If I am so unfortunate as to bury my poor mother, and yet have the good fortune to have my prayers heard for you, I hope we may live most of our remaining days together.
If, as I believe, the air of a better clime, as the southern part of France, may be thought useful for your recovery, thither I would go with you infallibly; and it is very probable we might get the Dean [Swift] with us, who is in that abandoned state already in which I shall shortly be, as to other cares and duties.

Dear Gay, be as cheerful as your sufferings will permit: God is a better friend than a Court: even any honest man is a better.

I promise you my entire friendship in all events." * * * * * Gay gradually got well.

"I am glad to hear of your recovery, and the oftener I hear it, the better, when it becomes easy to you to give it," Pope, who remained a regular correspondent, wrote to him in January, 1729.

But, though Gay was better in health, his spirits were low.
JOHN GAY TO ALEXANDER POPE.
[Feb.