By hoary Nereus’ wrinkled look,
And the Carpathian wizard’s hook [or trident].
Milton, Comus (1634).
Periklym´enos, son of Neleus (2 syl.), had the power of changing his form into a bird, beast, reptile, or insect. As a bee he perched on the chariot of Heraklês (Hercules), and was killed.
Aristogīton, from being dipped in the Achelōus (4 syl.), received the power of changing his form at will.—Fénelon, Télémaque, xx. (1700).
The genii, both good and bad, of Eastern mythology, had the power of changing their form instantaneously. This is powerfully illustrated by the combat between the queen of Beauty and the son of Eblis. The genius first appeared as an enormous lion, but the queen of Beauty plucked out a hair which became a scythe, with which she cut the lion in pieces. The head of the lion now became a scorpion, and the princess changed herself into a serpent; but the scorpion 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-tĕ-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. Carīnus, 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).