If she's cool and unwilling to be wooed,
Just take it, don't weaken; in time she'll soften her mood.
Bending a bough the right way, gently, makes
It easy; use brute force, and it breaks.
With swimming rivers it's the same—
Go with, not against, the current.
Si nec blanda satis, nec erit tibi comis amanti,
Perfer et obdura: postmodo mitis erit.
Flectitur obsequio curvatus ab arbore ramus:
Frangis, si vires experiere tuas.
Obsequio tranantur aquae: nec vincere possis
Flumina, si contra, quam rapit unda, nates.
Perfer et obdura: postmodo mitis erit.
Flectitur obsequio curvatus ab arbore ramus:
Frangis, si vires experiere tuas.
Obsequio tranantur aquae: nec vincere possis
Flumina, si contra, quam rapit unda, nates.
Original text (Latin)
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Notes from Wikiquote
Book II, lines 177–182 (tr. James Michie)