He was essentially Bohemian in disposition and habits, and lacking in business capacity; a man of culture, however, a pleasant companion, and a warm-hearted friend. He was on intimate terms with Pope, Swift, Arbuthnot, and other distinguished men of letters and wits of his day, and the eccentric but kind-hearted Duchess of Queensberry was his patron and friend. Unfortunately, he was too much given to dangling at the skirts of the great, and sueing for place at Court instead of depending on his own genius, which was unquestionably of no mean order. Notwithstanding this failing, he was no sycophant or flatterer, but exposed the follies and vices of human nature, as exemplified in the characters of the rich and great, as in those of the humbler ranks, without fear or favour. His best-known fables are probably _The Hare and many Friends_, and _The Miser and Plutus_. Many of Gay's lines, both from his fables and plays, have become widely popular, for example: 'Princes, like beauties, from their youth Are strangers to the voice of truth. Learn to contemn all praise betimes, For Flattery's the nurse of crimes.' 'In every age and clime we see Two of a trade can ne'er agree.' 'While there's life there's hope.' 'Those who in quarrels interpose Must often wipe a bloody nose.' 'When a lady's in the case You know all other things give place.' 'And what's a butterfly? At best He's but a caterpillar dressed.' ''Tis woman that seduces all mankind.' 'How happy could I be with either Were t'other dear charmer away.' And his own epitaph, written by himself: 'Life's a jest, and all things show it; I thought so once, and now I know it.' In the letter to Pope in which this distich is given, he says: 'If anybody should ask how I could communicate this after death, let it be known it is not meant so, but my present sentiments in life.' Gay was buried in Westminster Abbey. The monument which marks his grave bears the well-known lines composed by Pope: 'Of manners gentle, of Affections mild, In wit a Man, simplicity, a child; With native Humour, temp'ring Virtuous Rage, Formed to delight at once and lash the Age: Above Temptation in a low Estate, And uncorrupted, e'en among the great. A safe Companion, and an easy Friend, Unblam'd 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: But that the Worthy and the Good shall say, Striking their pensive bosoms,--here lies Gay.' The piece we have selected, _The Miser and Plutus_, as an example of his work as a fabulist, is in his best style, and the moral is irreproachable: