44فَأَلقَوا حِبالَهُم وَعِصِيَّهُم وَقالوا بِعِزَّةِ فِرعَونَ إِنّا لَنَحنُ الغالِبونَMuhammad AsadThereupon they threw their [magic] ropes and their staffs, and said: "By Pharaoh's might, behold, it is we indeed who have prevailed!"1The reason for their premature sense of triumph is given in 7:116 ("they cast a spell upon the people's eyes, and struck them with awe") and 20:66-67 ("by virtue of their sorcery, their [magic] ropes and staffs seemed to him to be moving rapidly; and in his heart, Moses became apprehensive").