The contention between the two lovers — the old, who had tyrannised un — Passivity

"The contention between the two lovers — the old, who had tyrannised until her life was of the saddest, and the new, who filled her with such wild happiness — was troubling her, and she was pondering as to which should gain the victory. She was just beginning to understand that to wait in passive indecision is to be torn by dragons teeth."