Chapter Ireby to Iron Mask of I by Brewer's Readers Handbook

mounted the funeral pile, she lingered in suffering till Iris was sent by Juno to cut off a lock of her hair as an offering to the black queen, but immediately this was done her spirit left the body. Thanatos did the same office to Alcestis when she gave her life for that of her husband. In all sacrifices, a forelock was first cut from the head of the victim as an offering to Proserpine.—See Euripides: Alcestis; Virgil: Æneid, iv.

“Hunc ego Diti
Sacrum jussa fero, teque isto corpore solvo.”
Sic ait, et dextra crinem secat…atque in ventos
vita recessit.
   —Virgil: Æneid, iv. 702-705.

Irish Character (Sketches of), by Mrs. Hall (1829). In 1840 she published Stories of the Irish Peasantry.

Irish Whisky Drinker (The), John Sheehan, a barrister, who, with “Everard Clive of Tipperary Hall” wrote a series of pasquinades in verse, which were published in Bentley’s Miscellany, in 1846, and attracted considerable attention.

Irish Widow (The), a farce by Garrick (1757). (For the plot, see Brady.)

Irishmen of Islam (The), The Moors of Morocco.

Iroldo, the friend of Prasildo of Babylon. P rasildo falls in love with Tisbina, his friend’s wife, and, to escape infamy, Iroldo and Tisbina take “poison.” Prasildo, hearing from the apothecary that the supposed poison is innocuous, goes and tells them so, whereupon Iroldo is so struck with his friend’s generosity, that he quits Babylon, leaving Tisbina to Prasildo. Subsequently, Iroldo’s life is in peril, and Prasildo saves his friend at the hazard of his own life.—Bojardo: Orlando Innamorato (1495).

Irolita, a princess in love with pri nce Parcinus, her cousin. The fairy Danamo wanted Parcinus to marry her daughter Azira, and therefore used all her endeavours to marry Irolita to Brutus; but all her plans were thwarted, for Parcinus married Irolita, and Brutus married Azira.

The beauty of Irolita was worthy the world’s admiration. She was about 14 years old, her hair was brown, her complexion blooming as the spring, her mouth delicate, her teeth white and even, her smile bewitching, her eyes a hazel colour and very piercing, and her looks were darts of love.—Comtesse D’Aulnoy: Fairy Tales (“Perfect Love,” 1682).

Iron Arm. Captain François de Lanoue, a huguenot, was called Bras de Fer. He died at the siege of Lamballe (1531–1591).

Iron Chest (The), a drama by G. Colman, based on W. Godwin’s novel of Caleb Williams. Sir Edward Mortimer kept in an iron chest certain documents relating to a murder for which he had been tried and honourably acquitted. His secretary Wilford, out of curiosity, was prying into this box, when sir Edward entered and threatened to shoot him; but on reflection he spared the young man’s life, told him all about the murder, and swore him to secrecy. Wilford, unable to endure the watchful and suspicious eye of his master, ran away; but sir Edward dogged him like a bloodhound, and at length accused him of robbery. This charge could not be substantiated, so Wilford was acquitted. Sir Edward confessed himself a murderer, and died (1706).

Iron Crown. Walter earl of Athol murdered James I. of Scotland, in Perth, hoping to usurp the crown; but he was crowned with a red-hot iron crown, which ate into his brain, and, of course, killed him.

George Dosa, the Hungarian rebel, was put to death in 1514, by a similar torture, for heading the peasants’ rebellion against the nobles. (See Luke’s Iron Crown.)

Iron Duke (The), the duke of Wellington (1769–1852).

Iron Emperor (The), Nicholas of Russia (1796, 1826–1855).