Tulsidas, Ramayana, Bâl-kând, Dohâ 282

Heroes perform valiant deeds in fight, but do not themselves publish them; cowards finding a foe before them in the battle talk very large, as you now would terrify me with your repeated cries of ‘Death.’” On hearing Lakshman’s rude speech he closed his hand upon his terrible axe: “After this let no man blame me; this sharp-tongued boy deserves his death. I have spared him long on account of his being a child, but now of a truth he is as good as dead.” Said Visvamitra:—“Pardon his offence; the wise regard not the faults or merits of children.” “I have axe in hand and am pitiless in my wrath; he is moreover guilty, and has injured my guru. Yet though this be my answer, I will still spare his life, though solely out of regard for you, Visvamitra. But for you I had cut him in pieces with my terrible axe, and thus easily have paid my guru his due.”