Page:The Library, volume 5, series 3.djvu/210

 198 PROBLEMS OF THE ENGLISH of our scheme comes out very strongly when we consider the eight cases of agreement between P H B. Of these two at most can with any plausibility be explained in the manner which satisfies the four cases just considered. 1 Conse- quently of really cogent variants the group P H B is supported by six or seven, the group P H D by none, and the group B D by one only, and that doubtfully. This, it must be admitted, is fairly satisfactory confirmation. It is a curious fa<5l that there are three cases of agreement of P B against the rest, but of these two prove on examination to be more apparent than real, while the third is a pretty obvious correction by B of a corruption in rt. 2 A case in which P B agree against D W K, while H differs from and might be a corruption of the reading of either group, may be assumed 1 The instances of P H B are : 97 P (&c.) Men buryed in graue as ye may see (D W K you). 112 P (&c.) Crist that oure name has nomen (D W K our). 143 P (&c.) And ley it lou vndre the greet (D W K burye). 301 P (&c.) Tertius rex (D W K Primus). 371 P (&c.) Oute on the wysarde with thy wylis (D W roysard K defective). 411 P (&c.) That thowe shewyd to these kyngis (D W K vnto). 625 P (&c.) Antecrist nowe ys comyn thy day (D W K this). 714 P (&c.) Conspyryd may be no way (D W K by noe). The instance in line 411 is not significant, and that in line 714 only doubtfully so. 2 The instances of P B are : 415 D (&c.) So thy ioye nowe yt raygnes (P B nowe). 448 D (&c.) My cursse I gyue you to amend your meeles (P B mend). 682 D (&c.) Of soules that should haue bine saued in hell be the lydd (P B thie). There are reasons for not attaching weight to the first and last of these.