Ran on embattled armies clad in iron,

And, weaponless himself,

Made arms ridiculous.

John Milton (1608-1674): Samson Agonistes. Line 129.

Stone walls do not a prison make,

Nor iron bars a cage;

Minds innocent and quiet take

That for an hermitage;

If I have freedom in my love,

And in my soul am free,

Angels alone that soar above

Enjoy such liberty.

Richard Lovelace (1618-1658): To Althea from Prison, iv.

I saw a smith stand with his hammer, thus,

The whilst his iron did on the anvil cool,

With open mouth swallowing a tailor's news.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): King John. Act iv. Sc. 2.

With many a stiff thwack, many a bang,

Hard crab-tree and old iron rang.

Samuel Butler (1600-1680): Hudibras. Part i. Canto ii. Line 831.

When the iron is hot, strike.

John Heywood (Circa 1565): Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iii.

Ay me! what perils do environ

The man that meddles with cold iron!

Samuel Butler (1600-1680): Hudibras. Part i. Canto iii. Line 1.

The pilot of the Galilean lake;

Two massy keys he bore, of metals twain

(The golden opes, the iron shuts amain).

John Milton (1608-1674): Lycidas. Line 109.

Iron sleet of arrowy shower

Hurtles in the darken'd air.

Thomas Gray (1716-1771): The Fatal Sisters. Line 3.

Or bid the soul of Orpheus sing

Such notes as, warbled to the string,

Drew iron tears down Pluto's cheek.

John Milton (1608-1674): Il Penseroso. Line 105.

The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act v. Sc. 1.

He shall rule them with a rod of iron.

New Testament: Revelation ii. 27.

The old oaken bucket, the iron-bound bucket,

The moss-covered bucket, which hung in the well.

Samuel Woodworth (1785-1842): The Old Oaken Bucket.