Commentary for Bava Metzia 119:16

ולא יפחות את השער וחכ"א זכור לטוב וכו': מאי טעמא דרבנן

— He replied: My mixing is well known.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' It was generally known that Raba diluted the wine with very much water. So that a prospective customer, in tasting it beforehand, would know what proportion of wine it contained, and pay accordingly. ');">¹⁶</span> And should you object, He may add [wine thereto], thus strengthening it, and then sell it [as pure wine] — if so, the matter is endless!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' It would be forbidden to sell even water to a wine-merchant, lest he mix it with wine and sell the whole as pure. But that is obviously absurd. Therefore the Mishnah forbids only a sale of those commodities which lend themselves to immediate deceit. ');">¹⁷</span> WHERE IT IS THE PRACTICE TO ADULTERATE WINE WITH WATER, IT IS PERMISSIBLE, etc. A Tanna taught: In proportions of a half, a third or a quarter.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., whatever proportions are permitted by custom, but not more. ');">¹⁸</span> Said Rab: And this [sc. the Mishnah] was stated in the time of the presses.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The wine may be diluted whilst it is yet in the press, but not after. ');">¹⁹</span> <b><i>MISHNAH</i></b>. R. JUDAH SAID: A SHOPKEEPER MUST NOT DISTRIBUTE PARCHED CORN OR NUTS TO CHILDREN, BECAUSE HE THEREBY ACCUSTOMS THEM TO COME TO HIM;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' When sent by mothers to make a purchase; this is unfair competition. ');">²⁰</span> THE SAGES PERMIT IT. NOR MAY HE REDUCE THE PRICE; BUT THE SAGES SAY, HE IS TO BE REMEMBERED FOR GOOD. ONE MUST NOT SIFT POUNDED BEANS:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To remove the refuse. Owing to the better appearance of the beans he advances the price by more than the value of the refuse removed, and therefore this Tanna forbids it as fraud. ');">²¹</span> THIS IS THE VIEW OF ABBA SAUL. BUT THE SAGES PERMIT IT. YET THEY ADMIT THAT HE MUST NOT PICK OUT [THE REFUSE] FROM THE TOP OF THE BIN,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Leaving the refuse underneath. ');">²²</span> BECAUSE ITS ONLY PURPOSE IS TO DECEIVE THE EYE. MEN, CATTLE, AND UTENSILS MAY NOT BE PAINTED.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To give them a younger or newer appearance, and thus make them realise a higher price. 'Men' refers to slaves. ');">²³</span> <b><i>GEMARA</i></b>. What is the Rabbis' reason? — Because he [this shopkeeper] can say to him [another shopkeeper], 'I distribute nuts; you distribute plums. NOR MAY HE REDUCE THE PRICE; BUT THE SAGES SAY, HE IS TO BE REMEMBERED FOR GOOD, etc. What is the Rabbis' reason? —

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