Chapter Prophet Elm to Provis of P by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Protectionists, the name originally given to that section of the conservative party which opposed the repeal of the corn laws, and which separated from sir Robert Peel in 1846. Lord George Bentinck was the head of the party from 1846 till his death in 1848. The name has since undergone modification.

Proterius of Cappadocia, father of Cyra. (See Sinner Saved.)

Protesilaos, husband of Laodamia. Being slain at the siege of Troy, the dead body was sent home to his wife, who prayed that she might talk with him again, if only for three hours. Her prayer was granted, but when Protesilaos returned to death, Laodamia died also.—Greek Mythology.

(In Fénelon’s Télémaque, “Protésilaos” is meant for Louvois, the French minister of state.)

Protestant Duke (The), James duke of Monmouth, a love-child of Charles II. So called because he renounced the Catholic faith, in which he had been brought up, and became a protestant (1619–1685).

Protestant Pope (The), Gian Vincenzo Ganganelli, pope Clement XIV. So called from his enlightened policy, and for his bull suppressing the Jesuits (1705, 1769–1774).

Proteus [Pro-tuce], a sea-god, who resided in the Carpathian Sea. He had the power of changing his form at will. Being a prophet also, Milton calls him “the Carpathian wizard.”—Greek Mythology.

By hoary Nereus’ wrinkled look,
And the Carpathian wizard’s hook [or trident].
   —Milton: Comus (1634).

Periklymenos, son of Neleus, had the power of changing his form into a bird, beast, reptile, or insect. As a bee, he perched on the chariot of Heraklês (Herculês), and was killed.

Aristogion, from being dipped in the Achelous (4syl.), 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-te-us. Malone, Dr. Johnson, etc., retain the hin both names, but the Globe edition omits it from them.)

Protevangelon[“first evangelist”], a Go spel falsely attributed to St. James the Less, first bishop of Jerusalem; it is noted for its minute details of the Virgin and Jesus Christ. Said to be the production of L.Carinus 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).