rnocorios, ANTHEMIUS. 



PBOOULUB. 



have been eitlicr wholly neglected or imperfectly edited. " lii* life," 

 sy Gibbon, ' with that of hia scholar Isidore, composed by two of 

 thsir most learned disciples, exhibits a deplorable picture of the 

 teoond childhood of human reason." 



The commentariei ou Euclid's first book are valuable for the large 

 number of scattered pieces of information which they give on the 

 history of geometry; but as commentaries they arc only useful as 

 showing what kind of discussion took place on geometrical questions 

 at the time when they were written. These commentaries were trans- 

 lated by the late Mr. Thomas Taylor, whose attempts to revive all 

 kinds of Platonism arc well known. The original Greek was published 

 by Hervagius at Basel, but from so bad a manuscript, that the Latin 

 of Barociua (Patavii, 1660), taken from more and better manuscripts, 

 is a better authority when it differs from the Qreek of the Basel edition. 



The reader who has any curiosity to know more of this author may 

 refer to the following books ' Procli Opera," ed. Victor Cousin, Paris, 

 6 vols. Svo, 1820-27; ' Initia Philosophise ac Theologian ex Platonicis 

 fontibus ducta, sire Prodi Diodochi et Olympiodori in Platonis Alci- 

 biadem Comraentarii,' ed Kr. Creuzer, Franoof. ad Mrcn., 4 vols. Svo, 

 1820-25,; 'Ex Procli Scholiis in Cratylum Platonis,' ed. J. F. Bois- 

 sonade. Lips., 1820 ; ' Translation of the Six Books of Procltis on the 

 Theolcgy of Plato,' 4c., by Th. Taylor, Loud., 2 vols. 4to, 1815 ; ' The 

 Commentaries of Proclus on the Timaeus of Plato,' in 5 books, by Th. 

 Taj lor, Lond., 2 vols. 4to, 1820 ; Brucker, ' Historia' Critica Philo- 

 sophuo,' vol. ii. ; Hitter, 'Genchichte der Philosophic,' vol. iv. ; and 

 Tcnneman, ' Geschiclite der Philosophic,' vol. VL 



PimCOTIUS, ANTHE'MIUS, by which latter name he is best 

 known in hi-tory, a grandson of Anthemius, who was minister of 

 Arc.idius and of Theodosius II., was proclaimed emperor of the West 

 by the nomination of Leo I., emperor of the East, and with the con- 

 sent of Hicimer, a chief of Suovian and other barbarian mercenaries 

 in the service of the empire, who had assumed the supreme military 

 authority over Italy after the death of Severus. As a condition of his 

 consent, Hicimer obtained the hand of the daughter of Anthemius. 

 After a few years Hicimer quarrelled with his father-in-law, and 

 marched against him. The Emperor Leo despatched tbo patrician 

 Olybrius to Italy to mediate a peace, but Olybrius, being offered the 

 crown by Hicimer, was tempted by the offer and accepted it. Anthe- 

 mius, though forsaken by most of his followers, made a stout resistance 

 outside of Home, but he was defeated and killed, A.U. 472, after five 

 years' reign. 



Coin of Procopius. 

 British Muncum. Actual site. 



PROCO'PIUS, the historian, was born at Cxsarea in Palestine, about 

 the end of the 6th or beginning of the 6th century. After studying 

 rhetoric in his native country, he went to Constantinople, where he 

 gave lessons in rhetoric, and appears to have practised also as a lawyer, 

 for such he is styled in the title of some of his works. His reputation 

 for learning and ability reached the court ; and the Emperor Justin 

 the Elder, in the last year of his reign, appointed him assessor 

 (avyitiBilpos) to Belisarius, who was about that time sent as governor 

 to Dara on the frontiers of Armenia. Procopius afterwards accom- 

 panied that commander in hia first war against the Persians (530), 

 afterwards in that against the Vandals in Africa (533-5), and lastly 

 against the Goths in Italy (5369). During these campaigns he 

 appears to have rendered himself very useful through his abilities ant 

 activity, and to have been entrusted by Belisarius with important 

 commissions connected with the service of the army. In his capacity 

 of assessor, he was the general's legal adviser, and he was also his 

 private secretary. In 538 he assisted Antonina, the wife of Belisarius, 

 in raising troops in Campania, and in sending some by sea to Home 

 which was then besieged. On his return to Constantinople, about 

 540, the Emperor Justinian made him a senator, as a reward for his 

 service*. In 662, he was made prefect of Constantinople, unless 

 perhaps it was another of the name who obtained this dignity in Urn 

 year. He died in that city at an advanced age, but the precise year 

 of bis death is not ascertained. 



Procopius wrote the ' History of his own Times,' in eight books 

 which has been translated into Latin by Claude Mnttret, a Jesuit. 

 ' ProeopU Cnsariensis 1 1 istoriarum ui Temporis LibriOcto,' fol., Paris, 

 1662, with the Greek text The work has also been translated into 

 Italian, German, and other modern languages. There is a German 

 translation, with notes, by Kanngicsser, Grsifswald,3 vols. Svo, 1827-29 

 The ' History ' of Procopius is an important work, which form 

 the connecting link between ancient and modern history, between 

 Aimnianus Maroellinus and the Byzantine historians. Procopius was 

 well informed and unprejudiced; he was a spectator of, or an actor in 

 most of the event* which he narrates; he was well acquainted wit 

 the court of Justinian; and he is generally trustworthy, excep 



terhaps where he stoops to the customary flatteries towards the eni|>cror, 

 lie Empress Theodora, and his patron Belisarius, for whi.-h I! 

 owever he has made ample amends in his secret history of the same 

 Mrsonage*. His descriptions of the manners of the various barbarous 

 ations which invaded the Roman empire are vivid and interesting, 

 'he lirt two books of his history concern the Peroian wars. He 

 jegins his narrative with the death of Arcadius, and briefly relates 

 he wan between the Romans and Persians under Throdoaius the 

 'ounger, Auastasius, and Justinus, and lastly Justinian. A he come* 

 [own to contemporary times, hi* history is more diffuse. He 

 wings his narrative down to the 23rd year of Justinian's reign, A.D. 

 550. Books 3 and 4 treat of the wars of the Vandals in Africa, and 

 he reconquest of that province by Belisarius. The 5th, 6th and 7th 

 woks are concerned with the history of the Gothic kingdom in Italy 

 bunded by Theodoric, and the expedition of Belisarius against Totilas. 

 The 8th book is of a mixed character ; it resumes the account of the 

 'ersian ware, then speaks of the affairs of the Homan empire in other 

 quarters, in Africa, on the Rhine, and in Thrace, and at last it resumes 

 >he narrative of the Gothic war in Italy, the expedition of Naraes, 

 lie defeat and death of Teia, and the final overthrow of the Gothic 

 cingdom. 



A second volume, published likewise at Paris, in 1563, contains two 



other works of Procopius, in the Greek text, with a Latin translation. 



)nc contains an account of the public buildings erected or restored 



.y Justinian throughout the empire, De -Kditicin Domini Justiniaui 



",ibri VI.' It is written in a laudatory style, but contains much 



aluable topographical information. 



The other work of Procopius is entitled 'Anecdote, or Secret 

 iistory,' in thirty chapters. The character of this book has been 

 noticed under JUSTINIANUS. Justinian and Theodora are here painted 

 n the darkest colours. Procopius says that he wrote it to complete 

 lia ' History,' in which he could not, through fear of torture and 

 death, speak of living persons as they deserved. Some grossly obscene 

 >assages concerning Theodora, who was evidently a very bad woman, 

 lave been expunged in most editions. There seems little doubt that 

 Procopius is the author of the work. The Paris edition of Procopius, 

 already quoted, is enriched with copious historical notes, prefaces, 

 and an index. The works of Procopius, with valuable notes, arc 

 ncluded in the Bonn edition of the Byzantine Historians, 3 vols. Svo, 

 1833-38. 



* PROCTER, BRYAN WALLER, known as an English poet by 

 ils pseudonym of BARBV CORNWALL, was born about or soon after the 

 year 1790, and was at Harrow School at the same time as Lord Byron. 

 Destined for the legal profession, he was for some time in the oilice of 

 a solicitor in Wiltshire; but afterwards he studied law in London, 

 where he was called to the bar as a member of Uray's Inn in 1831. 

 For many years he has held a valuable appointment in the court of 

 Chancery as one of the Commissioners of Lunacy. His first distinct 

 appearance as an author was in 1819, when he published a volume enti- 

 tled ' Dramatic Scenes and other Poems.' This volume being written 

 with great care and in a direct and natural style, gave him a place 

 among the poets of the day. The following is a list of his subsequent 

 productions : ' Marcian Colonna, an Italian tale ; with three Dramatic 

 Scenes and other Poems,' 1820; 'A Sicilian Story, with Diego de 

 Mantilla and other 1'oems,' 1820; ' Mirandola, a Tragedy,' 121 ; 

 ' The Flood of Thensoly, and other Poems ; ' his ' Poetical Works,' 

 printed in a collected form in three volumes in 1822, and again in 

 1853 ; ' Effigies 1'oelicic, or the Portraits of the British Poets illustrated 

 by Noteo, Biographical, Critical, and Poetical,' 1824 ; 'English Songs 

 and other Small Poem*,' 1832, re-issued lately with additions; and 

 ' Essays and Tales in Prose,' 1851, republished in America in 1853. 

 Mr. Procter is also the author of a Memoir and Essay prefixed to an 

 edition of Shakepere. All tin-so works were published under the 

 assumed name of Barry Cornwall, under which name, better than 

 under his real one, the author has long been known to readers of 

 poetical taste both in Britain and in America. He is one of those 

 poets who have by their own writings helped to bring in the taste, now 

 general, for the older English poets. By many his dramatic poems 

 are preferred; and one of them the tragedy of 'Mirandola' had 

 considerable success when produced at Covent Garden Theatre. 1 1 in 

 ' Songs ' have likewise been great favourites ; and it has been thought 

 that few recent writers of English songs have had equal success in this 

 proverbially difficult species of poetry a species in which English 

 literature is not abundant. 



PRO'CULUS, one of the tyrants or pretenders to the Roman 

 empire who rose after the death of Tacitus. He was a native of 

 Liguria, and originally a chief of robbers, but afterwards served in the 

 army with distinction under Aureliau, and showed himself a brave 

 though rude soldier. He was proclaimed emperor in Gaul, aud fought 

 against the Germans, but being attacked by Probus, who was acknow- 

 ledged emperor by the senate, was defeated and killed, A.D. 276. 



PRO'CULUS, a distinguished Roman jurist, the successor of Nerva 

 the father. He belonged to the school of Labeo, and the followers of 

 that school derived their name (Proculiani) from him. [LABEO, 

 ANTISTIU&] It is generally stated that his name was Semprouius 

 Proculus ; but Pomponius (' Dig.' 1, tit 2, s. 2, 47) calls him simply 

 1'roculus. The pos&ago of the 'Digest' (31, tit. 1, s. 47) which is 

 cited to prove that his name was Seuiprouius doea not prove that it 



