He has as little foresight of age, sickness, poverty, or loss of admirers, as a girl of fifteen."[3] From this it may be deduced that Gay, whenever he was free from an attack of colic, persevered in the pleasures of the table and of his favourite quadrille.
JOHN GAY TO ALEXANDER POPE.
August 2nd, 1728.
"I have heard more than once from our friend at Court, who seemed, in the letter she writ, to be in high health and spirits.

Considering the multiplicity of pleasures and delights that one is overrun with in those places, I wonder how anyone has health and spirits enough to support them.

I am heartily glad she has, and whenever I hear so, I find it contributes to mine.

You see, I am not free from dependence, though I have less attendance than I had formerly; for a great deal of my own welfare still depends upon hers.

Is the widow's house to be disposed of yet?
I have not given up my pretensions to the Dean.