.Nw.OTQ3

Prologue to the Wheel of Fortune spoken by Mr Palmer

A Farmer late, (so coventry records day) Form the next market home words took kis way; When as the bleak unsheltred heath he cross'd. Fast bound by winter in obdurate Frost, The driving snow storm smote hew in his course, High blow'd the north, and rag'd in all its force; How pac'd and full of years, th' unequal strife, Long time he held, and struggl'd hard for life; Vanquish'd ad length, benumb'd in every part, The very life blood curdling in his heart, Torpid he stood, in frozen letters bound, Dog'd real'd, and dropt expiring to the ground; Haply his dog, by wondrous instinct fought, With all his reasoning attributes of thought, Saw his sad state, and to his dying breast, Close covring, his devoted body press'd; Then Howl'd amain for help, hill passing near, Some charitable rustic lent an ear: Rais'd him form earth, recall'd his flitting breath, And snatch'd him form the icy arms of Death.