“In regard to the poor man who received us so hospitably, it was decreed that his wife was to die that night, but, in reward of his kindness, God took the cow instead of the wife. I repaired the wall of the rich miser because a chest of gold was concealed near the place, and if the miser had repaired the wall he would have discovered the treasure. I said to the inhospitable synagogue, ‘May each member be president,’ because no one can serve two masters. I said to the hospitable synagogue, ‘May you have but one president,’ because with one head there can be no divisions of counsel. Say not, therefore, to the Lord, ‘What doest Thou?’ but say in thy heart, ‘Must not the Lord of all the earth do right’”—_The Talmud_ (“Trust in God”).
=Hermite= (_Tristan l’_) or “Tristan of the Hospital,” provost-marshal of France. He was the main instrument in carrying out the nefarious schemes of Louis XI, who used to call him his “gossip.” Tristan was a stout, middle-sized man, with a hang-dog visage and most repulsive smile.—Sir W. Scott, _Quentin Durward_ and _Anne of Geierstein_ (time, Edward IV.).
=Hero=, daughter of Leonāto, governor of Messi´na. She was of a quiet, serious disposition, and formed a good contrast to the gay, witty rattle-pate, called Beatrice, her cousin. Hero was about to be married to Lord Claudio, when Don John played on her a most infamous practical joke, out of malice. He bribed Hero’s waiting-woman to dress in Hero’s clothes, and to talk with him by moonlight from the chamber balcony; he then induced Claudio to hide himself in the garden, to overhear what was said. Claudio, thinking the person to be Hero, was furious, and next day at the altar rejected the bride with scorn. The priest, convinced of Hero’s innocence, gave out that she was dead, the servant confessed the trick, Don John took to flight, and Hero married Claudio, her betrothed.—Shakespeare, _Much Ado about Nothing_ (1600).
_Hero_, [SUTTON], niece of Sir William Sutton, and beloved by Sir Valentine de Grey. Hero “was fair as no eye ever fairer saw, of noble stature, head of antique mould, magnificent as far as may consist with softness, features full of thought and moods, wishes and fancies, and limbs the paragon of symmetry.” Having offended her lover by waltzing with Lord Athunree, she assumed the garb of a quakeress, called herself “Ruth,” and got introduced to Sir Valentine, who proposed marriage to her, and then discovered that Hero was Ruth and Ruth was Hero.—S. Knowles, _Woman’s Wit, etc._ (1838).