Chapter Orlando Furioso to Osiris of O by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Orlando Furioso to Osiris

Orlando Furioso An epic poem in forty-six cantos, by Ariosto (digested by Hoole into twenty-four books, but retained by Rose in the original form). The subject is the siege of Paris by Agramant the Moor, when the Saracens were overthrown. In the pagan army were two heroes- Rodomont, called the Mars of Africa, and Rogero. The latter became a Christian convert. The poem ends with a combat between these two, and the overthrow of Rodomont.
   The anachronisms of this poem are most marvellous. We have Charlemagne and his paladins joined by King Edward of England, Richard Earl of Warwick, Henry Duke of Clarence, and the Dukes of York and Gloucester (bk. vi.). We have cannons employed by Cymosco, King of Friza (bk. iv.), and also in the siege of Paris (bk. vi.). We have the Moors established in Spain, whereas they were not invited over by the Saracens for nearly 300 years after Charlemagne's death. In book xvii. we have Prester John, who died 1202; in the last three Constantine the Great, who died 337.

Orlando Innamorato (Roland the paladin in love). A romantic epic in three books, by the Count Boiardo of Scandiano, in Italy (1495).
   There is a burlesque in verse of the same title by Berni of Tuscany (1538), author of Burlesque Rhymes.

Orleans Your explanation is like an Orleans comment - i.e. Your comment or explanation makes the matter more obscure. The Orleans College was noted for its wordy commentaries, which darkened the text by overloading it with words. (A French proverb.)

Ormandine (3 syl.). The necromancer who by his magic arts threw St. David for seven years into an enchanted sleep, from which he was redeemed by St. George. (The Seven Champions of Christendom, i. 9.)

Ormulum A paraphrase of Scripture in Anglo-Saxon verse; so called from the name of the author, Orm or Ormin (13th cent.).

Ormusd or Ormuzd. The principle or angel of light and good, and creator of all things, according to the Magian system. (See Ahriman. )

Oromasdes (4 syl.). The first of the Zoroastrian trinity. The divine goodness of Plato; the deviser of creation (the father). The second person is Mithras, the eternal intellect, architect of the world; the third, Ahrimanes (Psyche), the mundane soul.

O'roondates Only son of a Scythian king, whose love for Statira (widow of Alexander the Great, and daughter of Darius) leads him into numerous dangers and difficulties, which he surmounts. (La Calprenéde: Cassandra, a romance.)

Orosius (General History of), from Creation to A.D. 417, in Latin by a Spanish presbyter of the 5th century, was translated into Anglo-Saxon by Alfred the Great.

Orotalt according to the Greek writers, was the Bacchus of the ancient Arabs. This, however, is a mistake, for the word is a corruption of Allah Taala (God the Most High).

Orpheus (2 syl.). A Thracian poet who could move even inanimate things by his music. When his wife Eurydice died he went into the infernal regions, and so charmed King Pluto that Eurydice was released from death on the condition that Orpheus would not look back till he reached the earth. He was just about to place his foot on the earth when he turned round, and Eurydice vanished from him in an instant. Pope introduces this tale in his St. Cecilia's Ode.
   The tale of Orpheus is thus explained: Aëdoneus, King of Thesprotia, was for his cruelty called Pluto, and having seized Eurydice as she fled from Aristæos, detained her captive. Orpheus obtained her release on certain conditions, which he violated, and lost her a second time.
   There is rather a striking resemblance between the fate of Eurydice and that of Lot's wife. The former was emerging from hell, the latter from Sodom. Orpheus looked back and Eurydice was snatched away, Lot's wife looked back and was converted into a pillar of salt.
   A Scandinavian Orpheus. “Odin was so eminently skilled in music, and could sing airs so tender and melodious, that the rocks