Frank J. Wilstach, comp. A Dictionary of Similes. 1916.

Sir William Davenant

Calm as forgiven wits at the last hour.

Cruel as Herod when he surpris’d the sleeping Children of Bethlehem.

He taught them love of toyle; toyle, which does keep obstructions from the minde, and quench the blood; ease does belong to us like sleep, like opium in our medicine, not our food.

Fame, as a river, is narrowest where it is bred, and broadest far off.

All show’d as fresh, and faire, and innocent, as virgins to their lovers’ first survey.

Joy’d as the spring, when March his sighs has spent,
And April’s sweet rash tears are decoy’d by May.

Pleased, as infants are with sleep.

Power, like the hasty Vine, climbes up apace to the Supporter, but if not skilfully attended and dress’d, instead of spreading and bearing fruit, grows high and naked, and then, like empty title, being soon useless to others, becomes neglected and unable to support itself.

Soft as the murmurs of a weeping spring.

Sweet as the hopes on which starv’d lovers feed.

Unfetter’d as the windes.

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