10.
The Discourse on the Venomous Snake
110.
"Monks, there are these four venomous snakes.
Which four?
One whose venom has come but is not terrible, one whose venom is terrible but has not come, one whose venom has come and is terrible, and one whose venom has neither come nor is terrible -
these, monks, are the four venomous snakes.
So too, monks, there are these four persons similar to venomous snakes existing and found in the world.
Which four?
One whose venom has come but is not terrible, one whose venom is terrible but has not come, one whose venom has come and is terrible, and one whose venom has neither come nor is terrible.
And how, monks, is a person one whose venom has come but is not terrible? Here, monks, a certain person becomes angry repeatedly. But that wrath of his does not underlie him for a long time. Thus, monks, a person is one whose venom has come but is not terrible. Just as that venomous snake, monks, whose venom has come but is not terrible; I say this person is similar to that, monks.
And how, monks, is a person one whose venom is terrible but has not come? Here, monks, a certain person does not indeed become angry repeatedly. And that wrath of his underlies him for a long time. Thus, monks, a person is one whose venom is terrible but has not come. Just as that venomous snake, monks, whose venom is terrible but has not come; I say this person is similar to that, monks.
And how, monks, is a person one whose venom has come and is terrible? Here, monks, a certain person becomes angry repeatedly. And that wrath of his underlies him for a long time. Thus, monks, a person is one whose venom has come and is terrible. Just as that venomous snake, monks, whose venom has come and is terrible; I say this person is similar to that, monks.
And how, monks, is a person one whose venom has neither come nor is terrible? Here, monks, a certain person does not indeed become angry repeatedly. But that wrath of his does not underlie him for a long time. Thus, monks, a person is one whose venom has neither come nor is terrible. Just as that venomous snake, monks, whose venom has neither come nor is terrible; I say this person is similar to that, monks. These, monks, are the four persons similar to venomous snakes existing and found in the world." The tenth.