When ice appears out of doors, and boys seize it up while it is solid, at first they experience new pleasures. But in the end their pride will not agree to let it go, but their acquisition is not good for them if it stays in their hands. In the same way an identical desire drives lovers to act and not to act.
ὅταν πάγου φανέντος αἰθρίου χεροῖν
κρύσταλλον ἁρπάσωσι παῖδες εὐπαγῆ,
τὰ πρῶτ᾿ ἔχουσιν ἡδονὰς ποταινίους·
τέλος δ᾿ ὁ θυμὸς οὔθ᾿ ὅπως ἀφῇ θέλει,
οὔτ᾿ ἐν χεροῖν τὸ κτῆμα σύμφορον μένειν.
οὕτω δὲ τοὺς ἐρῶντας αὑτὸς ἵμερος
δρᾶν καὶ τὸ μὴ δρᾶν πολλάκις προσίεται.
κρύσταλλον ἁρπάσωσι παῖδες εὐπαγῆ,
τὰ πρῶτ᾿ ἔχουσιν ἡδονὰς ποταινίους·
τέλος δ᾿ ὁ θυμὸς οὔθ᾿ ὅπως ἀφῇ θέλει,
οὔτ᾿ ἐν χεροῖν τὸ κτῆμα σύμφορον μένειν.
οὕτω δὲ τοὺς ἐρῶντας αὑτὸς ἵμερος
δρᾶν καὶ τὸ μὴ δρᾶν πολλάκις προσίεται.
Original text (Ancient Greek)
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Notes from Wikiquote
Often paraphrased: "Love is like ice in the hands of children." | Eriphyle