Thus saith the Preacher, “Nought beneath the sun Is new;” yet still from change to change we run. Byron. _Preacher_ (_The Glorious_), St. Chrys´ostom (347-407). The name means “Golden mouth.” _Preacher_ (_The Little_), Samuel de Marets, Protestant controversialist (1599-1663). _Preacher_ (_The Unfair_). Dr. Isaac Barrow was so called by Charles II., because his sermons were so exhaustive that they left nothing more to be said on the subject, which was “unfair” to those that came after him. =Preachers= (_The King of_), Louis Bourdaloue (1632-1704). =Précieuses Ridicules= (_Les_), a comedy by Molière, in ridicule of the “_precieuses_,” as they were styled, forming the coterie of the Hotel de Rambouillet in the seventeenth century. The _soirées_ held in this hotel were a great improvement on the licentious assemblies of the period; but many imitators made the thing ridiculous, because they wanted the same presiding talent and good taste. The two girls of Molière’s comedy are Madelon and Cathos, the daughter and niece of Gorgibus, a bourgeois. They change their names to Polixène and Aminte, which they think more genteel, and look on the affectations of two flunkies as far more _distingué_ than the simple, gentlemanly manners of their masters. However, they are cured of their folly, and no harm comes of it (1659). =Preciosa=, the heroine of Longfellow’s _Spanish Student_, in love with Victorian, the student. =Precocious Genius.= JOHANN PHILIP BARATIER, a German, at the age of five years, knew Greek, Latin, and French, besides his native German. At nine he knew Hebrew and Chaldaic, and could translate German into Latin. At thirteen he could translate Hebrew into French, or French into Hebrew (1721-1740). ⁂ The life of this boy was written by Formey. His name is enrolled in all biographical dictionaries. CHRISTIAN HENRY HEINECKEN, at one year old, knew the chief events of the Pentatauch!! at thirteen months he knew the history of the Old Testament!! at fourteen months he knew the history of the New Testament!! at two and a half years he could answer any ordinary question of history or geography; and at three years old knew French and Latin as well as his native German (1721-1725). ⁂ The life of this boy was written by Schœneich, his teacher. His name is duly noticed in biographical dictionaries. =Pressæus= (“_eater of garlic_”), the youngest of the frog chieftains. The pious ardor young Pressæus brings, Betwixt the fortunes of contending kings; Lank, harmless frog! with forces hardly grown, He darts the reed in combats not his own, Which, faintly tinkling on Troxartas’ shield, Hangs at the point and drops upon the field. Parnell, _Battle of the Frogs and Mice_, iii. (about 1712). =Prest=, a nickname given by Swift to the duchess of Shrewsbury, who was a foreigner.