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The Bitter-tempered are hard to reconcile and keep their anger

for a long while, because they repress the feeling: but when they

have revenged themselves then comes a lull; for the vengeance

destroys their anger by producing pleasure in lieu of pain. But

if this does not happen they keep the weight on their minds:

because, as it does not show itself, no one attempts to reason it

away, and digesting anger within one's self takes time. Such men

are very great nuisances to themselves and to their best friends.

Again, we call those Cross-grained who are angry at wrong

objects, and in excessive degree, and for too long a time, and

who are not appeased without vengeance or at least punishing the

offender.

To Meekness we oppose the excess rather than the defect, because

it is of more common occurrence: for human nature is more

disposed to take than to forgo revenge. And the Cross-grained are

worse to live with [than they who are too phlegmatic].