Ivan Krylov
Mouse and Rat

"My dear,
Did you hear
Good news?!"
Running in
Said
The Mouse to the Rat,
"No more mews
We'll ever hear
Here.
I've seen
Myself, our Cat
Was by the Lion caught.
I am so glad!"
"In vain!
You'd better not",
The Rat replied,
"I've told you that
And say again
If they've just tried
To fight.
The Lion would be dead.
There's no beast more terrible than Cat!"

Many examples make it very clear,
And you yourself could notice this:
Whenever a coward is in fear
Of someone, then he thinks that everybody is.

Translated by Vladimir Gurvich