_Hermionê_, (_4 syl._), only daughter of Helen and Menelā´os (_4 syl._) king of Sparta. She was betrothed to Orestês, but after the fall of Troy was promised by her father in marriage to Pyrrhus, king of Epirus. Orestes madly loved her, but Hermione as madly loved Pyrrhus. When Pyrrhus fixed his affections on Androm´achê (widow of Hector, and his captive), the pride and jealousy of Hermione were roused. At this crisis, an embassy led by Orestês arrived at the court of Pyrrhus, to demand the death of Asty´anax, the son of Andromachê and Hector, lest when he grew to manhood he might seek to avenge his father’s death. Pyrrhus declined to give up the boy, and married Andromachê. The passion of Hermionê was now goaded to madness; and when she heard that the Greek ambassadors had fallen on Pyrrhus and murdered him, she stabbed herself and died.—Ambrose Philips, _The Distressed Mother_ (1712). This was a famous part with Mrs. Porter (*-1762), and with Miss Young, better known as Mrs. Pope (1740-1797). _Hermionê_ (_4 syl._), daughter of Dannischemend, the Persian sorcerer, mentioned in Donnerhugel’s narrative.—Sir W. Scott, _Anne of Geierstein_ (time, Edward IV.). _Hermionê_ (_The Lady_), or Lady Ermin´ia Pauletti, privately married to Lord Dalgarno.—Sir W. Scott, _Fortunes of Nigel_ (time, James I.). =Hermit=, the pseudonym of the poet Hayley, the friend of Cowper. _Hermit_ (_The English_), Roger Crab, who subsisted on three farthings a week, his food being bran, herbs, roots, dock leaves, and mallows (*-1680). _Hermit_ (_Peter the_), the instigator of the first crusade (1050-1115). =Hermit and the Youth= (_The_). A hermit, desirous to study the ways of Providence, met with a youth, who became his companion. The first night, they were most hospitably entertained by a nobleman, but at parting the young man stole his entertainer’s golden goblet. Next day, they obtained with difficulty of a miser shelter from a severe storm, and at parting the youth gave him the golden goblet. Next night, they were modestly but freely welcomed by one of the middle class, and at parting the youth “crept to the cradle where an infant slept, and wrung its neck.” It was the only child of their kind host. Leaving the hospitable roof, they lost their way, and were set right by a guide, whom the youth pushed into a river, and he was drowned. The hermit began to curse the youth, when lo! he turned into an angel, who thus explained his acts: “I stole the goblet from the rich lord to teach him not to trust in uncertain riches. I gave the goblet to the miser to teach him that kindness always meets its reward. I strangled the infant because the man loved it better than he loved God. I pushed the guide into the river because he intended at night-fall to commit a robbery.” The hermit bent his head and cried, “The ways of the Lord are past finding out! but He doeth all things well. Teach me to say with faith, ‘Thy will be done?’”—Parnell. (1679-1717).