Date: 1257

"By means of this suffering, inflicted by a real fire, the souls are cleansed of the guilt and dross of sin, and also of its sequels."

— St. Bonaventure [born Giovanni di Fidanza] (1217-1274)

Date: 1651

"And as the Grindstone to unpolish'd Steel / Gives Edge, and Lustre: so my Mind, I feel / VVhetted, and glaz'd by Fortunes turning VVheel"

— Sherburne, Sir Edward (bap. 1616, d. 1702)

Date: 1715-1720

"Proud as he is, that Iron-heart retains / Its stubborn Purpose, and his Friends disdains"

— Pope, Alexander (1688-1744)

Date: 1715-1720

"Is then the dire Achilles all your Care? / That Iron Heart, inflexibly severe."

— Pope, Alexander (1688-1744)

Date: 1715-1720

"The Gods that unrelenting Breast have steel'd, / And curs'd thee with a Mind that cannot yield."

— Pope, Alexander (1688-1744)

Date: 1715-1720

"Nor from yon' Boaster shall your Chief retire, / Not tho' his Heart were Steel, his Hands were Fire; / That Fire, that Steel, your Hector shou'd withstand, / And brave that vengeful Heart, that dreadful Hand."

— Pope, Alexander (1688-1744)

Date: 1715-1720

"The Furies that relentless Breast have steel'd, / And curs'd thee with a Heart that cannot yield."

— Pope, Alexander (1688-1744)

Date: 1715-1720

"Singly to pass thro' Hosts of Foes! to face / (Oh Heart of Steel!) the Murd'rer of thy Race!"

— Pope, Alexander (1688-1744)

Date: 1715-1720

"Heav'n sure has arm'd thee with a Heart of Steel, / A Strength proportion'd to the Woes you feel."

— Pope, Alexander (1688-1744)

Date: 1715-1720

"Then with his Sceptre that the Deep controuls, / He touch'd the Chiefs, and steel'd their manly Souls"

— Pope, Alexander (1688-1744)