vestal's

His "integrity is as unspotted as the vestal's flame -- as untarnished and pure as the driven snow," said a local newspaper when his methods were assailed, and no one could face him without believing that he had courage that would have its way without stooping to meanness, and vision that saw its objective through the hesitant dreams and sickly qualms of lesser strength.

Children of the Market Place Edgar Lee Masters 1909

Douglas to be "as unspotted as the vestal's fame -- as untarnished and as pure as the driven snow."

Stephen A. Douglas A Study in American Politics Allen Johnson 1900

Nina ripped her inchoate letters into small pieces, and, with a tart good-night to Miss Bella Perkins, who was closing her ledgers, the hour being close upon twelve-thirty, she passed sedately, stiffly, as though in performance of some vestal's ritual, up the grand staircase.

Tales of the Five Towns Arnold Bennett 1899

In sad contrast comes the mournful chant which accompanies Sulamith as she passes to the vestal's home ( "The Hour that robbed me of him"), and ends in her despairing cry rising above the chorus of attendants as Solomon also refuses her petition.

The Standard Operas (12th edition) Their Plots, Their Music, and Their Composers 1876

The room, yielding a little in the point of coldness, seemed to share Miss Nellie's fresh virginity, and, barring the pink parasol, set her off as in a vestal's cell.

In the Carquinez Woods Bret Harte 1869

Lot assigned to every man, 750. behold our, 475. blameless vestal's, 333.

Familiar Quotations A Collection of Passages, Phrases, and Proverbs Traced to Their Sources in Ancient and Modern Literature John Bartlett 1862

How much dearer to me wert thou than the diadem of an empress, a vestal's fillet, the ropes of pearls twined among the jetty locks of Venice's loveliest patricians, or the richest head-dress of antique or modern art!

The Cross of Berny Jules Sandeau 1847

She had always looked on Alice as excluded by her misfortune from the usual destiny of her sex, as consecrated from her birth for a vestal's lot.

Helen and Arthur or, Miss Thusa's Spinning Wheel Caroline Lee Hentz 1828

"That," said Angelina, "'is the blameless vestal's lot:' -- but you forget that you are to be married, my Araminta; and you forget that, in your letter of three folio sheets, you said not one word to me of this intended marriage."

Tales and Novels — Volume 01 Maria Edgeworth 1808

Displayed an air to pleasing as might charm A goddess, and a vestal's besom warm.

Ovid's Metamorphoses, tr. by dr. Garth, and others 1812