expression, suru verb (precursor)
be unable to make up one's mind; sit on the fence
Rare literary expression from classical Chinese; used to describe indecision or hesitation between two options. The verb 持す is a classical form equivalent to modern 持する.
See also: 首鼠両端 (しゅそりょうたん)
He couldn't make a decision and just kept sitting on the fence.
From classical Chinese 首鼠两端 (shǒushǔ liǎngduān), literally 'head and tail at both ends', describing a rat hesitating at a fork. The Japanese reading is on'yomi, and the expression is used in literary contexts.