<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.906CERT
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>cert906.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT TO SECTION 906 OF 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 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:    03/07/08                 /s/ Bruce N. Alpert
     ----------------------       ----------------------------------------------
                                  Bruce N. Alpert, Principal Executive Officer



I, Agnes  Mullady,  Principal  Financial  Officer and  Treasurer  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:    03/07/08                 /s/ Agnes Mullady
     ---------------------        ----------------------------------------------
                                  Agnes Mullady,
                                  Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer



</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
