Don Balthasar), a celebrated Jew of Spain. He was carefully educated in Judaism by his parents, who were Jews, though they outwardly professed themselves Roman Catholics; abstaining from the practice of their religion in every thing, except only the observation of the fast of expiation, in the month Tifis or September. Orobio studied the scholastic philosophy usual in Spain, and became so skilled in it, that he was made professor of metaphysics in the university of Salamanca. Afterwards, however, applying himself to the study of physic, he practised that art at Seville with success, till, accused of Judaism, he was thrown into the inquisition, and suffered the most dreadful cruelties, in order to force a confession. He himself tells us, that he was put into a dark dungeon, so strict that he could scarce turn himself in it; and suffered so many hardships, that his brain began to be disturbed. He talked to himself often in this way: "Am I indeed that Don Balthasar Orobio, who walked freely about in Seville, who was entirely at ease, and had the blessings of a wife and children?" Sometimes, supposing that his past life was but a dream, and that the dungeon where he then lay was his true birth-place, and which to all appearance would also prove the place of his death. At other times, as he had a very metaphysical head, he first formed arguments of that kind, and then resolved them; performing thus the three different parts of opponent, respondent, and moderator, at the same time. In this whimsical way he amused himself from time to time, and constantly denied that he was a Jew. After having appeared twice or thrice before the inquisitors, he was used as follows: At the bottom of a subterraneous vault, lighted by two or three small torches, he appeared before two persons, one of whom was judge of the inquisition, and the other secretary; who, asking him whether he would confess the truth? protested, that in case of a criminal's denial, the holy office would not be deemed the cause of his death if he should expire under the torments, but that it must be imputed entirely to his own obstinacy. Then the executioner stript off his clothes, tied his feet and hands with a strong cord, and set him upon a little stool, while he passed the cord through some iron buckles which were fixed in the wall; then drawing away the stool, he remained hanging by the cord, which the executioner still drew harder and harder, to make him confess, till a surgeon assured the court of examiners, that he could not possibly bear more without expiring. These cords put him to exquisite tortures, by cutting into the flesh, and making the blood burst from under his nails. As there was certainly danger that the cords would tear off his flesh, to prevent the worst, care was taken to gird him with some bands about the breast, which however were drawn so very tight, that he would have run the risk of not being able to breathe, if he had not held his breath in while the executioner put the bands round him; by which device his lungs had room enough to perform their functions. In the severest extremity of his sufferings, he was told that this was but the beginning of his torments, and that he would better confess before they proceeded to extremities. Orobio added further, that the executioner, being on a small ladder, in order to frighten him, frequently let it fall against the shin-bones of his legs; so that the flames being sharp, created exquisite pain. At last, after three years confinement, finding themselves baffled by his perseverance in denying his religion, they ordered his wounds to be cured, and discharged him. As soon as he had got liberty, he resolved to quit the Spanish dominions; and, going to France, was made professor of physic at Thoulouse. The theses which he made as candidate for this place were upon putrefaction; and he maintained them with so much metaphysical subtlety, as embarrassed all his competitors. He continued in this city for some time, still outwardly professing popery; but at last, weary of dissembling, he repaired to Amsterdam, where he was circumcised, took the name of Isaac, and professed Judaism; still continuing, however, to practice physic, in which he was much esteemed. Upon the publication of Spinoza's book, he despised a system the falseness of which he quickly discovered; and when Bredenbourg's answer to it came to his hands, Orobo, being persuaded that the writer, in refuting Spinoza, had also admitted some principles which tended to Atheism, took up his pen against them both, and published a piece to that purpose, intituled, *Certamen philosophicum adversus J. B. Principia.* But the dispute which he held with the celebrated Philip Lemborg against the Christian religion made the greatest noise. Here he exerted the utmost force of his metaphysical genius, and carried himself with great temper. The three papers which he wrote on the occasion were afterwards printed by his antagonist, in an account which he published of the controversy, under the title of *Amica Collatio cum Judaeo.* Orobo died in 1687.

**OROBUS, BITTER VETCH:** A genus of the leguminous order, belonging to the diadiphaea class of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 3rd order, *Papilionaceae.* The style is linear; the calyx obtuse at the base, with the upper segments deeper and shorter than the rest. There are nine species. All of them have fibrous roots, which are perennial, but are annual in habit, rising early in spring and decaying in autumn. They are very hardy plants, and prosper in any common soil of a garden. Most of the sorts are very floriferous, and the flowers conspicuous and ornamental for adorning the flower compartments. The flowers are universally of the papilionaceous or butterfly kind, consisting each of four irregular petals, i.e., a standard, two wings, and a keel; and are all succeeded by long taper seed-pods, furnishing plenty of ripe seed in autumn; by which the plants may be propagated abundantly, as also by parting the roots.

The Scots Highlanders have a great esteem for the tubercles of the roots of the tuberosus, or species sometimes called wood-pea. They dry and chew them in general to give a better relish to their liquor; they also affirm that they are good against most disorders of the breast, and that by the use of them they are enabled to resist hunger and thirst for a long time. In Breadalbane and Rossshire, they sometimes bruise and steep them in water, and make an agreeable fermented liquor with them. They have a sweet taste, something like the roots of liquorice; and, when boiled, we are told, they are nutritious and well flavoured; and in times of scarcity they have served as a substitute for bread.

**ORODES,** a prince of Parthia, who murdered his brother Mithridates, and ascended his throne. He defeated Crassus the Roman triumvir, and poured melted gold down the throat of his fallen enemy, to reproach him for his avarice and ambition. He followed the interest of Cassius and Brutus at Philippi. It is said, that when Orodes became old and infirm, his 30 children applied to him, and disputed in his presence their right to the succession. Phraates, the eldest of them, obtained the crown from his father; and, to hasten him out of the world, he attempted to poison him. The poison had no effect; and Phraates, still determined on his father's death, strangled him with his own hands, about 35 years before the Christian era. Orodes had then reigned about 50 years.

**ORONTIUM,** in botany: A genus of the monogynia order, belonging to the hexandria clas of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the second order, *Piperita.* The spadix is cylindrical, covered with florets; the corolla hexapetalous and naked; there is no style; the follicles are monoppermous.

**OROONOKO,** a great river of terra firma, in South America, which rises in Popayan, and falls into the sea with 16 mouths.

**ORPHAN,** a fatherless child or minor; or one that is deprived both of father and mother.

**ORPHEUS,** a celebrated poet and musician of antiquity. His reputation was established as early as the time of the Argonautic expedition, in which he was himself an adventurer; and is said by Apollonius Rhodius not only to have incited the Argonauts to row by the sound of his lyre, but to have vanquished and put to silence the sirens by the superiority of his strains. Yet, notwithstanding the great celebrity he had so long enjoyed, there is a passage in Cicero, which says, that Aristotle, in the third book of his *Poetics,* which is now lost, doubted if such a person as Orpheus ever existed. But as the work of Cicero, in which this passage occurs, is in dialogue, it is not easy to discover what was his own opinion upon the subject, the words cited being put into the mouth of Caius Cotta. And Cicero, in other parts of his writings, mentions Orpheus as a person of whose existence he had no doubts. There are several ancient authors, among whom is Suidas, who enumerate five persons of the name of Orpheus, and relate some particulars of each. And it is very probable that it has fared with Orpheus as with Hercules, and that writers have attributed to one the actions of many. But, however that may have been, we shall not attempt to collect all the fables that poets and mythologists have invented concerning him; they are too well known to need insertion here. We shall, therefore, in speaking of him, make use only of such materials as the best ancient historians, and the most respectable writers among the moderns, have furnished towards his history.

Dr Cudworth, in his *Intellectual System,* after examining and confuting the objections that have been made to the being of an Orpheus, and with his usual learning and abilities clearly establishing his existence, proceeds, in a very ample manner, to speak of the opinions and writings of our bard, whom he regards not only as the first musician and poet of antiquity, but as a great mythologist, from whom the Greeks derived the Thracian religious rites and mysteries.

"It is the opinion (says he) of some eminent philologers of later times, that there never was any such person as Orpheus, except in fairy land; and that his whole history was nothing but a mere romantic allegory, utterly devoid of truth and reality. But there..."