were quoted,
and propagated to support what had been suggested, I could no longer
bear to lye under those false accusations; so by printing it, I have
submitted, and given up all present views of profit, which might
accrue from the stage, which will undoubtedly be some satisfaction
to the worthy gentlemen, who have treated me with so much candour and
humanity, and represented me in such favourable colours. But as I am
conscious to myself, that my only intention was to lash in general the
reigning and fashionable vices, and to recommend, and set virtue in as
amiable a light as I could; to justify and vindicate my own character,
I thought myself obliged to print the opera without delay, in the
manner I have done.' The large subscription Mr. Gay had to print it,
amply recompens'd any loss he might receive from it's not being acted.
Tho' this was called the Sequel to the Beggar's Opera, it was allowed
by his best friends, scarce to be of a piece with the first part,
being in every particular, infinitely beneath it.

Besides the works which we have already mentioned, Mr. Gay wrote
several poems, printed in London in 2 vol. 12mo.

A Comedy called The Wife of Bath, first acted 1715, and afterwards
revived, altered, and represented at the Theatre Royal in
Lincoln's-Inn-Fields.

Three Hours after Marriage, a Comedy; acted at the Theatre-Royal, in
which he was assisted by Pope and Arbuthnot, but had the mortification
to see this piece very ill received, if not damned the first night.

He wrote likewise Achilles, an Opera; acted at the Theatre in Covent
Garden. This was brought on the stage after his death, and the profits
were given to his Sisters.

After experiencing many vicissitudes of fortune, and being for some
time chiefly supported by the liberality of the duke and duchess
of Queensberry, he died at their house in Burlington Gardens, of a
violent inflammatory fever, in December 1732, and was interred
in Westminster, by his noble benefactors just mentioned, with
the following epitaph written by Mr. Pope, who had the sincerest
friendship for him on account of his amiable qualities.

'Of manners gentle, of affections mild;
In wit a man, simplicity a child;
Above temptation in a low estate,
And uncorrupted even amongst the great;
A safe companion, and an easy friend,
Unblamed thro' life, lamented in thy end:
These are thy honours! not that here thy bust
Is mix'd with heroes, or with kings thy dust,