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

Edwin Arnold

Black as the bear on Iskardoo.

Clung like a beast’s hide to his fleshless bones.

Craves to see thy face as the moon-blowing moon-flower’s swelling heart pines for the moon.

Ankles crossed as holy statues sit.

Eyes like a hind’s in love-time.

Sweet youthful face, fair as the moon at full.

Fleeter than hawk that ever flew.

Fleeting as joy of youth.

Followed faithfully
As if ’twere his shadow.

Gleamed as the lightning glitters against the murky night.

Gleamed like a praying-carpet at the foot of those divinest altars.

Glistened as still
As when on moonlit eves no zephyr spills the glistening dew.

True goodness is like the glow-worm in this, that it shines most when no eyes, except those of heaven, are upon it.

Govern the lips as they were palace doors, the King within.

Haggard and wan as slain men.

High as the herald-star.

Irresistible as when from some tall peak into the plain
Thunder and smoke and crash the rolling rocks.

Linked like a river by ripples following ripples.

Like threads of silver seen through crystal beads let love through good deeds show.

The mind is like a sheet of white paper in this, that the impressions it receives the oftenest, and retains the longest, are black ones.

Motionless as the fixed rock.

Placid as Paradise.

Savage at heart as a tiger chained.

Slacken like a bow-string slipped.

Sealed sleep as water-lilies know.

Straight as a temple-shaft.

Sweet as the last smile of sunset.

Sweeter than the comb its sweetness.

Teeth
Like pearls a merchant picks to make a string.

As tender as the murmur of the rain when great clouds gather.