Orlando was of middling stature, broad-shouldered, crooked-legged, brown-visaged, red-bearded, and had much hair on his body. He talked but little, and had a very surly aspect, although he was perfectly good-humored.—Cervantes,Don Quixote, II. i. 1 (1615).
Orlando was of middling stature, broad-shouldered, crooked-legged, brown-visaged, red-bearded, and had much hair on his body. He talked but little, and had a very surly aspect, although he was perfectly good-humored.—Cervantes,Don Quixote, II. i. 1 (1615).
Orlando’s Vulnerable Part.Orlando was invulnerable except in the sole of his foot, and even there nothing could wound him but the point of a large pin; so that when Bernardo del Carpio assailed him at Roncesvallês, he took him in his arms and squeezed him to death, in imitation of Herculês, who squeezed to death the giant Antæ´us (3syl.).—Cervantes,Don Quixote, II. ii. 13 (1615).
Orlando Furioso, a continuation of Bojardo’s story, with the same hero. Bojardo leaves Orlando in love with Angelica, whom he fetched from Cathay and brought to Paris. Here, says Ariosto, Rinaldo falls in love with her, and, to prevent mischief, the king placed the coquette under the charge of Namus; but she contrived to escape her keeper, and fled to the island of Ebūda, where Rogēro found her exposed to a sea-monster, and liberated her. In the mean time, Orlando went in search of his lady, was decoyed into the enchanted castle of Atlantês, but was liberated by Angelica, who again succeeded in effecting her escape to Paris. Here she arrived just after a great battle between the Christians and pagans, and, finding Medōra, a Moor, wounded, took care of him, fell in love with him, and eloped with him to Cathay. When Orlando found himself jilted, he was driven mad with jealousy and rage, or rather his wits were taken from him for three months by way of punishment, and deposited in the moon. Astolpho went to the moon in Elijah’s chariot, and St. John gave him “the lost wits” in an urn. On reaching France Astolpho bound the madman, then, holding the urn to his nose, the wits returned to their nidus, and the hero was himself again. After this, the siege was continued, and the Christians were wholly successful. (SeeOrlando Innamorato.)—Ariosto,Orlando Furioso(1516).
***This romance in verse extends to forty-six cantos. Hoole, in his translation, has compressed the forty-six cantos into twenty-four books; but Rose has retained the original number. The adventures of Orlando, under the French form “Roland,” are related by Turpin in hisChronicle, and by Théroulde in hisChanson de Roland.
***The true hero of Ariosto’s romance is Rogēro, and not Orlando. It is with Rogero’s victory over Rodomont that the poem ends. The concluding lines are:
Then at full stretch he [Rogero] raised his arm aboveThe furious Rodomont, and the weapon droveThrice in his gaping throat—so ends the strife,And leaves secure Rogero’s fame and life.
Orlando Innamora´to, orOrlando in love, in three books, by Count Bojardo, of Scandiano, in Italy (1495). Bojardo supposes Charlemagne to be warring against the Saracens in France, under the walls of Paris. He represents the city to be besieged by two infidel hosts—one under Agramantê, emperor of Africa, and the other under Gradasso, king of Sirica´na. His hero is Orlando, whom he supposes (though married at the time to Aldebella) to be in love with Angelica, a fascinating coquette from Cathay, whom Orlando had brought to France. (SeeOrlando Furioso.)
***Berni of Tuscany, in 1538, published a burlesque in verse on the same subject.
Orleans, a most passionate innamorato, in love with Agripy´na.—Thomas Dekker,Old Fortunatus(1600).
Orleans talks “pure Biron and Romeo;” he is almost as poetical as they, quite as philosophical, only a little madder.—C. Lamb.
Orleans talks “pure Biron and Romeo;” he is almost as poetical as they, quite as philosophical, only a little madder.—C. Lamb.
(“Biron,” in Shakespeare’sLove’s Labor’s Lost; “Romeo,” in hisRomeo and Juliet.)
Orleans(Gaston, duke of), brother of Louis XIII. He heads a conspiracy to assassinate Richelieu and dethrone the king. If the plot had been successful, Gaston was to have been made regent; but the conspiracy was discovered, and the duke was thwarted in his ambitious plans.—Lord Lytton,Richelieu(1839).
Orleans(Louis, duc d’), to whom the Princess Joan (daughter of Louis XI.) is affianced.—Sir W. Scott,Quentin Durward(time, Edward IV.).
Orlick(Dolge), usually called “Old Orlick,” though not above five and twenty, journeyman to Joe Gargery, blacksmith. Obstinate, morose, broad-shouldered, loose-limbed, swarthy, of great strength, never in a hurry, and always slouching. Being jealous of Pip, he allured him to a hut in the marshes, bound him to a ladder, and was about to kill him, when, being alarmed by approaching steps, he fled. Subsequently, he broke into Mr. Pumblechook’s house, was arrested, and confined in the county jail. This surly, ill-conditioned brute was in love with Biddy, but Biddy married Joe Gargery.—C. Dickens,Great Expectations(1860).
Orloff Diamond(The), the third largest cut diamond in the world, set in the top of the Russian sceptre. The weight of this magnificent diamond is 194 carats, and its size is that of a pigeon’s egg. It was once one of the eyes of the idol Sheringham, in the temple of Brahma; came into the hands of the Shah Nadir; was stolen by a French grenadier and sold to an English sea-captain for £2000; the captain sold it to a Jew for £12,000; it next passed into the hands of Shafras; and in 1775, Catherine II. of Russia gave for it £90,000. (SeeDiamonds.)
Or´mandine(3syl.), the necromancer who threw St. David into an enchanted sleep for seven years, from which he was reclaimed by St. George.—R. Johnson,The Seven Champions of Christendom, i. 9 (1617).
Orme(Victor), a poor gentleman in love with Elsie.—Wybert Reeve,Parted.
Ormond(The duke of), a privy councillor of Charles II.—Sir W. Scott,Peveril of the Peak(time, Charles II.).
Ormston(Jock), a sheriff’s officer at Fairport.—Sir W. Scott,The Antiquary(time, George III.).
Ornithol´ogy(The Father of), George Edwards (1693-1773).
Oroma´zes(4syl.), the principle of good in Persian mythology. Same as Yezad (q.v.).
Oroonda´tes(5syl.), only son of a Scythian king, whose love for Statīra (widow of Alexander the Great) led him into numerous dangers and difficulties, which, however, he surmounted.—La Calprenède,Cassandra(a romance).
Oroono´ko(Prince), son and heir of the king of Angola, and general of the forces. He was decoyed by Captain Driver aboard his ship; his suite of twenty men were made drunk with rum; the ship weighed anchor; and the prince, with all his men, were sold as slaves in one of the West Indian Islands. Here Oroonoko met Imoin´da (3syl.), his wife, from whom he had been separated, and whom he thoughtwas dead. He headed a rising of the slaves, and the lieutenant-governor tried to seduce Imoinda. The result was that Imoinda killed herself, and Oroonoko (3syl.) slew first the lieutenant-governor and then himself. Mrs. Aphra Behn became acquainted with the prince at Surinam, and made the story of his life the basis of a novel, which Thomas Southern dramatized (1696).
Orozem´bo, a brave and dauntless old Peruvian. When captured and brought before the Spanish invaders, Orozembo openly defied them, and refused to give any answer to their questions (act i. 1).—Sheridan,Pizarro(altered from Kotzebue, 1799).
Orpas, once archbishop at Sev´ille. At the overthrow of the Gothic kingdom in Spain, Orpas joined the Moors and turned Moslem. Of all the renegades “the foulest and the falsest wretch was he that e’er renounced his baptism.” He wished to marry Florinda, daughter of Count Julian, in order to secure “her wide domains;” but Florinda loathed him. In the Moorish council Orpas advised Abulcacem to cut off Count Julian, “whose power but served him for fresh treachery; false to Roderick first, and to the caliph now.” This advice was acted on; but, as the villain left the tent, Abulcacem muttered to himself, “Look for a like reward thyself; that restless head of wickedness in the grave will brood no treason.”—Southey,Roderick, etc., xx., xxii. (1814).
Orphan of China, a drama by Murphy. Zaphimri, the sole survivor of the royal race of China, was committed in infancy to Zamti, the mandarin, that he might escape from the hand of Ti´murkan´, the Tartar conqueror. Zamti brought up Zaphimri as his son, and sent Hamet, his real son, to Corea, where he was placed under the charge of Morat. Twenty years afterwards, Hamet led a band of insurgents against Timurkan, was seized, and ordered to be put to death under the notion that he was “the orphan of China.” Zaphimri, hearing thereof, went to the Tartar and declared that he, not Hamet, was the real prince; whereupon Timurkan ordered Zamti and his wife, Mandānê, with Hamet and Zaphimri, to be seized. Zamti and Mandanê were ordered to the torture, to wring from them the truth. In the interim, a party of insurgent Chinese rushed into the palace, killed the king, and established “the orphan of China” on the throne of his fathers (1759).
Orphan of the Frozen Sea, Martha, the daughter of Ralph de Lascours (captain of theUran´ia) and his wife, Louise. The crew having rebelled, the three, with their servant, Bar´abas, were cast adrift in a boat, which ran on an iceberg in the Frozen Sea. Ralph thought it was a small island, but the iceberg broke up, both Ralph and his wife were drowned, but Barabas and Martha escaped. Martha was taken by an Indian tribe, which brought her up and named her Orgari´ta (“withered wheat”), from her white complexion. In Mexico she met with her sister, Diana, and her grandmother, Mde. de Theringe (2syl.), and probably married Horace de Brienne.—E. Stirling,Orphan of the Frozen Sea(1856).
Orphan of the Temple, Marie Thérèse Charlotte, duchess d’Angoulême, daughter of Louis XVI.; so called from the Temple, where she was imprisoned. She was called “The Modern Antig´onê” by her uncle, Louis XVIII.
Orphant Annie.A bound girl, who is credited byl’enfant terribleof the household with the goblin-lore he lavishes upon a visitor, this being the moral:
“You better mind yer parents and yer teachers fond and dear,An’ churish ’em ’at loves you an’ dry the orphant’s tear,An’ he’p the poor an’ needy ones ’at clusters all about,Er the gobble-uns ’ll git youEf youDon’tWatchOut!”James Whitcomb Riley,The Boss Girl and Other Sketches(1886).
Orpheus.(For a parallel fable, seeWainamoinen.)
Orpheus and Eurydice(4syl.), Glück’s best opera (Orfeo). Libretto by Calzabigi, who also wrote for Glück the libretto ofAlceste(1767). King produced an English version ofOrpheus and Eurydice.
***The tale is introduced by Pope in hisSt. Cecilia’s Ode.
Of Orpheus now no more let poets tell,To bright Cecilia greater power is given;His numbers raised a shade from hell,Hers lift the soul to heaven.Pope,St. Cecilia’s Day(1709).
Orpheus of Highwaymen, John Gay, author ofThe Beggar’s Opera(1688-1732).
Orpheus of the Green Isle(The),FurloughO’Carolan, poet and musician (1670-1738).
Or´raca(Queen), wife of Affonso II. The legend says that five friars of Morocco, went to her, and said, “Three things we prophesy to you: (1) we five shall all suffer martyrdom; (2) our bodies will be brought to Coimbra; and (3) which ever see our relics the first, you or the king, will die the same day.” When their bodies were brought toCoimba,the king told Queen Orraca she must join the procession with him. She pleaded illness, but Affonso replied the relics would cure her; so they started on their journey. As they were going, the queen told the king to speed on before, as she could not travel so fast; so he speeded on with his retinue, and started a boar on the road. “Follow him!” cried the king, and they went after the boar and killed it. In the mean time, the queen reached the procession, fully expecting her husband had joined it long ago; but lo! she beheld him riding up with great speed. That night the king was aroused at midnight with the intelligence that the queen was dead.—Southey,Queen Orraca(1838); Francisco Manoel da Esperança,Historia Sarafica(eightteenthcentury).
Orrock(Puggie), a sheriff’s officer at Fairport.—Sir W. Scott,The Antiquary(time, George III.).
Orsin, one of the leaders of the rabble rout that attacked Hudibras at the bear-baiting.—S. Butler,Hudibras(1663).
Orsi´ni(Maffio), a young Italian nobleman, whose life was saved by Genna´ro at the battle of Rim´ini. Orsini became the fast friend of Gennaro, but both were poisoned by the Princess Neg´roni at a banquet.—Donizetti,Lucrezia di Borgia(opera, 1834).
Orsi´no, duke of Illyria, who sought the love of Olivia, a rich countess; but Olivia gave no encouragement to his suit, and the duke moped and pined, leaving manly sports for music and other effeminate employments. Viola entered theduke’s service as a page, and soon became a great favorite. When Olivia married Sebastian (Viola’s brother), and the sex of Viola became known, the duke married her, and made her duchess of Illyria.—Shakespeare,Twelfth Night(1614).
Orson, twin brother of Valentine, and son of Bellisant. The twin-brothers were born in a wood near Orleans, and Orson was carried off by a bear, which suckled him with its cubs. When he grew up he became the terror of France, and was called “The Wild Man of the Forest.” Ultimately, he was reclaimed by his brother Valentine, overthrew the Green Knight, and married Fezon, daughter of the duke of Savary, in Aquitane.—Valentine and Orson(fifteenth century).
Orson and Ellen.Young Orson was a comely young farmer from Taunton, stout as an oak, and very fond of the lasses, but he hated matrimony, and used to say, “the man who can buy milk is a fool to keep a cow.” While still a lad, Orson made love to Ellen, a rustic maiden; but, in the fickleness of youth, forsook her for a richer lass, and Ellen left the village, wandered far away, and became waiting maid to old Boniface, the innkeeper. One day Orson happened to stop at this very inn, and Ellen waited on him. Five years had passed since they had seen each other, and at first neither knew the other. When, however, the facts were known, Orson made Ellen his wife, and their marriage feast was given by Boniface himself.—Peter Pindar [Dr. Wolcot],Orson and Ellen(1809).
Ortel´lius(Abraham), a Dutch geographer, who published in 1570, hisTheatrum Orbis Terræ, orUniversal Geography(1527-1598).
I more could tell to prove the place our own,Than by his spacious maps are by Ortellius shown.Drayton,Polyolbion, vi. (1612).
Ortheris, cockney companion of Mulvaney. He suffers violently from homesickness in India.—Rudyard Kipling,Soldiers Three.
Orthodoxy.When Lord Sandwich said, “he did not know the difference between orthodoxy and heterodoxy,” Warburton, bishop of Gloucester, replied, “Orthodoxy, my lord, ismydoxy, and heterodoxy isanother man’sdoxy.”
Orthodoxy(The Father of), Athanasius (296-373).
Orthrus, the two-headed dog of Euryt´ion, the herdsman of Geryon´eo. It was the progeny of Typha´on and Echidna.
With his two-headed dogge that Orthrus hight,Orthrus begotten by great TyphaonAnd foule Echidna in the house of Night.Spenser,Faëry Queen, v., 10 (1596).
Ortwine(2syl.), knight of Metz, sister’s son of Sir Hagan of Trony, a Burgundian.—The Nibelungen Lied(eleventh century).
Or´ville(Lord), the amiable and devoted lover of Evelina, whom he ultimately marries.—Miss Burney,Evelina(1778).
Osbaldistone(Mr.), a London merchant.
Frank Osbaldistone, his son, in love with Diana Vernon, whom he marries.
Sir Hildebrand Osbaldistone, of Osbaldistone Hall, uncle of Frank, his heir.
His Sonswere: Percival, “the sot;” Thorncliffe, “the bully;” John, “the gamekeeper;” Richard, “thehorse-jockey:”Wilfred, “the fool;” and Rashleigh, “the scholar,” a perfidious villain killed by Rob Roy.—Sir W. Scott, Rob Roy (time, George I.).
Rob Roy Macgregorwas dramatized by Pocock.
Osborne(Mr.), a hard, money-loving, purse-proud, wealthy London merchant, whose only gospel was that “according to Mammon.” He was a widower, and his heart of hearts was to see his son, Captain George, marry a rich mulatto. While his neighbor, Sedley, was prosperous, old Sedley encouraged the love-making of George and Miss Sedley; but when old Sedley failed, and George dared to marry the bankrupt’s daughter, to whom he was engaged, the old merchant disinherited him. Captain George fell on the field of Waterloo, but the heart of old Osborne would not relent, and he allowed the widow to starve in abject poverty. He adopted, however, the widow’s son George, and brought him up in absurd luxury and indulgence. A more detestable cad than old Sedley cannot be imagined.
MariaandJane Osborne, daughters of the merchant, and of the same mould. Maria married Frederick Bullock, a banker’s son.
Captain George Osborne, son of the merchant; selfish, vain, extravagant, and self-indulgent. He was engaged to Amelia Sedley, while her father was in prosperity, and Captain Dobbin induced him to marry her after the father was made a bankrupt. Happily, George fell on the field of Waterloo, or one would never vouch for his conjugal fidelity.—Thackeray,Vanity Fair(1848).
Oscar, son of Ossian and grandson of Fingal. He was engaged to Malvi´na, daughter of Toscar, but before the day of marriage arrived, he was slain in Ulster, fighting against Cairbar, who had treacherously invited him to a banquet and then slew him,A.D.296. Oscar is represented as most brave, warm-hearted, and impetuous, most submissive to his father, tender to Malvina, and a universal favorite.
Oscar Roused from Sleep.“Caolt took up a huge stone and hurled it on the hero’s head. The hill for three miles round shook with the reverberation of the blow, and the stone, rebounding, rolled out of sight. Whereupon Oscar awoke, and told Caolt to reserve his blows for his enemies.”
Gun thog Caoilte a chlach nach gàn,Agus a n’ aighai’ chiean gun bhuail;Tri mil an tulloch gun chri.Gaelic Romances.
Oscar Dubourg.Amiable, affectionate young fellow, betrothed to blind Lucilla Finch. To cure the epilepsy attendant upon an injury to his head, he takes nitrate of silver, concealing the discoloration of his complexion caused by the drug from the knowledge of his betrothed, who has a nervous horror of ugliness and deformity. When she regains her sight, he leaves her because he dares not disclose the truth that she has mistaken his brother for himself, and does not enter her presence until her sight again leaves her.—Wilkie Collins,Poor Miss Finch.
Os´ewald(3syl.), the reeve, of “the carpenteres craft,” an old man.—Chaucer,Canterbury Tales(1388).
Oseway(Dame), the ewe, in the beast-epic ofReynard the Fox(1498).
O’Shanter(Tam), a farmer, who, returning home from Ayr very late and well-soaked with liquor, had to pass thekirk of Alloway. Seeing it was illuminated, he peeped in, and saw there the witches and devils dancing, while old Clootie was blowing the bagpipes. Tam got so excited that he roared out to one of the dancers, “Weel done, Cutty Sark!” In a moment all was dark. Tam now spurred his “grey mare Meg” to the top of her speed, while all the fiends chased after him. The river Doon was near, and Tam just reached the middle of the bridge when one of the witches, whom he called Cutty Sark, reached him; but it was too late—he had passed themiddleof the stream, and was out of the power of the crew. Not so his mare’s tail—that had not yet passed the magic line, and Cutty Sark, clinging thereto, dragged it off with an infernal wrench.—R. Burns,Tam O’Shanter.
Osi´ris, judge of the dead, brother and husband of Isis. Osiris is identical with Adonis and Thammuz. All three represent the sun, six months above the equator, and six months below it. Adonis passed six months with Aphrodītê in heaven, and six months with Persephŏnê in hell. So Osiris in heaven was the beloved of Isis, but in the land of darkness was embraced by Nepthys.
Osiris, the sun; Isis, the moon.
They [the priests] wore rich mitres shaped like the moon,To show that Isis doth the moon portend,Like as Osiris signifies the sun.Spenser,Faëry Queen, v. 7 (1596).
Osman, sultan of the East, the great conqueror of the Christians, a man of most magnanimous mind and of noble generosity. He loved Zara, a young Christian captive, and was by her beloved with equal ardor and sincerity. Zara was the daughter of Lusignan d’Outremer, a Christian king of Jerusalem; she was taken prisoner by Osman’s father, with her elder brother, Nerestan, then four years old. After twenty years’ captivity, Nerestan was sent to France for ransom, and on his return presented himself before the sultan, who fancied he perceived a sort of intimacy between the young man and Zara, which excited his suspicion and jealousy. A letter, begging that Zara would meet him in a “secret passage” of the seraglio, fell into the sultan’s hands, and confirmed his suspicions. Zara went to the rendezvous, where Osman met her and stabbed her to the heart. Nerestan was soon brought before him, and told him he had murdered his sister, and all he wanted of her was to tell her of the death of her father, and to bring her his dying benediction. Stung with remorse, Osman liberated all his Christian captives, and then stabbed himself.—Aaron Hill,Zara(1735).
***This tragedy is an English adaptation of Voltaire’sZaïre(1733).
Osmand, a necromancer, who, by enchantment, raised up an army to resist the Christians. Six of the champions were enchanted by Osmand, but St. George restored them. Osmand tore off his hair, in which lay his spirit of enchantment, bit his tongue in two, disembowelled himself, cut off his arms, and died.—R. Johnson,Seven Champions of Christendom, i. 19 (1617).
Osmond, an old Varangian guard.—Sir W. Scott,Count Robert of Paris(time, Rufus).
Osmond(Gilbert), the incarnation of polished selfishness. He deserts one woman, who has sacrificed everything for him, and marries Isabel Archer for her money; eyes his only child as he might apretty puppet, and sends her back to her convent upon finding that she will not increase his social consequence by marrying an English nobleman.—Henry James, Jr.,Portrait of a Lady(1881).
Osmyn,aliasAlphonso, son of Anselmo, king of Valentia, and husband of Alme´ria, daughter of Manuel, king of Grana´da. Supposed to have been lost at sea, but in reality cast on the African coast, and tended by Queen Zara, who falls in love with him. Both are taken captive by Manuel, and brought to Granada. Here Manuel falls in love with Zara, but Zara retains her passionate love for Alphonso. Alphonso makes his escape, returns at the head of an army to Granada, finds both the king and Zara dead, but Almeria, being still alive, becomes his acknowledged bride.—W. Congreve,The Mourning Bride(1697).
Osric, a court fop, contemptible for his affectation and finical dandyism. He is made umpire by King Claudius, when Laertês and Hamlet “play” with rapiers in “friendly” combat.—Shakespeare,Hamlet(1596).
Osse´o, son of the Evening Star, whose wife was O´weenee. In the Northland there were once ten sisters of surpassing beauty; nine married beautiful young husbands, but the youngest, named Oweenee, fixed her affections on Osseo, who was “old, poor and ugly,” but “most beautiful within.” All being invited to a feast, the nine set upon their youngest sister, taunting her for having married Osseo; but forthwith Osseo leaped into a fallen oak, and was transformed into a most handsome young man, his wife to a very old woman, “wrinkled and ugly,” but his love changed not. Soon another change occurred; Oweenee resumed her former beauty, and all the sisters and their husbands were changed to birds, who were kept in cages about Osseo’s wigwam. In due time a son was born, and one day he shot an arrow at one of the caged birds, and forthwith the nine, with their husbands, were changed to pygmies.
From the story of OsseoLet [us] learn the fate of jesters.Longfellow,Hiawatha, xii. (1855).
Ossian, the warrior-bard. He was son of Fingal (king of Morven) and his first wife, Ros-crana (daughter of Cormac, king of Ireland).
His wife was Evir-Allen, daughter of Branno (a native of Ireland); and his son was Oscar.
Oswald, steward to Goneril, daughter of King Lear.—Shakespeare,King Lear(1605).
Oswald, the cup-bearer to Cedric, the Saxon, of Rotherwood.—Sir W. Scott,Ivanhoe(time, Richard I.).
Oswald(Prince), being jealous of Gondibert, his rival for the love of Rhodalind (the heiress of Aribert, king of Lombardy), headed a faction against him. A battle was imminent, but it was determined to decide the quarrel by four combatants on each side. In this combat Oswald was slain byGrondibert.—Sir W. Davenant,Gondibert, i. (died 1668).
Othel´lo, the Moor, commander of the Venetian army. Iago was his ensign or ancient. Desdemona, the daughter of Brabantio, the senator, fell in love with the Moor, and he married her; but Iago, by his artful villainy, insinuated to him such a tissue of circumstantial evidenceof Desdemona’s love for Cassio, that Othello’s jealousy being aroused, he smothered her with a pillow, and then killed himself.—Shakespeare,Othello(1611).
***The story of this tragedy is taken from the novelletti of Giovanni Giraldi Cinthio (died 1573).
Addison says of Thomas Betterton (1635-1710): “The wonderful agony which he appeared in when he examined the circumstance of the handkerchief in the part of ‘Othello,’ and the mixture of love that intruded on his mind at the innocent answers of ‘Desdemona,’ ... were the perfection of acting.” Donaldson, in hisRecollections, says that Spranger Barry (1719-1777) was the beau-ideal of an “Othello;” and C. Leslie, in hisAutobiography, says the same of Edmund Kean (1787-1833).
Otho, the lord at whose board Count Lara was recognized by Sir Ezzelin. A duel was arranged for the next day, and the contending parties were to meet in Lord Otho’s hall. When the time of meeting arrived, Lara presented himself, but no Sir Ezzelin put in his appearance; whereupon Otho, vouching for the knight’s honor, fought with the count, and was wounded. On recovering from his wound, Lord Otho became the inveterate enemy of Lara, and accused him openly of having made away with Sir Ezzelin. Lara made himself very popular, and headed a rebellion; but Lord Otho opposed the rebels, and shot him.—Byron,Lara(1814).
Otnit, a legendary emperor of Lombardy, who gains the daughter of the soldan for wife, by the help of Elberich, the dwarf.—The Heldenbuch(twelfth century).
Otranto(Tancred, prince of), a crusader.
Ernest of Otranto, page of the prince of Otranto.—Sir W. Scott,Count Robert of Paris(time, Rufus).
Otranto(The Castle of), a romance by Horace Walpole (1769).
O’Trigger(Sir Lucius), a fortune-hunting Irishman, ready to fight every one, on any matter, at any time.—Sheridan,The Rivals(1775).
Otta´vio(Don), the lover of Donna Anna, whom he was about to make his wife, when Don Giovanni seduced her and killed her father (the commandant of the city) in a duel.—Mozart,Don Giovanni(opera, 1787).
Otto, duke of Normandy, the victim of Rollo, called “The Bloody Brother.”—Beaumont and Fletcher,The Bloody Brother(1639).
Ot´uel(Sir), a haughty and presumptuous Saracen, miraculously converted. He was a nephew of Ferragus or Ferracute, and married a daughter of Charlemagne.
Ouida, an infantile corruption of Louisa. The full name is Louise de la Ramée, authoress ofUnder Two Flags(1867), and many other novels.
Outalissi, eagle of the Indian tribe of Onei´da, the death-enemies of the Hurons. When the Hurons attacked the fort under the command of Waldegrave (2syl.), a general massacre was made, in which Waldegrave and his wifewasslain. But Mrs. Waldegrave, before she died, committed her boy, Henry, to the charge of Outalissi, and told him to place the child in the hands of Albert of Wy´oming, her friend. This Outalissi did. After a lapse of fifteen years, one Brandt, at the head of a mixed army of British and Indians, attacked Oneida, and a general massacre was made; but Outalissi, wounded, escaped to Wyoming, just in time to give warning of the approach of Brandt. Scarcely was this done, when Brandt arrived. Albert and his daughter, Gertrude, were both shot, and the whole settlement was extirpated.—Campbell,Gertrude of Wyoming(1809).
Outis(Greek for “nobody”), a name assumed by Odysseus (Ulysses) in the cave of Polypheme (3syl.). When the monster roared with pain from the loss of his eye, his brother giants demanded who was hurting him. “Outis” (Nobody), thundered out Polypheme, and his companions left him.—Homer,Odyssey.
Outram(Lance), park-keeper to Sir Geoffrey Peveril.—Sir W. Scott,Peveril of the Peak(time, Charles II.).
Overdees(Rowley), a highwayman.—Sir W. Scott,Guy Mannering(time, George II.).
O´verdo(Justice), in Ben Jonson’sBartholomew Fair(1614).
Overdone(Mistress), a bawd.—Shakespeare,Measure for Measure(1603).
Overreach(Sir Giles), Wellborn’s uncle. An unscrupulous, hard-hearted rascal, grasping and proud. He ruined the estates both of Wellborn and Allworth, and by overreaching grew enormously rich. His ambition was to see his daughter Margaret marry a peer; but the overreacher was overreached. Thinking Wellborn was about to marry the rich dowager Allworth, he not only paid all his debts, but supplied his present wants most liberally, under the delusion “if she prove his, all that is her’s is mine.” Having thus done, he finds that Lady Allworth does not marry Wellborn, but Lord Lovell. In regard to Margaret, fancying she was sure to marry Lord Lovell, he gives his full consent to her marriage; but finds she returns from church not Lady Lovell, but Mrs. Allworth.—Massinger,A New Way to Pay Old Debts(1628).
***The prototype of “Sir Giles Overreach” was Sir Giles Mompesson, a usurer outlawed for his misdeeds.
Overs(John), a ferryman who used to ferry passengers from Southwark to the City, and accumulated a considerable hoard of money by his savings. On one occasion, to save the expenses of board, he simulated death, expecting his servants would fast till he was buried; but they broke into his larder and cellar and held riot. When the old miser could bear it no longer he started up and belabored his servants right and left; but one of them struck the old man with an oar and killed him.
Mary Overs, the beautiful daughter of the ferryman. Her lover, hastening to town, was thrown from his horse, and died. She then became a nun, and founded the church of St. Mary Overs on the site of her father’s house.
Overton(Colonel), one of Cromwell’s officers.—Sir W. Scott,Woodstock(time, Commonwealth).
Ovid(The French), Du Bellay; also called “The Father of Grace and Elegance” (1524-1560).
Ovid and Corinna.Ovid disguises, under the name of Corinna, the daughter of Augustus, named Julia, noted for her beauty, talent and licentiousness. Some say that Corinna was Livia, the wife of Augustus.—Amor., i. 5.
So was her heavenly body comely raisedOn two faire columnes; those that Ovid praisedIn Julia’s borrowed name.
O´wain(Sir), the Irish knight of King Stephen’s court, who passed through St. Patrick’s purgatory by way of penance.—Henry of Saltrey,The Descent of Owain(1153).
O´weenee, the youngest of ten sisters, all of surpassing beauty. She married Osseo, who was “old, poor, and ugly,” but “most beautiful within.” (SeeOsseo.)—Longfellow,Hiawatha, xii. (1855).
Owen(Sam), groom of Darsie Latimer,i.e.Sir Arthur Darsie Redgauntlet.—Sir W. Scott,Redgauntlet(time, George III.).
Owen, confidential clerk of Mr. Osbaldistone, senior.—Sir W. Scott,Rob Roy(time, George I.).
Owen(Sir), passed in dream through St. Patrick’s purgatory. He passed the convent gate, and the warden placed him in a coffin. When the priests had sung over him the service of the dead, they placed the coffin in a cave, and Sir Owen made his descent. He came first to an ice desert, and received three warnings to retreat, but the warnings were not heeded, and a mountain of ice fell on him. “Lord, Thou canst save!” he cried, as the ice fell, and the solid mountain became like dust, and did Sir Owen no harm. He next came to a lake of fire, and a demon pushed him in. “Lord, Thou canst save!” he cried, and angels carried him to paradise. He woke with ecstacy, and found himself lying before the cavern’s mouth.—R. Southey,St. Patrick’s Purgatory(from theFabliauxof M. leGrand.
Owen Meredith, Robert Bulwer Lytton, afterwards Lord Lytton, son of the poet and novelist (1831-1892).
Owl(The), sacred to Minerva, was the emblem of Athens.
Owls hoot in B♭ and G♭, or in F♯ and A♭.—Rev. G. White,Natural History of Selborne, xlv. (1789).
Owls hoot in B♭ and G♭, or in F♯ and A♭.—Rev. G. White,Natural History of Selborne, xlv. (1789).
Owl a Baker’s Daughter(The). Our Lord once went into a baker’s shop to ask for bread. The mistress instantly put a cake in the oven for Him, but the daughter, thinking it to be too large, reduced it to half the size. The dough,howover,swelled to an enormous bulk, and the daughter cried out, “Heugh! heugh! heugh!” and was transformed into an owl.
Well, God ’ield you! They say the owl was a baker’s daughter.—Shakespeare,Hamlet(1596).
Well, God ’ield you! They say the owl was a baker’s daughter.—Shakespeare,Hamlet(1596).
Ox(The Dumb), St. Thomas Aqui´nas; so named by his fellow-students on account of his taciturnity (1224-1274).
An ox once spoke as learned men deliver.—Beaumont and Fletcher,Rule a Wife and Have a Wife, iii. 1 (1640).
An ox once spoke as learned men deliver.—Beaumont and Fletcher,Rule a Wife and Have a Wife, iii. 1 (1640).
Ox.The black ox hath trod on his foot, he has married and is hen-pecked; calamity has befallen him. The black ox was sacrificed to the infernals, and was consequently held accursed. When Tusser says the best way to thrive is to get married, the objector says:
Why, then, do folk this proverb put,“The black ox near trod on thy foot,”If that way were to thrive?Wiving and Thriving, lvii. (1557).
The black oxe had not trode on his or her foote;But ere his branch of blesse could reach any roote,The flowers so faded that in fifteen weekesA man might copy the change in the cheekesBoth of the poore wretch and his wife.Heywood (1646).
Oxford(John, earl of), an exiled Lancastrian. He appears with his son Arthur as a travelling merchant, under the name of Philipson.
***The son of the merchant Philipsonis Sir Arthur de Vere.
The countess of Oxford, wife of the earl.—Sir W. Scott,Anne of Geierstein(time, Edward IV.).
Oxford(The young earl of), in the court of Queen Elizabeth.—Sir W. Scott,Kenilworth(time, Elizabeth).
Ozair(2syl.), a prophet. One day, riding on an ass by the ruins of Jerusalem, after its destruction by the Chaldeans, he doubted in his mind whether God could raise the city up again. Whereupon God caused him to die, and he remained dead a hundred years, but was then restored to life. He found the basket of figs and cruse of wine as fresh as when he died, but his ass was a mass of bones. While he still looked, the dry bones came together, received life, and the resuscitated ass began to bray. The prophet no longer doubted the power of God to raise up Jerusalem from its ruins.—Al Korân, ii. (Sale’s notes).
***This legend is based onNeh.ii. 12-20.
PPlacenticus,the Dominican, wrote a poem of 253 Latin hexameters, calledPugna Porcorum, every word of which begins with the letterp(died 1548). It begins thus:
Plaudite, Porcelli, porcorum pigra propagoProgreditur ... etc.
There was one composed in honor of Charles le Chauve, every word of which began withc.
The best known alliterative poem in English is the following:—
An Austrian army, awfully arrayed,Boldly by battery besieged Belgrade.Cossack commanders, cannonading, come,Dealing destruction’s devastating doom;Every endeavor engineers essayFor fame, for fortune, forming furious fray.Gaunt gunners grapple, giving gashes good;Heaves high his head heroic hardihood.Ibraham, Islam, Ismael, imps in ill,Jostle John, Jarovlitz, Jem, Joe, Jack, Jill;Kick kindling Kutusoff, kings’ kinsmen kill;Labor low levels loftiest, longest lines;Men march ’mid moles, ’mid mounds, ’mid murderous mines.Now nightfall’s nigh, now needful nature nods,Opposed, opposing, overcoming odds.Poor peasants, partly purchased, partly pressed,Quite quaking, “Quarter! Quarter!” quickly quest.Reason returns, recalls redundant rage,Saves sinking soldiers, softens signiors sage.Truce, Turkey, truce! truce, treacherous Tartar train!Unwise, unjust, unmerciful Ukraine!Vanish, vile vengeance! vanish, victory vain!Wisdom walls war—wails warring words. What wereXerxes, Xantippê, Ximenês, Xavier?Yet Yassy’s youth, ye yield your youthful yestZealously, zanies, zealously, zeal’s zest.From H. Southgate,Many Thoughts on Many Things.
Tusser has a poem of twelve lines, in rhyme, every word of which begins witht. The subject is onThriftiness(died 1580).
P’s(The Five), William Oxberry, printer, poet, publisher, publican and player (1784-1824).
Pache(J. Nicolas), a Swiss by birth. He was minister of war in 1792, and maire de Paris 1793. Pache hated the Girondists, and at the fall of Danton, was imprisoned. After his liberation, he retired to Thym-le-Moutiers (in the Ardennes), and died in obscurity (1740-1823).