When the fierce lion saw him draw his sword, its very courage melted into water inside its body.
Explanation: The Persian 'zahre ab shod' (the gallbladder turned to water) is an idiom for being struck with terror; here it conveys that even a raging lion was paralyzed with fear.
Original · Persian
شمارهٔ ۳
چون بر آهنجیدن تیغش بدید
در تن شیر ژیان شد زهره آب