Responsa for Bava Metzia 60:2

אלא לזקן ואינו לפי כבודו

Rabbah said: If he [the old man] smote it [the lost animal], he is [henceforth] under an obligation in respect thereof.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To return it. By smiting it to make it go in a certain direction he commences the work of returning it, and therefore must complete it. ');">³</span> Abaye was sitting before Rabbah when he saw some [lost] goats standing. whereupon he took a clod and threw it at them. Said he [Rabbah] to him, 'You have thereby become bound in respect of them. Arise and return them.' The scholars propounded: What if it is dignified for one to return [a lost animal] in the field, but not in town? Do we say, a complete return is required, and since it is undignified for him to return it in town, he has no obligation at all; or perhaps, in the field at least he is bound to return it, and since he incurs the obligation in the field, he is likewise obligated in town?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' On the principle of the preceding dictum. ');">⁴</span>

Teshuvot Maharam

Teshuvot Maharam