Another matter: “Of laughter, I said it is confounded” – Rabbi Pinḥas said: If the laughter is confounded, what does joy accomplish? There was an incident involving a man who was among the prominent leaders in Babylonia, whose son married a woman on a Wednesday.9In accordance with the rabbinic ordinance that one marrying a virgin should do so on a Wednesday; see Mishna Ketubot 1:1. He made a feast for the Sages.
He said to his son: ‘Go up to the attic and bring us fine wine from such and such barrel.’ He went to bring aged wine from the attic; a snake bit him and he died. [The father] waited for him to descend, and he did not descend. He said: ‘I will go up and see what is keeping my son.’ He went up and found that a snake had bitten him and he was dead, cast among the barrels.
That pious man waited until the guests had eaten and drunk their entire meal and concluded reciting the blessing. He said to them: ‘My rabbis, did you not come to that man’s10To my house. house to recite the groom’s blessing, to bless his son? Now recite the mourner’s blessing on his behalf for his son. Did you not come to bring him to the wedding canopy?
Place him into the grave.’ Rabbi Zakai entered and concluded his [eulogy with the verse]: “Of laughter, I said it is confounded; and of joy, what does it accomplish?”