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).
Hero and Leander (3 syl.). Hero, a priestess of Venus, fell in love with Leander, who swam across the Hellespont every night to visit her. One night he was drowned in so doing, and Hero in grief threw herself into the same sea.—Musæus, Leander and Hero.
Hero of Fable (The), the duc de Guise. Called by the French L’Hero de la Fable (1614-1664).
Hero of History (The), the duc d’Enghien, Prince of Condé. Called by the French L’Hero de l’Histoire. This was Le grand Condé (1621-1687).
Hero of Modern Italy, Garibaldi (1807-1882).
Herodias. Divorced wife of Herodius Philippus, afterward married to Herod Antipas, Mother of Salome and murderer of John the Baptist.
Her´on (Sir George), of Chip-chace, an officer with Sir John Foster.—Sir W. Scott, The Monastery (time, Elizabeth).
Heros´tratos or Erostratos, the Ephesian who set fire to the temple of Ephesus (one of the seven wonders of the world) merely to immortalize his name. The Ephesians made it penal even to mention his name.
Herostratus shall prove vice governes fame.