ther fruits, in feasting with his friends, with the orphans, and the
widows. But on the fifth year the fruit is his own, and he may use it as
he pleases.

20. You are not to sow with seed a piece of land which is planted with
vines, for it is enough that it supply nourishment to that plant, and be
not harassed by ploughing also. You are to plough your land with oxen,
and not to oblige other animals to come under the same yoke with them;
but to till your land with those beasts that are of the same kind with
each other. The seeds are also to be pure, and without mixture, and not
to be compounded of two or three sorts, since nature does not rejoice in
the union of things that are not in their own nature alike; nor are you
to permit beasts of different kinds to gender together, for there is
reason to fear that this unnatural abuse may extend from beasts of
different kinds to men, though it takes its first rise from evil
practices about such smaller things. Nor is any thing to be allowed,
by imitation whereof any degree of subversion may creep into the
constitution. Nor do the laws neglect small matters, but provide that
even those may be managed after an unblamable manner.

21. Let not those that reap, and gather in the corn that is reaped,
gather in the gleanings also; but let them rather leave some handfuls
for those that are in want of the necessaries of life, that it may be
a support and a supply to them, in order to their subsistence. In
like manner when they gather their grapes, let them leave some smaller
bunches for the poor, and let them pass over some of the fruits of the
olive-trees, when they gather them, and leave them to be partaken of by
those that have none of their own; for the advantage arising from the
exact collection of all, will not be so considerable to the owners as
will arise from the gratitude of the poor. And God will provide that the
land shall more willingly produce what shall be for the nourishment of
its fruits, in case you do not merely take care of your own advantage,
but have regard to the support of others also. Nor are you to muzzle
the mouths of the oxen when they tread the ears of corn in the
thrashing-floor; for it is not just to restrain our fellow-laboring
animals, and those that work in order to its production, of this fruit
of their labors. Nor are you to prohibit those that pass by at the time
when your fruits are ripe to touch them, but to give them leave to fill
themselves full