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: 1727, 1739

"The Friend of Life! Death unrelenting bears / An iron Heart, and laughs at human Cares."

— Broome, William (1689-1745); Hesiod

Date: 1735

"Impenetrable Courage steels his manly Breast"

— Hughes, John (1678?-1720)

Date: 1738, 1792

"Love ... Give the soft sex to loathe inglorious rest, / String the weak arm, and steel the snowy breast!"

— Brooke, Henry (c. 1703-1783)

Date: 1739

"More hard than Marble is my Heart, / And foul with Sins of deepest Stain: / But Thou the mighty Saviour art, / Nor flow'd thy cleansing Blood in vain. / Ah! soften, melt this Rock, and may / Thy Blood wash all these Stains away."

— Wesley, John and Charles

Date: 1745

"Thrice shou'd Rebellion rear her Head, / With Front of Brass, but Heart of Lead"

— Whaley, John (bap. 1710, d. 1745)

Date: 1745

"Thou'lt weep, I know thy gentle Soul, my Fair, / No senseless Steel, no rugged Flint dwells there."

— Whaley, John (bap. 1710, d. 1745)

Date: 1759

A "steely Heart can brave the boist'rous Seas"

— Grainger, James (1721-1766)

Date: 1759

"For well I know, nor Flint, nor ruthless Steel, / Can arm the Breast of such a gentle Maid."

— Grainger, James (1721-1766)

Date: 1759

"Who was the first that forg'd the deadly Blade? / Of rugged Steel his savage Soul was made."

— Grainger, James (1721-1766)