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Examples

  • It's a 39-page booklet doing just what the title promises, even if the continuation is perhaps false advertising: "...wherby an English man shal not only with ease read the said tong rightly: but markyng the same wel, it shal be a meane for him with one labour and diligence to attaine to the true and natural pronuncation of other expediente and most excellente languages."

    languagehat.com: THE BRITISH TONG. 2004

  • Wretched man as I am, when shall I attaine to the height of liberality, and performe such wonders, as Nathan doth?

    The Decameron 2004

  • At least, if it may passe for currant, that men may give away their treasures, forgive mighty injuries, and lay downe life it selfe, honour and renowne (which is farre greater) to infinite dangers, only to attaine any thing esteemed and affected.

    The Decameron 2004

  • I have gone to the gunning with him when I was but a stripeling myself; and albeit that passetyme was the exercize I delighted most in, yet could I never attaine to any perfectione comparable to him.

    Old Mortality 2004

  • I enter into confession, I most humbly beseech you, that you would vouchsafe (in this distresse) to assist me with your fatherly advice and counsell, because, if thereby I cannot attaine to a more pleasing kinde of happinesse; neither confessior, or any thing else, is able to doe me any good at all.

    The Decameron 2004

  • Having ordered all affaires at their lodging, Marquiso saide; It is fit for us to see this Saint, but I know not how we shall attaine thereto, because

    The Decameron 2004

  • For, if he were vertuous and honest, he should surely attaine to the seate from whence Fortune had throwne him, or rather much higher.

    The Decameron 2004

  • Neverthelesse, having so solemnly ingaged your faith to me, and no way misdoubting your faithfull secrecy, I shall instruct you in some meanes to be observed; and it appeareth plainly to me, that being furnished with such plenty of Bookes, as you are, and other rich endowments, as you have before rehersed, you cannot but attaine to the full period of your longing desire.

    The Decameron 2004

  • When this came to the hearing of Lysimachus, it was very greatly displeasing to him, because now he saw himselfe utterly deprived of al hope to attaine the issue of his desire, if Hormisda received

    The Decameron 2004

  • Southeast with very much wind, raine and fogge, and very great store of ice a sea boorde: so we lay to the Southwest to attaine to one of the Islands to harbour vs if the weather did so extremely continue and to take in our boate, thinking it meete so to doe, and not to towe her in such weather.

    The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation 2003

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