Quote of the Day (John Gay, on Cowards and the Brave)

“Cowards are cruel, but the brave

Love mercy, and delight to save.”—English poet-dramatist John Gay (1685-1732), Fables (1727), Part I, Fable 1, “The Lion, the Tiger, and the Traveller”

John Gay was born on this date 330 years ago today. He is most famous for The Beggar’s Opera, which earned him considerable success and some notoriety in his lifetime. (See this prior post of mine.)