one rather for the commentator to expound and reconcile, than for the critic to decide.
My last observation applies to this also. There are, however, many important Readings, no trace of which is to be found in Maestricht's Edition. See my Apparatus, p. 142 (Ed. ii. p. 78), where I have drawn attention to Mark x. 14, and other pas sages.
40. This Canon indicates,1 that Various Readings may be found in the greatest part of those MSS. which have hitherto been discovered and collated.
In no instance, that I am aware of, has this Canon been cited by the author ; though it might have been cited very frequently, very usefully, and very rightly, in favour of the marginal Heading. And, instead of it, he cites passim Canons 41, 42, 43, nay, 12, 11, and 10, nay even 9. In not a single instance, does the author of the Crisis ascribe the true number of manuscripts to a genuine Reading, whether of the Elzevir Text (which happens to be that, which he employs) or of the Margin. But, in every case, where it is in the Text, he claims for it too many MSS., where in the Margin too few.
41. This Canon indicates, that an equal number of MSS. may support the Published and the Various Reading.
This Canon might frequently have been employed with ad vantage ; but it is seldom adduced. It is cited, indeed, ex. gr, on Matt. xxvi. 74 ; but there the MSS. with the greatest un animity, support the marginal Reading.
42. This Canon indicates, that the third part of the MSS. known to us, say thirty or more than thirty, may support the Various Reading.
Frequently in this work is that accounted only a third part of the MSS. which is in reality a far greater number, as in Matt. xvii. 14 ; Mark vi. 33 ; Luke viii. 43 ; Acts xxiv. 20 ; Gal. v. 7 ; Phil. i. 23.
43. This Canon lastly indicates, that a fourth or lesser part of the MSS. known to us, say twenty or less than thirty, may support a Various Reading.
In fine, that is frequently in this work accounted as only
1 For this and the two following Canons, see notes on Canons 25 and 34. -(I. B.)