Chapter IX. The Old Uncials. The Influence Of Origen.
§ 1205 . Codex B was early enthroned on something like speculation, and has been maintained upon the throne by what has strangely amounted to a positive superstition. The text of this MS. was not accurately known till the edition of Tischendorf appeared in 1867206 : and yet long before that time it was regarded by many critics as the Queen of the Uncials. The collations of Bartolocci, of Mico, of Rulotta, and of Birch, were not trustworthy, though they far surpassed Mai's two first editions. Yet the prejudice in favour of the mysterious authority that was expected to issue decrees from the Vatican207 did not wait till the clear light of criticism was shed upon its eccentricities and its defalcations. The same spirit, biassed by sentiment not ruled by reason, has remained since more has been disclosed of the real nature of this Codex208 . A similar course has been pursued with respect to Codex . It was perhaps to be expected that human infirmity should have 205
By the Editor. Tischendorf's fourteen brief days' work is a marvel of accuracy, but must not be expected to be free from all errors. Thus he wrongly gives •ÅÁ±ºÅ»É½ instead of •ÅÁ±ºÅ´É½, as Vercellone pointed out in his Preface to the octavo ed. of Mai in 1859, and as may be seen in the photographic copy of B. 207 Cf. Scrivener's Introduction, (4th ed.) II. 283. 208 See Kuenen and Cobet's Edition of the Vatican B, Introduction. 206
