Frank J. Wilstach, comp. A Dictionary of Similes. 1916.
Purple
Purpled as with stains of wine.
—Thomas Bailey Aldrich
Purple as a pansy.
—Anonymous
Purple as the Nile.
—Anonymous
Purple like that of a prelate.
—John Dennis
Purple … like robes of a king.
—Robert Noel
Purple like the unplucked plum.
—Elizabeth D. Stoddard
Purple, like the blush of even.
—William Wordsworth