resolved construction): but if D2 had been lost there would have been no means of knowing this. Two courses alone would have been open; to attend exclusively to the readings discrepant from the Syrian text, as being almost certainly derived from the Non-Syrian element in the ancestry of E3; or to allow to all the readings of E3 whatever authority the discrepant readings might claim. In the former case there would be a negative disadvantage; a necessary loss of evidence, but no falsification of it: the composite text of E3 would be virtually ignored outside the definite limits, but the risk of attributing to the better element of its ancestry readings due in fact to the worse would be avoided. In the latter case there would be a certainty of extensive positive error, since E3 obviously abounds in purely Syrian readings, and yet, for want of a discriminative test, they would be included with the rest in the general attribution of the authority belonging properly to the more ancient element alone. Here again D2 and E3 elucidate the necessity of limiting the separate authority of cursives containing ancient elements of text to their Non-Syrian readings (see the end of § 334).
339. Some weight might doubtless be consistently given to the cumulative negative evidence against a reading supplied by the absence of any cursive attestation whatever; because it might be anticipated that the fortuitous irregularity with which the ancient readings are scattered over any one mixed text would be neutralised by the juxtaposition of all mixed texts, so that a genuine reading would be likely to obtain attestation from at least one or other of the number. But the anticipation is not verified by experience, for numerous absolutely certain readings have no cursive or other similar attestation; and this fact has to be taken into account in doubtful cases. Here, as in all cases where textual character is in question, what is said of cursives applies equally to late uncials: the outward and formal difference between the two classes of MSS involves no corresponding difference of texts.
H. 340—346. Determination of text where B is absent
340. The comparative certainty afforded by the peculiar character of Β is felt at once when we pass to parts of the text where it is wanting. As regards the ancient
