Chapter Orion to Orlick of O by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Orion to Orlick

Orion. After Orion has set in the west, Auriga (the Charioteer) and Gemini (Castor and Pollux) are still visible. Hence Tennyson says—

… the Charioteer
And starry Gemini hang like glorious crowns
Over Orion’s grave low down in the west.
   —Maud, III. vi. 1 (1855).

Orion, a seraph, the guardian angel of Simon Peter.—Klopstock: The Messiah, iii. (1748).

Orion, an “epic” poem, by Richard H. Horne, price one farthing (1843). Several editions were sold. Of course the price was a satire on the present day’s estimation of modern poetry.

Orithyia or Orithya, daughter of Erectheus, carried off by Boreas to Thrace.

Such dalliance as alone the North wind hath with her,
Orithya not enjoyed, from [? to] Thrace when he her took,
And in his saily plumes the trembling virgin shook.
   —Drayton: Polyolbion, x. (1612).

Phineas Fletcher calls the word “Orithya”—

None knew mild zephyrs from cold Eurus’ mouth,
Nor Orithya’s lover’s violence [North wind].
   —Fletcher: Purple Island, i. (1633).

ORLANDO, the younger son of sir Rowland de Boys [Bwor]. At the death of his father, he was left under the care of his elder brother Oliver, who was charged to treat him well; but Oliver hated him, wholly neglected his education, and even tried by man y indirect means to kill him. At length Orlando fled to the forest of Arden, where he met Rosalind and Celia in disguise. They had met before at a wrestling-match, when Orlando and Rosalind fell in love with each other. The acquaintance was renewed in the forest, and ere many days had passed the two ladies resumed their proper characters, and both were married, Rosalind to Orlando, and Celia to Oliver the elder brother.—Shakespeare: As You Like It (1598).

Orlando (in French Roland, q.v.), one of the paladins of Charlemagne, whose nephew he was. Orlando was confiding and loyal, of great stature, and possessed unusual strength. He accompanied his uncle into Spain, but on his return was waylaid in the valley of Roncesvallês (in the Pyrenees) by the traitor Ganelon, and perished with all his army, A.D. 778. His adventures are related in Turpin’s Chronique; in the Chanson de Roland, attributed to Théroulde. He is the hero of Bojardo’s epic, Orlando Innamorato; and of Ariosto’s continuation, called Orlando Furioso (“Orlando mad”). Robert Greene, in 1594, produced a drama which he called The History of Orlando. Rhode’s farce of Bombastês Furioso (1790) is a burlesque of Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso.

Orlando’s Ivory Horn, Olifant, once the property of Alexander the Great. Its bray could be heard for twenty miles.

Orlando’s Horse, Brigliadoro (“golden bridle”).

Orlando’s Sword, Durindana or Durandana, which once belonged to Hector, is “preserved at Rocamadour, in France; and his spear is still shown in the cathedral of Pavia, in Italy.”

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-humoured. —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 Antæus.—Cervantes: Don Quixote, II. ii. 13 (1615).