"If sovereignty hangs in a lion's jaws,
Then rob his fangs. Go. This risk's yours to run.
Win glory, fame and power to give laws
Or end as heroes end. Take death head-on."
— Hanzala Badghisi tr. from Persian (9th century)
mihtarī gar ba kām-i šēr dar ast
šaw, xatar kun, zi kām-i šēr bijōy
yā buzurgī u 'izz u ni'mat u jāh
yā ču mardānt marg rōyārōy
