rpion instantly made itself an eagle, and
went in pursuit of the serpent. The serpent, however, being vigilant,
assumed the form of a white cat; the eagle in an instant changed to a
wolf, and the cat, being hard pressed, changed into a worm; the wolf
changed to a cock, and ran to pick up the worm, which, however, became a
fish before the cock could pick it up. Not to be outwitted, the cock
transformed itself into a pike to devour the fish, but the fish changed
into a fire, and the son of Eblis was burnt to ashes before he could
make another change.--_Arabian Nights_ ("The Second Calender").

_Proteus_ or _Protheus_, one of the two gentlemen of Verona. He is in
love with Julia. His servant is Launce, and his father Anthonio or
Antonio. The other gentleman is called Valentine, and his lady love is
Silvia.--Shakespeare, _The Two Gentlemen of Verona_ (1594).

Shakespeare calls the word _Pro-t[)e]-us_. Malone, Dr. Johnson, etc.,
retain the _h_ in both names, but the Globe edition omits them.

=Protevangelon= ("_first evangelist_"), a gospel falsely attributed to St.
James the Less, first bishop of Jerusalem, noted for its minute details
of the Virgin and Jesus Christ. Said to be the production of L.
Car[=i]nus, of the second century.

First of all we shall rehearse ...
The nativity of our Lord,
As written in the old record
Of the _Protevangelon_.

Longfellow, _The Golden Legend_ (1851).

=Protocol= (_Mr. Peter_), the attorney in Edinburgh, employed by Mrs.
Margaret Bertram, of Singleside.--Sir W. Scott, _Guy Mannering_ (time,
George II.).

=Protosebastos= (_The_), or SEBASTOCRATOR, the highest State officer in
Greece.--Sir W. Scott, _Count Robert of Paris_ (time, Rufus).

=Protospathaire= (_The_), or general of Alexius Comn[=e]nus, emperor of
Greece. His name is Nicanor.--Sir W. Scott, _Count Robert of Paris_
(time, Rufus).

=Proud= (_The_). Tarquin II. of Rome, was called _Superbus_ (reigned B.C.
535-510, died 496).

Otho IV., kaiser of Germany, was called "The Proud" (1175, 1209-1218).

=Proud Duke= (_The_), Charles Seymour, duke of Somerset. His children were
not allowed to sit in his presence; and he spoke to his servants by
signs only (*-1748).

=Proudfute= (_Oliver_), the boasting bonnet-maker at Perth.

_Magdalen_ or _Maudie Proudfute_, Oliver's widow.--Sir W. Scott, _Fair
Maid of Perth_ (time, Henry IV.).

=Proudie= (_Dr._), hen-pecked bishop of Barchester. A mart