Bava Batra

and the Sabbatical year  does not cause Its cancellation;  and the firstborn does not receive of it a double portion.  'It may be claimed through a court of law'; what is the reason? — It is like a loan. 'And it is not subject to [the restrictions of] usury' — because he  did not give it to him with this intention  'And the Sabbatical year does not cause Its cancellation' — because the Scriptural [injunction], he shall not exact,  cannot be applied to it.  'And the firstborn does not receive a double portion' — because it is prospective.  and a firstborn does not receive [a double portion] in prospective [property] as in that which was in [his father's] possession [at the time of his death]. R. Kahana said, [This is] the rule of groomsmanship: [If] he  was In town,  he should have come.  [If] he  [could] hear the sound of the [wedding] bells,  he should have come.  [If] he [could] not hear the sound of the bells,  the [other]  should have informed him. He has, therefore, a grievance [against him],  but [must] nevertheless repay him. And up to how much? — Abaye said: Wedding guests  are in the habit of putting in their stomachs up to the value of a zuz brought in their hands;  up to four [zuz].a half [of the value of the gifts] is paid;  in case of any higher values,  every man according to his importance. Our Rabbis taught: If a person rendered service [to a bridegroom]  at a public  [wedding] and he  [now] desires [the latter] to reciprocate his services  at [a] private [wedding] he  may tell him, 'At a public [wedding] I will act for you as you have acted for me.  If he rendered service to one  [who married] a virgin, and he [now] desires [the latter] to reciprocate  [on the occasion of his marriage] with a widow he  can say to him, '[At your marriage] with a virgin I will act for you as you acted for me'  If he rendered service to one  on [the occasion of his] second [marriage] and he [now] desires [the latter] to reciprocate  on [the occasion of his own] first [marriage], he  can say to him, 'When you will marry a second wife I will reciprocate'.  If he rendered service to one  [on the occasion of his marriage] with one [woman] and he [now] desires [the latter] to reciprocate  [on the occasion of his marriage] with two, [the latter] can say to him, '[On the occasion of your marriage] with one I will act for you as you acted for me.' Our Rabbis taught: Rich in possessions  [and] rich in pomp  — that is a master of aggadoth.  Rich in money  [and] rich in oil  — that is a master in dialectics.  Rich in products  [and] rich in stores  — that is a master of traditions.  All. [however]. are dependent on  the master of wheat. [i.e.] Gemara. R. Zera said in the name of Rab: What [character is meant] by the Scriptural text, All the days of the poor are evil?'  — A master of Gemara;  but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast'' refers to  a master of the Mishnah  Raba reversed the order; and this is what R. Mesharsheya stated in the name of Raba: What [characters are referred to] in the Scriptural text, Whoso quarrieth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood is warmed up thereby?  is He that quarrieth stones shall be hurt therewith, has reference to  the masters of the Mishnah;  and he that cleaveth wood is warmed up thereby, has reference to  the masters of Gemara R. Hanina said: All the days of the poor are evil.  refers [to him]  who has a wicked wife; but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast,  refers'  [to him] who has a good wife. R. Jannai said: All the days of the poor are evil  refers to  one who is fastidious; but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast  refers to one of a robust constitution. R. Johanan said: All the days of the poor are evil,  refers to one who is compassionate; but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast,  refers to one who is cruel. And R. Joshua b. Levi said: All the days of the poor are evil,  refers to an impatient  man; but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast,  refers to a contented man.