Bewildered by these divergent counsels, he did none of these things.

Just when he was confronted with the necessity of making up his mind, Pope's friend, James Craggs the younger, of whom he wrote in "Mr.Pope's Welcome from Greece":-- Bold, generous Craggs, whose heart was ne'er disguised, made him a present of some stock of the South Sea Company, at the same time, no doubt, telling him that in all probability it would rise in value.

Here was a chance, dear to the heart of this hunter after sinecures, of getting something for nothing--or next to nothing.

With his thousand pounds he purchased more South Sea stock.

At what price Gay bought it is impossible to say, but it is not unlikely that Craggs' present was made in April, 1720, when the first money-subscription was issued at the price of L300 for each L100 stock.