Dread him who dreads thee, O Sage

 

'Harmuzd, being asked what was the fault of father of your viziers that he imprisoned them. He replied: " I discovered no fault. I saw that boundless awe of me had taken root in their hearts but that they had no full confidence in my promises, wherefore I apprehended that they, fearing calamities would befall them, might attempt m life and I acted according to the maxim of sages who have said:

"Dread him who dreads thee, O sage,

Although thou couldst cope with a hundred like him.

Seest though not when the cat becomes desperate

How he plucks out with his claws the eyes of a tiger?

The viper stings the shepherd's foot

Because it fears he will strike his head with a stone..