to sovereign power in the
republic of Athens; so Cosmo was banished, but, being recalled by the
people, was raised to supreme power in the republic of Florence.
Pisistratos was just and merciful, a great patron of literature, and
spent large sums of money in beautifying Athens with architecture; the
same may be said of Cosmo de Medici. To Pisistratos we owe the poems of
Homer in a connected form; and to Cosmo we owe the best literature of
Europe, for he spent fortunes in the copying of valuable MSS. The two
sons of Pisistratos were Hipparchos and Hippias; and the two grandsons
of Cosmo were Guiliano and Lorenzo. Two of the most honored citizens of
Athens (Harmodios and Aristog[=i]ton) conspired against the sons of
Pisistratos--Hipparchos was assassinated, but Hippias escaped; so
Francesco Pazzi and the archbishop of Pisa conspired against the
grandsons of Cosmo--Guiliano was assassinated, but Lorenzo escaped. In
both cases it was the elder brother who fell, and the younger who
escaped. Hippias quelled the tumult, and succeeded in placing himself at
the head of Athens; so did Lorenzo in Florence.

=Pistol=, in _The Merry Wives of Windsor_ and the two parts of _Henry
IV._, is the ancient or ensign of Captain Sir John Falstaff. Peto is his
lieutenant, and Bardolph his corporal. Peto being removed, (probably
killed), we find in _Henry V._, Pistol is lieutenant, Bardolph ancient,
and Nym corporal. Pistol is also introduced as married to Mistress Nell
Quickly, hostess of the tavern in Eastcheap. Both Pistol and his wife
die before the play is over; so does Sir John Falstaff; Bardolph and Nym
are both hanged. Pistol is a model bully, wholly unprincipled, and
utterly despicable; but he treats his wife kindly, and she is certainly
fond of him.--Shakespeare.

=Pistris=, the sea-monster sent to devour Androm'eda. It had a dragon's
head and a fish's tail.--Aratus, _Commentaries_.

=Pithyrian= [_Pi.thirry.an_], a pagan of Antioch. He had one daughter,
named Mara'na, who was a Christian. A young dragon of most formidable
character infested the city of Antioch, and demanded a virgin to be sent
out daily for its meal. The Antioch'eans cast lots for the first victim,
and the lot fell on Marana, who was led forth in grand procession as the
victim of the dragon. Pithyrian, in distraction, rushed into a Christian
church, and fell before an image which attracted his attention, at the
base of which was the real arm of a saint. The s