Their forme confounded, makes most forme in mirth
When great things labouring perish in their birth."
Act IV. p. 141.
With this the Folio '32 exactly corresponds, save that the speaker is Prin., not Qu.; ore-rules is written as two words without the hyphen, and strives for striues. I have been thus precise, because criticism is to me not "a game," nor admissive of cogging and falsification.
I must now show the hackneyed use of contents as a singular noun. An anonymous correspondent of "N. & Q." has already pointed out one in Measure for Measure, Act IV. Sc. 2.:
"Duke. The contents of this is the returne of the Duke."
Another:
"This is the contents thereof."—Calvin's 82nd Sermon upon Job, p. 419., Golding's translation.
Another:
"After this were articles of peace propounded, ye contents wherof was, that he should departe out of Asia."—The 31st Booke of Justine, fol. 139., Golding's translation of Justin's Trogus Pompeius.