the best position from which to watch it without exciting observation, and the night and hour on which Monks was most in the habit of frequenting it, she seemed to consider for a few moments, for the purpose of recalling his features and appearances more forcibly to her recollection.
— from Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

Jesus does not send him to either the law or the prophets.
— from The Power of Faith Exemplified In The Life And Writings Of The Late Mrs. Isabella Graham. by Isabella Graham

She made him admire first the convent church on a hill further up the river which exactly balanced the fortress in front of them, and then she seized upon the little books he had brought, and set him to exploring the labyrinths of their German, with a mounting exultation in his discoveries.
— from Their Silver Wedding Journey — Complete by William Dean Howells

And so, having thus evaded the law, we started on our expedition.
— from Old New Zealand: Being Incidents of Native Customs and Character in the Old Times by Frederick Edward Maning

Well understood was it by all who listened what a raid of the cave tiger meant, and there was a running to the gateway and soon was raised the wall of ready stone, upbuilt so high that even the leaping monster could not hope to reach its summit.
— from The Story of Ab: A Tale of the Time of the Cave Man by Stanley Waterloo

Sam had time enough to lead the cattle to water, and collect them on the top of the hill.
— from The Prairie Flower: A Tale of the Indian Border by Gustave Aimard

so, having thus evaded the law, we started on our expedition.
— from Old New Zealand: A Tale of the Good Old Times And a History of the War in the North against the Chief Heke, in the Year 1845 by Frederick Edward Maning

She had thoroughly enjoyed the lawn fête, but it left her too nervous for peaceful slumber until her pulses had calmed down and she was enabled to regain her accustomed composure.
— from The Daring Twins: A Story for Young Folk by L. Frank (Lyman Frank) Baum

She heard the efforts, the labour of Alfred at the handle.
— from The Happy Foreigner by Enid Bagnold