A very ancient and fish-like smell.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): The Tempest. Act ii. Sc. 2.

The hills,

Rock-ribbed, and ancient as the sun.

William Cullen Bryant (1794-1878): Thanatopsis.

Alike all ages. Dames of ancient days

Have led their children through the mirthful maze,

And the gay grandsire, skill'd in gestic lore,

Has frisk'd beneath the burden of threescore.

Oliver Goldsmith (1728-1774): The Traveller. Line 251.

Thy old groans ring yet in my ancient ears.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): Romeo and Juliet. Act ii. Sc. 3.

I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.

He hates our sacred nation, and he rails,

Even there where merchants most do congregate.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): The Merchant of Venice. Act i. Sc. 3.

If ancient tales say true, nor wrong these holy men.

Lord Byron 1788-1824: Childe Harold's Pilgrimage. Canto i. Stanza 7.

His ancient, trusty, drouthy crony;

Tam lo'ed him like a vera brither,—

They had been fou for weeks thegither.

Robert Burns (1759-1796): Tam o' Shanter.