Bava Metzia 155

מפני רעתה

because of its poor quality.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Then we may assume that he willingly sold it, and his repeated demands for payment are due not to financial need, but to fear that the purchaser might retract. ');">¹</span> Now if a man wished to sell [a small field] for a hundred <i>zuz</i>, but finding [no purchaser for so small a field in spite of much seeking] he sold [a larger one] for two hundred [<i>zuz</i>] and made repeated calls for his money, it is obvious that he [the purchaser] does not acquire it.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For it is certain that he sold only under pressure, though a hundred would have sufficed him, and now he presses for money to buy a smaller field with the surplus. ');">²</span>

פשיטא בעי לזבוני במאה ולא אשכח וזבין במאתים וקא עייל ונפיק אזוזי לא קני אלא אי בעי לזבוני במאה ולא אשכח ואי טרח הוה משכח ולא טרח וזבין במאתים וקא עייל ונפיק אזוזי מאי כמוכר שדהו מפני רעתה דמי או לא תיקו

But what if he wished to sell for a hundred, did not find [a purchaser], though had he taken pains he could have found one; but he took no trouble and sold a field for two hundred, and now he makes repeated calls for his money? Is he as one who sells a field because of its poor quality, or not?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since he took but little trouble to find a purchaser for a small field, it may well be that he was not altogether displeased with selling the larger one. ');">³</span> — This problem remains unsolved.

שכר את החמר ואת הקדר וכו' שוכר עליהן או מטען עד כמה שוכר עליהן אמר רב נחמן עד כדי שכרן

IF HE HIRES AN ASS-DRIVER OR A WAGGONER&nbsp;… HE MAY HIRE [LABOURERS] AGAINST THEM, OR DECEIVE THEM. How far may he hire [labourers] against them? — R. Nahman said: Up to their wages.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If the first labourers had done part of the work, but received no wages yet, he may offer the whole sum agreed upon to fresh workers, and pay the first nothing. ');">⁴</span> Raba raised an objection to R. Nahman: Even to forty or fifty <i>zuz</i>.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. p. 442. n. 5. ');">⁵</span>

איתיביה רבא לרב נחמן עד ארבעים וחמשים זוז אמר ליה כי תניא ההיא שבאתה חבילה לידו

— He replied: That was taught only if the bundle [of the workers, tools, etc.] had come into his possession.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Only if actually in possession of property belonging to the workers may he engage fresh ones at their expense up to the value thereof, even if it exceeds the original amount; but not otherwise. ');">⁶</span> <b><i>MISHNAH</i></b>. IF ONE HIRES AN ASS TO DRIVE IT ON THE MOUNTAIN [TOP]. BUT DRIVES IT ON THE PLAIN, OR TO DRIVE IT ON THE PLAIN BUT DRIVES IT ON THE MOUNTAIN. EVEN IF BOTH ARE TEN MILS,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A mil = 2000 cubits. ');">⁷</span>

<big><strong>מתני׳</strong></big> השוכר את החמור להוליכו בהר והוליכו בבקעה בבקע' והוליכו בהר אפילו זו עשר מילין וזו עשר מילין ומתה חייב השוכר את החמור להוליכה בהר והוליכה בבקעה אם החליקה פטור ואם הוחמה חייב להוליכה בבקעה והוליכה בהר אם החליקה חייב ואם הוחמה פטור אם מחמת המעלה חייב

AND IT PERISHES, HE IS LIABLE [FOR DAMAGES]. IF HE HIRES AN ASS TO DRIVE IT ON THE MOUNTAIN [TOP], BUT DRIVES IT ON THE PLAIN, IF IT SLIPS [AND SUSTAINS INJURIES], HE IS EXEMPT;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Because there is less likelihood of slipping on the plain than on the mountain top, therefore he has minimised the risk. ');">⁸</span> BUT IF IT IS [INJURIOUSLY] AFFECTED BY THE HEAT, HE IS LIABLE.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Because it is warmer on the plain than on the mountain top. ');">⁹</span>

השוכר את החמור והבריקה או שנעשית אנגריא אומר לו הרי שלך לפניך מתה או נשברה חייב להעמיד [לו] חמור:

[IF HE HIRES IT] TO DRIVE ON THE PLAIN, BUT DRIVES IT ON THE MOUNTAIN, IF IT SLIPS, HE IS LIABLE; IF AFFECTED BY THE HEAT, HE IS NOT; YET IF IT IS ON ACCOUNT OF THE ASCENT,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The ascent to the top of the mountain heating and affecting it. ');">¹⁰</span> HE IS LIABLE. IF ONE HIRES AN ASS, AND IT IS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This is the literal meaning of [H]; but it is discussed in the Gemara (78b), and other meanings are suggested. ');">¹¹</span>

<big><strong>גמ׳</strong></big> מ"ש רישא דלא קא מפליג ומאי שנא סיפא דקא מפליג

OR SEIZED AS A [ROYAL] LEVY:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H], [G], forced labour, to which man or beast were liable. ');">¹²</span> HE [THE OWNER] CAN SAY TO HIM, 'BEHOLD, HERE IS YOUR [HIRED] PROPERTY BEFORE YOU.'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., he is not bound to supply another in its stead. ');">¹³</span>

אמרי דבי ר' ינאי רישא שמתה מחמת אויר דאמרינן אוירא דהר קטלה ואמרינן אוירא דבקעה קטלה ר' יוסי בר חנינא אמר כגון שמתה מחמת אובצנא רבה אמר כגון שהכישה נחש

BUT IF IT PERISHES OR IS INJURED, HE [THE OWNER] MUST SUPPLY HIM WITH A SUBSTITUTE. <b><i>GEMARA</i></b>. Why is no distinction drawn in the first clause [between the causes of death], whilst it is in the second? — The School of R. Jannai said: In the first clause it means that it died on account of the air, and so we say, The mountain air killed it, [or] the air of the plain killed it.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., the climate of either of these places did not suit it. ');">¹⁴</span>

רבי חייא בר אבא אמר ר' יוחנן הא מני ר"מ היא דאמר כל המעביר על דעת של בעל הבית

R. Jose b. Hanina said: It means, e.g., that it died through fatigue.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Thus, if it was driven on the mountain instead of on the plain, the owner can plead that the ascent had overtaxed its strength. Contrariwise, if driven through the plain instead of on the mountain, it can be urged that the bracing air of the mountain, which is lacking on the plain, would have revived it. ');">¹⁵</span> Rabbah said: It means that it was bitten by a serpent.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And the owner can plead, 'Had you kept to the place agreed upon, that fate would not have met it.' ');">¹⁶</span> R. Hiyya b. Abba said in R. Johanan's name: This [the first clause] agrees with R. Meir, who ruled: Whoever disregards the owner's stipulation