Chapter Osiris to Overie of O by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Osiris to Overie

Osiris, 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 Aphroditê in heaven, and six months with Persephonê 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: Faërie Queene, v. 7 (1596).

Osiris, the personification of that part of man which survives death, and (according to Egyptian mythology) is absorbed in deity. Also “the sacrifice by whom we are justified” (p. 37), metaphorically the grave.

Now he’s an Osiris… but an hour ago he was an everyday mortal like you or me.—H. Rider Haggard: Cleopatra, ch. ii.

Some few were wanting, having been gathered to Osiris.—Ch. v.

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 ardour 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’s Zaïre, 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, embowelled 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).

Osmyn, alias Alphonso, son of Ansel mo king of Valentia, and husband of Almeria daughter of Manuel king of Granada. 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.—Congreve: The Mourning Bride (1697).

(“Osman” was one of John Kemble’s characters, Mrs. Siddons taking the rôle of “Zara.”)

Osnaburghs, the cloths so called; a corruption of Osnabrück, in Hanover, where these coarse linens were first produced.