From Francis Bacon's essay *Of Revenge* (1625). Select the word that fits the blank. "Public revenges are for the most part fortunate; as that for the death of Caesar... But in private revenges, it is not so. Nay rather, ______ persons live the life of witches; who, as they are mischievous, so end they infortunate."

Bacon contrasts *public revenges* (often successful — e.g., Caesar's assassins acting for the state) with *private* ones. The blank must name the kind of person who pursues private revenge — i.e., **someone bent on vengeance**. "Vindictive" — given to revenge; bearing grudges — fits exactly. The witch comparison drives it home: they are *mischievous*, and their ends are *infortunate* (unfortunate). - "Forgiving", "dispassionate", "tolerant" all describe the **opposite** disposition.