Isaw it, and told john a gaunt he beat his own name; for you might have thrust him and all his apparel into an eel-skin; the case of a treble hautboy was a mansion for him, a court: and now has he land and beefs. well, i'll be acquainted with him, if i return; and it shall go hard but i will make him a philosopher's two stones to me: if the young dace be a bait for the old pike, i see no reason in the law of nature but i may snap at him. let time shape, and there an end.

this is an excerpt from William Shakespeare's no fear. From act 3 scene 2

Explanation:

c. to depict the cunningness of the federal soldiers

the use of “as” in the example to draw the resemblance. some more examples of common similes are given below. common examples of simile. our soldiers are as brave as lions. her cheeks are red like a rose. he is as funny as a monkey. the water well was as dry as a bone. he is as cunning as a fox. simile introduces vividness into what we say.