reward for going; he who practises (43) but does not go secures the
reward for practising; he who goes and practises is a saint; he who
neither goes nor practises is a wicked man. 18. There are four
qualities among those that sit before the wise: they are like a
sponge, a funnel, a strainer, or a sieve: a sponge, which sucks up
everything (44); a funnel, which lets in at one end and out at the
other; a strainer, which lets the wine pass out and retains the dregs;
a sieve, which lets out the bran and retains the fine flour.

(39) One who neither gives nor takes. One who does no labor
of love. Cf. Ezek. XVI, 49.

(40) He does not know the sacredness of the rights of
property.

(41) He does not want his neighbors to be blessed because of
their liberality.

(42) The duties of which he has learned.

(43) The commands of the _Torah_.

(44) The true and the untrue.

19. Whenever love depends upon some material cause, with the passing
away of that cause, the love, too, passes away (45); but if it be not
depending upon such a cause, it will not pass away for ever. Which
love was that which depended upon a material cause? Such was the love
of Ammon and Tamar (46). And that which depended upon no such cause?
Such was the love of David and Jonathan (47).