Herman (Sir), of Goodalicke, one of the perceptors of the Knights Templars.—Sir W. Scott, Ivanhoe (time, Richard I.).
Hermann, the hero of Goethe’s poem Hermann and Dorothea. Goethe tells us that the object of this poem is to “show[“show] as in a mirror, the great movements and changes of the world’s stage.”
Hermaph´rodite (4 syl.), son of Venus and Mercury. At the age of 15, he bathed in a fountain of Caria, when Sal´macis, the fountain nymph, fell in love with him, and prayed the gods to make the two one body. Her prayers being heard, the two became united into one, but still preserved the double sex.
Not that bright spring where fair Hermaphrodite
Grew into one with wanton Salmacis ...
... may dare compare with this.
Phin. Fletcher, The Purple Island, v. (1633).
Hermegild or Hermyngyld, wife of the lord-constable of Northumberland. She was converted by Constance, but was murdered by a knight whose suit had been rejected by the young guest, in order to bring her into trouble. The villainy being discovered, the knight was executed, and Constance married the king, whose name was Alla. Hermegild, at the bidding of Constance, restored sight to a blind Briton.—Chaucer, Canterbury Tales (“Man of Law’s Tale,” 1388).
(The word is spelt “Custaunce” 7 times, “Constance” 15 times, and “Constaunce” 17 times, in the tale.)[tale.)]
Hermegild, a friend of Oswald, in love with Gartha (Oswald’s sister). He was a man in the middle age of life, of counsel sage, and great prudence. When Hubert (the brother of Oswald) and Gartha wished to stir up a civil war to avenge the death of Oswald, who had been slain in single combat with Prince Gondibert, Hermegild wisely deterred them from the rash attempt, and diverted the anger of the camp by funeral obsequies of a most imposing character. The tale of Gondibert being unfinished, the sequel is not known.—Sir W. Davenant, Gondibert (died 1668).