Aegrorum hoc fere proprium est, ut graviora dicant esse symptomata, quam revera sunt.
— from The Anatomy of Melancholy by Robert Burton

This occasioned us great distress, as it was altogether useless to think of aiding him in any manner while the sea continued washing over us as it did.
— from The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven Edition Table Of Contents And Index Of The Five Volumes by Edgar Allan Poe

Each battle sees the other's umber'd face; / Steed threatens steed in high and boastful neighs, / Piercing the night's dull ear, and from the tents / The armourers, accomplishing the knights, / With busy hammers closing rivets up, / Give dreadful note of preparation.
— from Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern, English and Foreign Sources Including Phrases, Mottoes, Maxims, Proverbs, Definitions, Aphorisms, and Sayings of Wise Men, in Their Bearing on Life, Literature, Speculation, Science, Art, Religion, and Morals, Especially in the Modern Aspects of Them by Wood, James, Rev.

This unsophisticated girl did it by an innate perceptiveness that was almost genius.
— from The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy

We might, indeed, interpret God's descending to the city of the descent of His angels in whom He dwells; so that the following words, "And the Lord God said, Behold, they are all one race and of one language," and also what follows, "Come, and let us go down and confound their speech," are a recapitulation, explaining how the previously intimated "descent of the Lord" was accomplished.
— from The City of God, Volume II by Augustine, Saint, Bishop of Hippo

Spectator , 'Last Night as I was walking in the Park, I met a couple of Friends; Prithee Jack , says one of them, let us go drink a Glass of Wine, for I am fit for nothing else.
— from The Spectator, Volume 1 Eighteenth-Century Periodical Essays by Steele, Richard, Sir

It might not be to do an unreasonably great deal for the diggers and hewers, in a registering age, if we ticketed their graves at the common charge; so that a new generation might know which was which: so that the soldier, sailor, emigrant, coming home, should be able to identify the resting-place of father, mother, playmate, or betrothed.
— from Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens

[ The vith law of the Visconti prohibits this common and mischievous practice; and strictly enjoins, that the houses of banished citizens should be preserved pro communi utilitate, (Gualvancus de la Flamma in Muratori, Script.
— 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

Mrs. Arbutus was particularly unlucky in having sent all her jewels away for the summer, but Lady Portugal Laurel and a few others ornamented their usual green dresses very prettily with white, and her ladyship was allowed to make a sweet figure, whilst the correctness of her appearance gained her respect and admiration.
— from Forgotten Tales of Long Ago by E. V. (Edward Verrall) Lucas

As he spoke, the Corinthian took off his hat, which he forced into the Captain's unwilling grasp, drew off his very tight-fitting coat, which he tossed over the Captain's unwilling arm, and, rolling back his snowy shirt-sleeves, turned to Barnabas with shining eyes and smiling lips.
— from The Amateur Gentleman by Jeffery Farnol

They, like unbidden guests, doubtful of welcome or of sufferance even, make the most of time that may prove all too brief, and gorge themselves as greedily as hungry tramps; while he, unscared by your face at the window, tarries at his repast, pecking his crumbs with leisurely satisfaction.
— from In New England Fields and Woods by Rowland Evans Robinson

That worthy man received him cordially, for he saw that he was bent upon great deeds.
— from For the Term of His Natural Life by Marcus Andrew Hislop Clarke

It is only fair also to remember that her work of rescue and reformation was carried on under great difficulties.
— from A Critic in Pall Mall: Being Extracts from Reviews and Miscellanies by Oscar Wilde

If rich gold deposits had been discovered in Bursley Municipal Park, Cotterill would have owned a mining camp and amassed immense wealth; but unfortunately gold deposits were not discovered in the Park.
— from The Card, a Story of Adventure in the Five Towns by Arnold Bennett

Then as to what you are going to do, Horace, I come to the question under great difficulties.
— from The House on the Moor, v. 1/3 by Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant

“Fix her up good, Doc,” they said, over their shoulders.
— from Lin McLean by Owen Wister

"Thank you, but I INSIST upon getting down.
— from Found at Blazing Star by Bret Harte