Gay, who had begun to compose the "Fables" in 1725, was, according to the habit of the man, not to be hurried.

"I have of late been very much out of order with a slight fever, which I am not yet quite free from," he wrote to Swift in October, 1726.

"If the engravers keep their word with me I shall be able to publish my poems soon after Christmas." But of course the engravers did not keep their word.

Swift, a more energetic person, became almost fractious at the repeated delays in the publication, and wrote to Pope on November 17th: "How comes Gay to be so tedious?
Another man can publish fifty thousand lies sooner than he can publish fifty fables."[13] And still there were delays.

"My Fables are printed," he told Swift on February 18th, 1727; "but I cannot get my plates finished, which hinders the publication.