Bava Batra

R. Joshua b. Levi further stated: 'All the days of the poor are evil? Surely there are Sabbaths and Festivals!  — [The explanation, however, is] according to Samuel. For Samuel said: A change of diet is the beginning of sickness'  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]. MISHNAH. IF A PERSON HAD SENT WEDDING PRESENTS TO THE HOUSE OF HIS FATHER-IN-LAW,  EVEN IF HE SENT A HUNDRED MANEH AND ATE THERE A BRIDEGROOM'S MEAL, [ EVEN IF IT WERE ONLY OF THE VALUE] OF ONE DENAR, THEY  [CANNOT [ANY MORE] BE RECLAIMED.  [IF. HOWEVER]. HE DID NOT EAT THERE A BRIDEGROOM'S MEAL THEY  MAY BE RECLAIMED. [IF] HE SENT MANY PRESENTS WHICH WERE TO RETURN WITH HER TO THE HOUSE OF HER HUSBAND.  THESE MAY BE RECLAIMED.  [IF. HOWEVER, HE SENT A] FEW PRESENTS WHICH SHE WAS TO USE AT THE HOUSE OF HER FATHER, [THESE MAY] NOT BE RECLAIMED. GEMARA. Raba said: Only [when the meal  was worth] a denar,  but not [when it was worth] less than a denar. [Is not this] obvious? We have, [surely], learnt, ONE DENAR! — It might have been assumed that the same law [applies] even [to the case where it was worth] less than a denar, and that [the reason] why a denar was mentioned  [was because that] was the usual cost,  hence [it was necessary to] teach us [that we do not say so]. We learnt, HE ATE; what [is the law if] he drank? We learnt, HE; what [is the law in the case of] his representative?  We learnt, THERE; what [if] it  was sent to him? — 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  was brought up by R. Aha. the 'Governor of the Castle',  before the Sages at Usha, and they decided, 'Gifts which were intended  to be used up  cannot be reclaimed; and such as are not intended to be used up  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 denar.  R. Ashi asked: 'Who can tell us that they did not crush a pearl  for him which was worth a thousand zuz and gave him to drink! [May] it be inferred, [however that] even if [it] was sent to him?  — [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]. The question was raised: Has he  to pay  in proportion?  [Further:] Is he entitled to  the appreciation of the gifts?  [Do we say that] since if they  are available they are returned to him, the appreciation took place in his possession; or, perhaps. since if they were lost or stolen she  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? — 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  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!  — Raba interpreted [the Mishnah as referring to] a veil or a hair-net. 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  at [the] Pentecost season. What does [this]  teach us? — If you wish I would say: The praise of the land of Israel.  And if you prefer [it] I would say: That if he advances [such] a plea it is accepted. 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  He followed her into a ruin to test her  He said unto her, 'I sense the smell of radish  in Galilee.'