TRISTAN  L'HERMITE,

FRANCOIS (1601–1655), French dramatist, was born at the chateau de Soliers in the Haute Marche about 16or . His adventures began early, for he killed his enemy in a duel at the age of thirteen, and was obliged to flee to England . The story of his childhood and youth he embroiders in a burlesque novel, the Page disgracie . He was in succession poet to Gaston d'Orleans, to the duchesse de Chaulnes and the duke of Guise . He died on the 7th of September 1655• His first tragedy, Mariamne (1636), was also his best . It was followed by Penthee (1637), La Mort de Seneque (1644), La Mort de Crispe (1645) and the Parasite (1653) . He was also the author of some admirable lyrics . Three of his best plays are printed in the Thedtre francais of 1737 .