when thrown, the man can close.  But

Always it devolves upon the man to take the initiative.  But, again,

Always the man must pretend that he takes no initiative.  But, again,

Always the woman must pretend that she gives no opportunity.

The game of love is not only one of chance but one of skill.

What irks man is that a woman pretends that she must be circumvented by

wiles.  But

Man was ever a clumsy wooer.  Nevertheless,

It is only the man who thinks he is too venturesome.   Since

The iciest woman sometimes thaws.  And

The austerer a woman, the sweeter her surrender.  And, again,

A woman is never sweeter than in surrender.  Accordingly,

“De l’audace, et encore de l’audace, et toujours de l’audace”(2) should

be the motto of every wooer.  Since

Audacity if beloved of women; but it must be an audacity born of

Sincerity and educated b y Discretion.  At all events

Beware timidity,--it is fatal.

(2)      Danton

 

* * *

 

With women, nothing is more conquering than conquest; nothing so

irresistible as resistance.  On the other hand,

Resistance on the part of the woman is an effort put forth for the purpose of defeating its own object.

 

* * *

 

A man prizes only what he has fought for.  No one knows this better than

a woman.  This is why

A woman’s capitulation she always makes to appear as a capture.  And

Where there are no defense works, a woman will erect them.

Foolish that man who does not storm entrenchments. For

Resistance on the part of a woman is a wall which a man is expected to leap.  His agility is the measure of her approbation.

 

* * *

 

Arouse a woman’s interest, and you arouse much.  But

Having failed, disappear.  Yet

It takes very many futile attempts to make a failure.  At the same time,