[Meaning] cruel and severe. Aristophanes [writes]: "for it is terrible that the spirit of men is so austere by nature that he throws [things] and shouts and wishes to hear nothing bearing fair for fair." Meaning cruel and severe. [Used] metaphorically from unripe grapes. The bunches of grapes are so pungent and not at all ripe; for from the opposite [side], [the bunch] has ripened and is sweet. And "bearing fair for fair," meaning just, and from an equal [measure]. From a metaphor of mixing wine with water. And he is saying to speak and to listen in accordance with what is fair.