Strabismus is an optical defect.

His North Star was Rome, his compass was the Holy Office, “My polar star is Rome; my compass is the Holy Office.”

I've got to subcomb to death's order, or I would not speak of it.

In 1574, the duke of Alva laid siege to Leiden to gain control of Holland's most beautiful and prosperous city. To relieve the siege, William of Orange and his followers opened the city's protective dikes to flush out—literally—the surrounding Spanish forces.