from long ago; from old times; from time immemorial
old tale; folk tale; legend; reminiscence
it is assuredly (that) ...; can say with confidence that it is ...
a long time ago; in those days
great famine; severe famine
rule; domination; direction; management; control (of one's destiny, public opinion, etc.); governing
to collect (debts); to dun; to appoint; to promote; to emphasize; to focus on
uprooting; pulling up (a plant) by the roots; eradicating; rooting out; all (destroyed, stolen, etc.); completely
to go to ruin; to go under; to fall; to be destroyed; to die out; to become extinct
from out of nowhere; from who knows where
to distribute; to hand out
(death from) starvation; starving to death
to resume breathing; to come around; to come back to life
to hear; to catch (the sound of something); to hear about (rumour, etc.); to overhear; to get used to hearing
help; rescue; salvation; solace; (religious) salvation; (Christian) grace
to advance on; to close in; to march on; to descend on (the enemy); to move towards; to surge forward (crowd, wave of nostalgia, wave, etc.)
a lot more; much more; and then some; and plenty more than that
to well up; to burst; to arise
to starve; to be famished; to be hungry; to be starved of (e.g. love); to be thirsty for (e.g. knowledge); to be hungry for
to hear a rumor; to get wind of
to catch; to capture; to grasp (e.g. meaning); to perceive; to captivate; to move (one's heart)
coercion; extortion; compulsion; force
rage; fury; exasperation; indignation
to assault with a sword; to stab at; to slash at
splendid; magnificent; gorgeous
to dodge; to evade; to avoid; to sidestep
reaching; attaining; arrival
sudden; abrupt; unexpected
oppressive rule; tyrannical regime; despotism
mercy; compassion; clemency; rufous hawk-cuckoo; northern hawk-cuckoo
abundant (grain) crop; good harvest
sure; no mistaking it; for certain; without doubt
serious crime; grave sin; mortal sin; deadly sin
to commit (e.g. crime); to perpetrate; to break (e.g. rule); to violate; to rape; to violate
divine punishment; wrath of God; justice of heaven; suitable punishment; just deserts; come-uppance
and so on; and so forth; et cetera; comment; criticism
regarding as sacred; apotheosis; deification; sanctification
rule; regulation; settlement; conclusion; habit; custom
some people; a number of people; several people; a few people
imprudent fellow; misguided fellow
(for something) to have occurred; to have done (something); (for something) to happen on occasion
to visit and comfort or console; to go to see (e.g. someone in hospital); to ask after (e.g. someone's health); to attack; to hit; to strike
strange; unfamiliar; mysterious; suspicious
to excel; to surpass; to exceed; to outweigh; to preponderate