G

A

Y.

JOHN GAY, defcended from an old fa

mily that had been long in poffeffion of the manour of * Goldworthy in Devonshire, was born in 1688, at or near Barnstaple, where he was educated by Mr. Luck, who taught the school of that town with good reputation, and, a little before he retired from it, published a volume of Latin and English verfes. Under fuch a master he was likely to form a taste for poetry. Being born without profpect of hereditary riches, he was fent to London in his youth, and placed apprentice with a filk

mercer.

How long he continued behind the counter, or with what degree of foftnefs and dexterity

*Goldworthy does not appear in the Villare. Dr. J.

VOL. IV.

B

he

he received and accommodated the Ladies, as he probably tock no delight in telling it, is not known. The report is, that he was foon weary of either the restraint or fervility of his occupation, and eafily perfuaded his master to discharge him.

The dutchess of Monmouth, remarkable for inflexible perfeverance in her demand to be treated as a princefs, in 1712 took Gay into her fervice as fecretary: by quitting a shop for such service, he might gain leisure, but he certainly advanced little in the boaft of independence. Of his leifure he made fo good use, that he published next year a poem on Rural Sports, and infcribed it to Mr. Pope, who was then rifing faft into reputation. Pope was pleafed with the honour; and when he became acquainted with Gay, found fuch attractions in his manners and converfation, that he feems to have received him into his inmoft confidence; and a friendship was formed between them which lafted to their feparation by death, without any known abatement on either part. Gay was the general favourite of the whole affociation of wits; but they regarded him as a play-fellow rather than

a partner,