Tristan L'Hermite, François

Tristan L'Hermite, François (fräNswä` trēstäN` lĕrmēt`), pseud. of François L'Hermite, 1601–55, French playwright and poet. Poor and plagued by ill health, he was a page in the court of Henry IV but fled to England, Norway, and Spain after a series of duels. Returning to France in 1620 he recounted his adventures in Le page discracié (1645). In addition to writing poetry, Tristan produced several successful plays, including the tragedies La Mariane (1636), La Morte de Sénèque (1644), La Morte de Crispe (1645), Osman (1650), and the burlesque Le Parasite (1654).