Natures picture drawn by fancies pencil to the life being several feigned stories, comical, tragical, tragi-comical, poetical, romanicical, philosophical, historical, and moral : some in verse, some in prose, some mixt, and some by dialogues
Newcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of, 1624?-1674.
A Single-Life best.
A Man said, He liv'd a most happy Life,
Because he was not ty'd unto a Wife:
Said he, Marriage at best obstructs the Mind.
With too much Love, or Wives that are unkind.
Besides, a Man is still ty'd by the heel,
Unto the Cradle, Bed, Table, and Wheel;
And cannot stir, but, like a Bird in string,
May hop a space, but cannot use his wing.
But those who're free, and not to Wedlock bound,
They have the liberty the World to round;
And in their Thoughts much Heav'nly Peace doth dwell,
When Marriage makes their Thoughts like pains of Hell.
And when they die, no Care doth grieve their Mind,
For any thing that they shall leave behind.
A Lady said, If Women had but Wit,
Men neither Wives nor Mistresses should get:
No cause should have to murmure and complain,
If Women their kind Freedom would restrain.
But Marriage is to Women far more worse
Than 'tis to Men, and proves the greater Curse:
And I, said she, for proof, a Tale will tell,
What to a Virtuous Married Wife befell.
