=Irish Widow= (_The_), a farce by Garrick (1757). Martha Brady, a blooming young widow of 23, is in love with William Whittle, the nephew of old Thomas Whittle, a man 63 years of age. It so happens that William cannot touch his property without his uncle’s consent, so the lovers scheme together to obtain it. The widow pretends to be in love with the old man, who proposes to her and is accepted; but she now comes out in a new character, as a loud, vulgar, rollicking, extravagant low Irishwoman. Old Whittle is thoroughly frightened, and not only gets his nephew to take the lady off his hands, but gives him £5000 for doing so. =Irol´do=, the friend of Prasildo, of Babylon. Prasildo falls in love with Tisbi´na, 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). =Irolit´a=, a princess, in love with Prince Parcĭnus, her cousin. The fairy Dan´amo wanted Parcinus to marry her daughter Az´ira, and therefore tried to marry Irolita to Brutus; but her plans were thwarted, for Parcinus married Irolita, and Brutus married Azira.—D’Aunoy, _Perfect Love_. =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 honorably acquitted. His secretary, Wilford, out of curiosity, was prying into this box, when Sir Edward entered and threatened to shoot him; but on reflection, spared the young man’s life, and 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. The charge could not be substantiated, so Wilford was acquitted. Sir Edward confessed himself a murderer, and died (1796). =Iron Duke= (_The_), the duke of Wellington (1769-1852). =Iron Emperor= (_The_), Nicholas of Russia (1796, 1826-1855). =Iron Hand=, Goetz von Berlichingen, who replaced his right hand, which he lost at the siege of Landshut, by an iron one (sixteenth century). ⁂ Goethe has made this the subject of an historical drama.