Swelter is assailed by life-sapping loathing for Flay, who returns the compliment.  Their battle is astounding for its intensity and outcome. Here a bursting simile for murderous hatred ready to pop.

‘… while Swelter, whose frustrated blood-lust was ripe as a persimmon… ‘

See also our bestellar review of this book, with its lavishly illustrated quote-mosaic, packed with fine phrasing and fresh metaphors.  

Source: Mervyn Peake, Titus Groan, introduction by Anthony Burgess (London: Vintage Books, 1998), p. 403

Photo credit: hanbo at pixabay.com