I.iron.
I. Lit., Plin. 34, 14, 39, § 138; Lucr. 1, 571; 5, 1241; 1286; Cic. N. D. 2, 60, 151; id. Leg. 2, 18, 45; Caes. B. G. 5, 12, 5; Hor. S. 1, 4, 20 et saep.: “mustum quod resipit ferrum,” has a taste of iron, Varr. R. R. 1, 54, 3.—
B. Poet.
1. As a fig. of hard-heartedness, unfeelingness, cruelty, etc.: “gerere ferrum in pectore,” Ov. M. 9, 614; cf.: “ferrum et scopulos gestare in corde,” id. ib. 7, 33: “durior ferro,” id. ib. 14, 712; hence for the iron age, id. ib. 1, 127; 15, 260; Hor. Epod. 16, 65.—
2. As an image of firmness, endurance, Ov. Pont. 4, 10, 3.—
II. Transf., any thing made of iron, an iron implement, as a plough: glebas proscindere ferro, Lucil. ap. Non. 401, 19: “solum terrae,” Lucr. 5, 1295; cf. “also, campum,” Ov. M. 7, 119: “ferro scindimus aequor,” Verg. G. 1, 50; a hatchet: “ferro mitiget agrum,” Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 186; an axe: “mordaci velut icta ferro Pinus,” id. C. 4, 6, 9; 4, 4, 60 (for which, shortly before, bipennis); cf. Lucr. 6, 168; a dart: “petita ferro belua,” Hor. Epod. 5, 10; the tip of an arrow: “exstabat ferrum de pectore aduncum,” Ov. M. 9, 128; the head (of a spear), Tac. G. 6; an iron stylus: “dextra tenet ferrum,” id. ib. 9, 522; hair-scissors: “solitus longos ferro resecare capillos,” id. ib. 11, 182; curling-irons: “crines vibratos calido ferro,” Verg. A. 12, 100 et saep.—Esp. freq. a sword: “Drusum ferro. Metellum veneno sustulerat,” Cic. N. D. 3, 33, 81: “in aliquem cum ferro invadere,” id. Caecin. 9, 25: “aut ferro aut fame interire,” Caes. B. G. 5, 30 fin.: “uri virgis ferroque necari,” Hor. S. 2, 7, 58; cf.: “gladiator, ferrum recipere jussus,” the stroke of the sword, Cic. Tusc. 2, 17, 41. So, ferrum et ignis, like our fire and sword, to denote devastation, utter destruction: “huic urbi ferro ignique minitantur,” Cic. Phil. 11, 14, 37; cf.: “hostium urbes agrique ferro atque igni vastentur,” Liv. 31, 7, 13: “pontem ferro, igni, quacumque vi possent, interrumpant,” id. 2, 10, 4; 30, 6, 9; 1, 59, 1: “ecce ferunt Troës ferrumque ignemque Jovemque In Danaas classes,” Ov. M. 13, 91: “inque meos ferrum flammasque penates Impulit,” id. ib. 12, 551; so, conversely, igni ferroque, Cic. Phil. 13, 21, 47; Liv. 35, 21, 10; cf. Tac. A. 14, 38; Suet. Claud. 21: “flamma ferroque,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 35, § 78; Flor. 2, 17, 15; 3, 18, 14; Sen. Const. Sap. 2, 2: ferrum, i. q. arms, for battle, war, force of arms: ferro, non auro, vitam cernamus, utrique, Enn. ap. Cic. Off. 1, 12, 38 (Ann. v. 202 ed. Vahl.); cf.: quem nemo ferro potuit superare nec auro, id. ap. Cic. Rep. 3, 3 (Ann. v. 220 ed. Vahl.): adnuit, sese mecum decernere ferro, id. ap. Prisc. p. 822 P. (Ann. v. 136 ed. Vahl.): “decernere ferro,” Cic. de Or. 2, 78, 317; Liv. 40, 8 fin.; Verg. A. 7, 525; 11, 218: “cernere ferro,” id. ib. 12, 709: “ferro regna lacessere,” with war, id. ib. 12, 186; cf.: “atque omnis, Latio quae servit purpura ferro,” i. e. made subject by the force of arms, Luc. 7, 228.— Prov.: ferrum meum in igni est, i. q. mea nunc res agitur, Sen. Mort. Claud.