by John Gay

Born in Devonshire in 1685, John Gay was educated at the local grammar school, then apprenticed to a silk merchant in London after the early deaths of both parents. In his spare time, Gay wrote verse, publishing Wine, a satiric poem on the joys of drinking, in 1708. After negotiating an early release from his apprenticeship, Gay became private secretary to an old schoolmate, Aaron Hill, a professional writer with ties to the theater. Hill introduced Gay to literary circles, in which he met Jonathan Swift and Alexander Pope, to whom Gay dedicated what came to be considered his first important poem, Rural Sports (1713). On account of his wit and lively temperament, Gay was well liked by many of London’s leading authors. They helped him secure positions and patrons, including the duke and duchess of Queensbury, to finance...