I to the world am like a drop of waterThat in the ocean seeks another drop,Who, falling there to find his fellow forth,Unseen, inquisitive, confounds himself.

So slippery thatThe fear's as bad as falling.

O Lord! methought what pain it was to drown! What dreadful noise of waters in mine ears! What sights of ugly death within mine eyes! Methoughts I saw a thousand fearful wracks; A thousand men that fishes gnawed upon; Wedges of gold, great anchors, heaps of pearl, Inestimable stones, unvalued jewels, All scatt'red in the bottom of the sea: Some lay in dead men's skulls, and in the holes Where eyes did once inhabit, there were crept (As 'twere in scorn of eyes) reflecting gems, That wooed the slimy bottom of the deep And mocked the dead bones that lay scatt'red by.

What, man! more water glideth by the mill That wots the miller of; and easy it is Of a cut loaf to steal a shive, we know: Though Bassianus be the emperor's brother, Better then he have worn Vulcan's badge.

Here's that which is too weak to be a sinner: Honest water, which ne'er left man i' th' mire.

The people are like water and the ruler a boat. Water can support a boat or overturn it.