'Gold is for the mistress - silver for the maid!
Copper for the craftsman cunning at his trade.'
'Good!' said the Baron, sitting in his hall, 'But Iron - Cold Iron - is master of them all!'
So he made rebellion 'gainst the King his liege, Camped before his citadel and summoned it to siege -
'Nay!' said the cannoneer on the castle wall, 'But Iron - Cold Iron - shall be master of you all!'
Woe for the Baron and his knights so strong, When the cruel cannon-balls laid 'em all along!
He was taken prisoner, he was cast in thrall, And Iron - Cold Iron - was master of it all!
Yet his King spake kindly (Oh, how kind a Lord!)
'What if I release thee now and give thee back thy sword?'
'Nay!' said the Baron, 'mock not at my fall, For Iron - Cold Iron - is master of men all.'
'Tears are for the craven, prayers are for the clown -
Halters for the silly neck that cannot keep a crown.'
'As my loss is grievous, so my hope is small, For Iron - Cold Iron - must be master of men all!'
Yet his King made answer (few such Kings there be!)
'Here is Bread and here is Wine - sit and sup with me.
Eat and drink in Mary's Name, the whiles I do recall How Iron - Cold Iron - can be master of men all!'
He took the Wine and blessed It; He blessed and brake the Bread.
With His own Hands He served Them, and presently He said:
'Look! These Hands they pierced with nails outside my city wall Show Iron - Cold Iron - to be master of men all!
'Wounds are for the desperate, blows are for the strong, Balm and oil for weary hearts all cut and bruised with wrong.
I forgive thy treason - I redeem thy fall -
For Iron - Cold Iron - must be master of men all!'
'Crowns are for the valiant - sceptres for the bold!
Thrones and powers for mighty men who dare to take and hold.'
'Nay!' said the Baron, kneeling in his hall, 'But Iron - Cold Iron - is master of men all!
Iron, out of Calvary, is master of men all!'
