Dies in the zeal of that which it presents."
The difficulty, as Mr. Knightly says, is in the word dies, which is unintelligible; for the meaning is obviously the reverse of dies, namely, that the contents, that is, "the satisfaction of the audience, arises from accepting the well-meant zeal of the poor performers." This sense will be produced by the smallest possible typographical correction—L for D.
"The contents
Lies (i.e. exists) in the zeal," &c.
This at least is intelligible, which no other reading seems to be; and I need not point out that there are no two letters so easily confounded, either in MS. or type, as L and D. Most editions now read die, to agree with the plural contents; that question however, does not affect my emendation, which seems to me very like some of the best in Mr. Collier's folio.
C.
Inscriptions in Books (Vol. vii., p. 127.).—The following lines are often written in Bibles, and other works of a devotional nature:
"This is Giles Wilkinson his book.
God give him grace therein to look:
Nor yet to look, but understand,