Talus.

Sir Artegal’s iron man. Spenser, in his Faërie Queene, makes Talus run continually round the island of Crete to chastise offenders with an iron flail. He represents executive power—“swift as a swallow, and as lion strong.” In Greek mythology, Talos was a man of brass, the work of Hephætos (Vulcan), who went round the island of Crete thrice a day. Whenever he saw a stranger draw near the island he made himself red-hot, and embraced the stranger to death.