To waft a feather or to drown a fly.

Edward Young (1684-1765): Night thoughts. Night i. Line 154.

Drink to-day, and drown all sorrow;

You shall perhaps not do 't to-morrow.

John Fletcher (1576-1625): The Bloody Brother. Act ii. Sc. 2.

Deeper than did ever plummet sound

I 'll drown my book.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): The Tempest. Act v. Sc. 1.

Make the coming hour o'erflow with joy,

And pleasure drown the brim.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): All's Well that Ends Well. Act ii. Sc. 4.

Lord, Lord! methought, what pain it was to drown!

What dreadful noise of waters in mine ears!

What ugly sights of death within mine eyes!

Methought I saw a thousand fearful wrecks,

Ten thousand men that fishes gnawed upon,

Wedges of gold, great anchors, heaps of pearl,

Inestimable stones, unvalued jewels,

All scattered in the bottom of the sea:

Some lay in dead men's skulls; and in those holes

Where eyes did once inhabit, there were crept,

As 't were in scorn of eyes, reflecting gems.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): King Richard III. Act i. Sc. 4.