Prince Perviz’s String of Pearls. When Prince Perviz went on his exploits, he gave his sister, Parizādê, a string of pearls, saying, “So long as these pearls move readily on the string, you will know that I am alive and well; but if they stick fast and will not move, it will signify that I am dead.”—Arabian Nights (“The Two Sisters”).
*** Birtha’s emerald ring, and Prince Bahman’s knife gave similar warning. (See Birtha and Bahman.)
Pescec´ola, a famous diver, whose English name was Fish (Italian, Pesce = fish). He dived in the pool of Charybdis and returned. King Frederick then threw a golden cup into the pool; Pescecola dived for it, and was drowned.
Schiller, in The Diver, tells the story, but gives the diver no name.
Pest (Mr.), a barrister.—Sir W. Scott, Redgauntlet (time, George III.).
Pet, a fair girl, with rich brown hair hanging free in natural ringlets. A lovely girl, with a free, frank face, and most wonderful eyes—so large, so soft, so bright, and set to perfection in her kind, good face. She was round, and fresh, and dimpled, and spoilt, most charmingly timid, most bewitchingly self-willed. She was the daughter of Mr. Meagles, and married Henry Gowan.—C. Dickens, Little Dorrit (1857).
Pétaud (King), king of the beggars.
“It is an old saying,” replied the Abbé Huet, “Petaud being derived from the Latin peto, ‘I beg.’”—Asylum Christi, ii.
The court of King Pétaud, a disorderly assembly, a place of utter confusion, a bear-garden.
On n’y respecte rien, chacun y parle haut,
Et c’est tout justement le cour du roi Pétaud.
Molière Tartuffe, i. 1 (1664).