Bava Batra 291:1

ואמר ר' יהושע בן לוי כל ימי עני רעים והא איכא שבתות וימים טובים כדשמואל דאמר שמואל שנוי וסת תחלת חולי

R. Joshua b. Levi further stated: 'All the days of the poor are evil? Surely there are Sabbaths and Festivals!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' During which days, at least, the poor were provided with wholesome and substantial meals. ');">¹</span> — [The explanation, however, is] according to Samuel. For Samuel said: A change of diet is the beginning of sickness'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For a poor man, who is in the habit of consuming all the week nothing but dry bread, the meat and the other expensive foodstuffs, with which he is supplied on Sabbaths and Festivals, cause indigestion. ');">²</span> It is written in the Book of Ben Sira: All the days of the poor are evil; Ben Sira says: The nights also. Lower than [all] roofs is his roof, [and] the rain of other roofs [pours down] upon his roof; on the height of mountains is his vineyard. [and] the earth of his vineyard [is washed down] into the vineyards [of others].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [Not in our texts]. ');">³</span>

כתיב בספר בן סירא כל ימי עני רעים בן סירא אומר אף לילות בשפל גגים גגו ממטר גגים לגגו ברום הרים כרמו מעפר כרמו לכרמים:

<b><i>MISHNAH</i></b>. IF A PERSON HAD SENT WEDDING PRESENTS TO THE HOUSE OF HIS FATHER-IN-LAW,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' On the morning after the betrothal it was customary for the bridegroom to send to the house of his father-in-law, in honour of the bride, jewels and various kinds of wine or oil. [These gifts were known as Sablonoth, [H], dona sponsalitia, derived according to Kohut from Gr, [G] and according to Maimonides from [H] 'to carry', [H] 'gift' from [H].] ');">⁴</span> EVEN IF HE SENT A HUNDRED <i>MANEH</i> AND ATE THERE A BRIDEGROOM'S MEAL, [ EVEN IF IT WERE ONLY OF THE VALUE] OF ONE <i>DENAR</i>, THEY<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The presents. ');">⁵</span> [CANNOT [ANY MORE] BE RECLAIMED.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Even in the case where he or she died, or where he desired to divorce her. It is assumed that the bridegroom, thanks to his joy and satisfaction with the company and the meal, however small the latter might have been. has definitely determined to present the gifts wholeheartedly and permanently. ');">⁶</span>

<big><strong>מתני׳</strong></big> השולח סבלונות לבית חמיו שלח שם מאה מנה ואכל שם סעודת חתן אפילו בדינר אינן נגבין לא אכל שם סעודת חתן הרי אלו נגבין שלח סבלונות מרובין שיחזרו עמה לבית בעלה הרי אלו נגבין סבלונות מועטין שתשתמש בהן בבית אביה אין נגבין:

[IF. HOWEVER]. HE DID NOT EAT THERE A BRIDEGROOM'S MEAL THEY<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The presents. ');">⁵</span> MAY BE RECLAIMED. [IF] HE SENT MANY PRESENTS WHICH WERE TO RETURN WITH HER TO THE HOUSE OF HER HUSBAND.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As the wife's property. ');">⁷</span> THESE MAY BE RECLAIMED.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. p. 628, n. 8. ');">⁸</span>

<big><strong>גמ׳</strong></big> אמר רבא דוקא דינר אבל פחות מדינר לא פשיטא דינר תנן מהו דתימא הוא הדין דאפילו פחות מדינר והאי דקתני דינר אורחא דמילתא קתני קא משמע לן

[IF. HOWEVER, HE SENT A] FEW PRESENTS WHICH SHE WAS TO USE AT THE HOUSE OF HER FATHER, [THESE MAY] NOT BE RECLAIMED. <b><i>GEMARA</i></b>. Raba said: Only [when the meal<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which the bridegroom had in the house of his father-in-law. ');">⁹</span> was worth] a <i>denar</i>,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Only then may the gifts be reclaimed. ');">¹⁰</span>

אכל תנן שתה מאי הוא תנן שלוחו מאי שם תנן שגר לו מאי

but not [when it was worth] less than a <i>denar</i>. [Is not this] obvious? We have, [surely], learnt, ONE <i>DENAR</i>! — It might have been assumed that the same law [applies] even [to the case where it was worth] less than a <i>denar</i>, and that [the reason] why a <i>denar</i> was mentioned<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'taught'. ');">¹¹</span> [was because that] was the usual cost,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'thing'. ');">¹²</span> hence [it was necessary to] teach us [that we do not say so].

תא שמע דאמר רב יהודה אמר שמואל מעשה באדם אחד ששגר לבית חמיו מאה קרונות של כדי יין ושל כדי שמן ושל כלי כסף ושל כלי זהב ושל כלי מילת ורכב בשמחתו והלך ועמד על פתח בית חמיו והוציאו כוס של חמין ושתה ומת

We learnt, HE ATE; what [is the law if] he drank? We learnt, HE; what [is the law in the case of] his representative?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Who had a meal of the value of a denar at the house of his father-in-law. ');">¹³</span> We learnt, THERE; what [if] it<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The meal. ');">¹⁴</span> was sent to him?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To his own house. ');">¹⁵</span>

וזו הלכה העלה רבי אחא שר הבירה לפני חכמים לאושא ואמרו סבלונות העשוין ליבלות אין נגבין ושאין עשוין ליבלות נגבין שמע מינה אפילו שתה

— Come and hear what Rab Judah said in the name of Samuel: It once happened with a' certain man who had sent to the house of his father-in-law a hundred wagons of jars of wine and jars of oil, and vessels of silver and of gold and silk garments while he [himself]. in his joy. came riding. and stopped at the door of the house of his father-in-law. They brought out a cup of something warm and he drank and died. This practical question<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Halachah. ');">¹⁶</span> was brought up by R. Aha. the 'Governor of the Castle',<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [Cf Neh. VII, 2. Here probably an hereditary title]. ');">¹⁷</span> before the Sages at Usha, and they decided, 'Gifts which were intended<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'made', ');">¹⁸</span>

שמעת מינה אפילו פחות מדינר אמר רב אשי מאן לימא לן דלא שחקי ליה מרגניתא דשויא אלפא זוזי ואשקיה שמעת מינה אפילו שגרו לו דלמא כל פתח בית חמיו כבית חמיו דמי

to be used up<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Before the wedding. ');">¹⁹</span> cannot be reclaimed; and such as are not intended to be used up<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Before the wedding. ');">¹⁹</span> may be reclaimed. From this it may be inferred [that] even if he [only] drank; from this it may [also] be inferred [that] even [if the meal was worth less than a <i>denar</i>.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The drink he had could not have been worth a denar. ');">²⁰</span>

איבעיא להו מהו שישלש שבח סבלונות מהו כיון דאי איתנהו לדידיה הדרי ברשותיה שבוח או דלמא כיון דאי אבדי או מגנבי בעי שלומי ליה ברשותא דידה שבוח תיקו

R. Ashi asked: 'Who can tell us that they did not crush a pearl<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For medicinal purposes (Rashb.). A pearl was regarded as a life-giving substance. Cf. M. A. Canney. JMEOS. XV, 43ff. ');">²¹</span> for him which was worth a thousand <i>zuz</i> and gave him to drink! [May] it be inferred, [however that] even if [it] was sent to him?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since the drink was brought to the door. ');">²²</span> — [No;] it is possible [that] anywhere [near] the door of the house of one's father-in-law is [the same] as the house [itself].

בעי רבא סבלונות העשוין ליבלות ולא בלו מהו תא שמע וזו הלכה העלה רבי אחא שר הבירה לפני חכמים באושא ואמרו סבלונות העשוין ליבלות אין נגבין ושאין עשוין ליבלות נגבין מאי לאו אע"ג דלא בלו לא דבלו

The question was raised: Has he<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A bridegroom who consumed a meal of less value than a denar. ');">²³</span> to pay<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In a case where the gifts are reclaimed, ');">²⁴</span> in proportion?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' According to Raba who stated that if the value of the meal was less than a denar the gifts may he reclaimed, has the bridegroom to pay at least for what he has consumed? (Cf. Tosaf. a.l., s.v., [H]). ');">²⁵</span>

תא שמע סבלונות מועטין שתשתמש בהן והיא בבית אביה אין נגבין תרגמה רבא בייבא וסבכתא

[Further:] Is he entitled to<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'what', ');">²⁶</span> the appreciation of the gifts?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That took place during the time they were at the bride's house. ');">²⁷</span> [Do we say that] since if they<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The gifts themselves. ');">²⁸</span>

אמר רב יהודה אמר רב מעשה באדם אחד ששגר לבית חמיו יין חדש ושמן חדש וכלי פשתן חדש בעצרת מאי קא משמע לן איבעית אימא חשיבותא דארץ ישראל קמ"ל ואיבעית אימא דאי טעין טענתיה טענה

are available they are returned to him, the appreciation took place in his possession; or, perhaps. since if they were lost or stolen she<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The bride. ');">²⁹</span> has to make compensation. the appreciation took place in her possession? — This is undecided. Raba inquired: What [is the law in the case of] gifts intended to be used up that were not used up?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Are they to be returned or not? ');">³⁰</span>

אמר רב יהודה אמר רב מעשה באדם אחד שאמרו לו אשתו תותרנית היא ונכנס אחריה לחורבה לבודקה אמר לה ריח צנון אני מריח בגליל

— Come and hear: 'And this practical question was brought up by R. Aha, the governor of the castle, before the Sages at Usha and they decided [that] gifts intended to be used up [can] not be reclaimed, and such as are not intended to be used up may be reclaimed' — Does<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'what'. ');">³¹</span> not [this refer] even [to the case] where they were not used up! — No; where they were used up. Come and hear: [IF, HOWEVER, HE SENT A] FEW PRESENTS WHICH SHE WAS TO USE AT THE HOUSE OF HER FATHER, [THESE MAY] NOT BE RECLAIMED!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since here, unlike the wording of the previous citation, the expression. 'intended to be used up'. does not occur, it is assumed to refer to all cases, even to those where they were not used up. ');">³²</span> — Raba interpreted [the Mishnah as referring to] a veil or a hair-net.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., articles of little value, the return of which one does not expect. Hence, even if they were not used up they need not be returned. ');">³³</span> Rab Judah said in the name of Rab: It once happened that a certain person sent to the house of his father-in-law new wine and new oil and garments of new linen<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Of flax that grew in that year. ');">³⁴</span> at [the] Pentecost season. What does [this]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The mention of Pentecost. ');">³⁵</span> teach us? — If you wish I would say: The praise of the land of Israel.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That its harvests are earlier than those of other countries. ');">³⁶</span> And if you prefer [it] I would say: That if he advances [such] a plea it is accepted.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'his plea is a plea'. i.e., if he reclaims such gifts. asserting that he had sent them at the Pentecost season, he is believed. Though that season is too early for the harvest in other countries it is not so in Palestine. ');">³⁷</span> Rab Judah said in the name of Rab: It once happened that a certain person was told [that] his wife was defective in the sense of smell<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H] 'in the habit of sniffing'. ');">³⁸</span> He followed her into a ruin to test her<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A husband who finds his wife to be affected with a hidden defect is entitled, under certain conditions, to divorce her without a kethubah. ');">³⁹</span> He said unto her, 'I sense the smell of radish<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' He had with him a radish. According to others, a date. ');">⁴⁰</span> in Galilee.'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The incident occurred near that district; and the object of his test was to ascertain whether she could sense the smell of the radish. According to the other interpretation. he expected her to reply that she sensed the smell of a date and not that of a radish, ');">⁴¹</span>