De Abusu linguae Graecae

It is surprising, however, that in earlier typographic editions, symbolam is written in one place, but symbolum in another, when the interval between them is so small, and the discussion is of one and the same thing, and indeed by one and the same speaker. I think this happened for no other reason than that the latter place perhaps escaped the notice of some diorthoton correctors more than the former, and thus escaped his bold, or rather, reckless pen. But others did not escape such a pen or such a hand in the same way; among whom is this one, in Curculio:

Collectors of contributions symbolorum at the fish market.

For the same editions I mentioned show us the word symbolum instead of symbolam in that earlier place in Stichus, and here they likewise show the genitive symbolorum instead of symbolarum. But in more recent editions, the boldness of the diorthotou corrector or diorthoton correctors has been restrained. Certainly, it went more happily with a certain place in Epidicus, where no one laid hands on the word symbolae:

Without my expense, the contributions are already prepared for the shoulders.

Perhaps this passage remained safe and sound because it was not understood, and the meaning of this word seemed entirely different here than in those places...