" "I suppose it's no use trying any persuasion," said the Rector.
— from Middlemarch by George Eliot

I wonder what other bridegroom ever looked as he did—so bent up to a purpose, so grimly resolute: or who, under such steadfast brows, ever revealed such flaming and flashing eyes.
— from Jane Eyre: An Autobiography by Charlotte Brontë

According to Mr. Higgins, the practice of converting people from one sect to another by the popular priesthood was prevalent under the ancient Persian system, and was carried on there quite extensively more than three thousand years ago; and the process was essentially the same as that now in vogue amongst modem Methodists, and the effect the same.
— from The World's Sixteen Crucified Saviors; Or, Christianity Before Christ by Kersey Graves

to a woman, usually to a prostitute (sometimes, but not often, with complete loss of the metaphor).
— from The Devil is an Ass by Ben Jonson

When we read that Mahomet having furiously rated Chasan, Bassa of the Janissaries, because he had seen the Hungarians break into his squadrons, and himself behave very ill in the business, and that Chasan, instead of any other answer, rushed furiously alone, scimitar in hand, into the first body of the enemy, where he was presently cut to pieces, we are not to look upon that action, peradventure, so much as vindication as a turn of mind, not so much natural valour as a sudden despite.
— from Essays of Michel de Montaigne — Complete by Michel de Montaigne

Of course, I made no objection; on the contrary, sucking it up to a proper stiffness, I placed myself on my hands and knees in the most favourable position to satisfy her erotic fancy.
— from The Romance of Lust: A classic Victorian erotic novel by Anonymous

Petrarch’s odes and sonnets are but parts of one symphony, leading us through a passion strengthened by years and only purified by death, until at last the graceful lay becomes an anthem and a ‘ Nunc dimittis .’
— from Fifteen sonnets of Petrarch by Francesco Petrarca

As for those that wrought at John's monument, the Idumeans, and those that were in arms with Simon, made sallies upon them, and put some stop to them; while John's party, and the multitude of zealots with them, did the like to those that were before the tower of Antonia.
— from The Wars of the Jews; Or, The History of the Destruction of Jerusalem by Flavius Josephus

We ought not therefore, by rubbing off the shyness of youths too much, to make them too careless and contemptuous; but as those that pull down houses close to temples prop up the adjacent parts, so in trying to get rid of shyness we must not eradicate with it the virtues akin to it, as modesty and meekness and mildness, by which it insinuates itself and becomes part of a man's character, flattering the bashful man that he has a nature courteous and civil and affable, and not hard as flint or self-willed.
— from Plutarch's Morals by Plutarch

The dark central part of the spots is surrounded by a succession of obscure cloudy envelopes increasing in brightness up to a penumbra, sometimes there are three or more shades, but it requires a good telescope to distinguish the intermediate ones.
— from On the Connexion of the Physical Sciences by Mary Somerville

Mr. Crowninshield replied that he was perfectly willing the resolution should lie for consideration, agreeably to the desire of the gentleman from Virginia, and he would consent to any reasonable delay; but he would not consent to its remaining unacted upon till a period so late as to preclude any measures from being adopted this session, because the proclamation would take effect in the month of May.
— from Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856, Vol. 3 (of 16) by United States. Congress

Then he led his guest up to a pale, slight young man of middle height, who wore spectacles, and was also dressed in black.
— from The Works of Balzac: A linked index to all Project Gutenberg editions by Honoré de Balzac

The farther he pushed along, the more he began to realize that he was well within the swamp territory and uncut timberlands, a place so primeval and mysterious that it fairly rang with the sound of adventure.
— from James Oliver Curwood, Disciple of the Wilds by Hobart Donald Swiggett

They answered the advertisement, with the result that they were invited to the Hôtel de l’Univers at St. Malo, where the worthy pair were shown up to a private sitting-room wherein sat a well-dressed Englishman and a smartly-attired woman, his wife.
— from The Voice from the Void: The Great Wireless Mystery by William Le Queux

Meanwhile my bonnet-strings got in a knot, which Fanny saw, and was about to apply scissors, when Aunt Merce, unable to bear the sacrifice, interfered and untied them, all present so interested in the operation that conversation was suspended.
— from The Morgesons: A Novel by Elizabeth Stoddard

My dear sir,” said Mr. Thornbrook, warming with his client’s wrongs, “pray consider the matter; you must see the equity of the case is with us; try and prevent such a palpable wrong-doing and perversion of justice.”
— from The Squatter's Dream: A Story of Australian Life by Rolf Boldrewood

The exhibitor had these identified by varietal numbers until testing and propagation should suggest appropriate names.
— from Growing Nuts in the North A Personal Story of the Author's Experience of 33 Years with Nut Culture in Minnesota and Wisconsin by Carl Weschcke