Ketubot

of a robust constitution. One who eats eggs will have children with big eyes. One who eats fish will have graceful children. One who eats parsley  will have beautiful children. One who eats coriander will have stout  children. One who eats ethrog  will have fragrant children. The daughter of King Shapur, whose mother had eaten ethrog  [while she was pregnant] with her, used to be presented before her father as his principal perfume. R. Huna  related: R. Huna b. Hinena tested us [with the following question:] If she  says that she wishes to suckle her child and he  says that she shall not suckle it her wish is to be granted,  for she would be the sufferer.  What, [however, is the law] where he says that she shall suckle the child and she says that she will not suckle it? Whenever this  is not the practice in her family we, of course, comply with her wish; what, [however, is the law] where this is the practice in her family but not in his? Do we follow the practice of his family or that of hers? And we solved his problem from this: She  rises with him  but does not go down with him.  What, said R. Huna, is the Scriptural proof?  — For she is a man's wife,  [she is to participate] in the rise of her husband but not in his descent. R. Eleazar said, [The proof is] from here: Because she  was the mother of all living  she was given [to her husband]  to live but not to suffer pain. IF SHE BROUGHT HIM ONE BONDWOMAN etc. Her other duties, however, she must obviously perform; [but why?] Let her say to him, 'I brought you a wife in my place'!  — Because he might reply, 'That bondwoman works for me and for herself, who will work for you!' [IF SHE BROUGHT] TWO BONDWOMEN, SHE NEED NOT EVEN COOK OR SUCKLE etc. Her other duties, however, she must obviously perform; [but why]? Let her say to him, 'I brought you another wife who will work for me and for her, while the first one [will work] for you and for herself!' — Because he might reply, 'Who will do the work for our guests  and occasional visitors!' IF THREE, SHE NEED NEITHER MAKE READY HIS BED. Her other duties, however, she must perform; [but why]? Let her say to him, 'I brought you a third one  to attend upon our guests and occasional visitors!' — Because he might reply, 'The more the number of the household the more the number of guests and occasional visitors'. If so,  [the same plea could also be advanced] even [when the number of bondwomen was] four! — [In the case of] four bondwomen, since their number is considerable they assist one another. R. Hana, or some say R. Samuel b. Nahmani, stated: [SHE BROUGHT] does not mean that she had actually brought; but: Wherever she is in a position to bring,  even though she has not brought any. A Tanna taught: [A wife is entitled to the same privileges] whether she brought [a bondwoman] to him  or whether she saved up for one out of her income. IF FOUR, SHE MAY LOUNGE IN AN EASY CHAIR. R. Isaac b. Hanania  stated in the name of R. Huna: Although it has been said, SHE MAY LOUNGE IN AN EASY CHAIR she should  nevertheless fill  for him his cup, make ready his bed and wash his face, hands and feet. R. Isaac b. Hanania  further  stated in the name of R. Huna: All kinds of work which a wife performs for her husband a menstruant also may perform for her husband, with the exception of filling  his cup, making ready his bed and washing his face, hands and feet.  As to 'the making ready of his bed' Raba explained that [the prohibition] applies only in his presence but [if it is done] in his absence it does not matter.  With regard to 'the filling of his cup'. Samuel's wife made a change  [by serving] him with her left hand. [The wife of] Abaye placed it  on the edge  of the wine cask. Raba's [wife placed it] at the head-side of his couch, and R. Papa's [wife put it] on his foot-stool. R. Isaac b. Hanania  further  stated: All [foodstuffs] may be held back from the waiter  except meat and wine.  Said R. Hisda: [This applies only to] fat meat and old wine. Raba said: Fat meat  throughout the year but old wine only in the Tammuz  season.  R. Anan b. Tahlifa related: I was once standing in the presence of Samuel when they brought him a dish of mushrooms, and, had he not given me [some of it], I would have been exposed to danger.  I, related R. Ashi, was once standing before R. Kahana when they brought him slices  of turnips in vinegar, and had he not given me some, I would have been exposed to danger. R. Papa said: Even a fragrant date [if not tasted may expose one to danger].  This is the rule: Any foodstuff that has a strong flavour or an acrid taste [will expose a man to danger  if he is not allowed to taste of it]. Both Abbuha  b. Ihi and Minjamin b. Ihi [shewed consideration for their waiter] the one giving [him a portion] of every kind of dish  while the other gave [him a portion]  of one kind only.  With the former Elijah  conversed, with the latter he did not. [It was related of] two pious men, and others say of R. Mari and R. Phinehas the sons of R. Hisda, that one of them  gave [a share to his waiter]  first  while the other gave him last.  With the one who gave [the waiter his share] first, Elijah  conversed; with the one, however, who gave his waiter last, Elijah did not converse.  Amemar, Mar Zutra and R. Ashi were once sitting at the gate of King Yezdegerd  when the King's table-steward  passed them by. R. Ashi, observing that Mar Zutra