At its setting the sun had a diminished diameter and expiring brown, rayless glow, as if millions of centuries elapsing since the morning had brought it near its end. A dens bank of cloud became visible to the northward; it had a sinister dark olive tint, and lay low and motionless upon the sea, resembling a solid obstacle in the path of the ship. She went floundering towards it like on exhausted creature driven to its death. The coppery twilight retired slowly, and the darkness brought out overhead a swarm of unsteady, big stars that, as if blown upon, flickered exceedingly and seemed to hang very near the earth.

From "Typhoon", by Joseph Conrad.