contestada

The pronoun it in the following lines refers to
1464. iron was its edge, all etched with poison,
1465. with battle-blood hardened, nor blenched it at fight
1466. in hero's hand who held it ever,
1467. on paths of peril prepared to go
1468. to folkstead of foes. Not first time this
1469. it was destined to do a daring task.