In our translation we adopted these principles:

1. Tenan of the original--We have learned in a Mishna; Tania--We have learned in a Boraitha; Itemar--It was taught.

2. Questions are indicated by the interrogation point, and are immediately followed by the answers, without being so marked.

3. When in the original there occur two statements separated by the phrase, Lishna achrena or Waïbayith Aena or Ikha d'amri (literally. "otherwise interpreted"), we translate only the second.

4. As the pages of the original are indicated in our new Hebrew edition, it is not deemed necessary to mark them in the English edition, this being only a translation from the latter.

5. Words or passages enclosed in round parentheses denote the explanation rendered by Rashi to the foregoing sentence or word. Square parentheses contain commentaries by authorities of the last period of construction of the Gemara.

TO HIM WHO RANKS AMONG THE FIRST PHILANTHROPISTS OF OUR CO-RELIGIONISTS

ABRAHAM ABRAHAM, ESQ.

IN RECOGNITION OF HIS GENEROUS DEEDS TOWARD PROMOTING LITERATURE IN GENERAL AND JUDAISM IN PARTICULAR, THIS BOOK IS MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY THE TRANSLATOR

MICHAEL L. RODKINSON

NEW YORK

IN THE MONTH OF ELUL,

5662 (SEPTEMBER 18TH, 1902)