<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.906CERT
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>exh906.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 906 FOR SOA
<TEXT>



         CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 30A-2(B) UNDER THE 1940 ACT AND
                     SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT

I, Bruce N. Alpert, Principal Executive Officer & Principal Financial Officer of
The Gabelli Equity Trust Inc. (the "Registrant"), certify that:

         1.     The Form N-CSR of the Registrant  (the "Report")  fully complies
                with  the   requirements  of  Section  13(a)  or  15(d)  of  the
                Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

         2.     The information  contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
                material  respects,  the  financial  condition  and  results  of
                operations of the Registrant.


Date:    March 10, 2006                 /s/ Bruce N. Alpert
     ----------------------             ----------------------------------------
                                        Bruce N. Alpert,
                                        Principal Executive Officer & Principal
                                        Financial Officer


</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
