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