Analysis of Ch 01 Manner Of Kings Story 08

Hormuzd, being asked what fault the veziers of his father had
committed that he imprisoned them, 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 my 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 thou 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.'