Who says the 17th century isn't relevant to today?

"A Married State"
by Katherine Philips

A married state affords but little ease
The best of husbands are so hard to please.
This in wives’ careful faces you may spell
Though they dissemble their misfortunes well.
A virgin state is crowned with much content;
It’s always happy as it’s innocent.
No blustering husbands to create your fears;
No pangs of childbirth to extort your tears;
No children’s cries for to offend your ears;
Few worldly crosses to distract your prayers:
Thus are you freed from all the cares that do
Attend on matrimony and a husband too.
Therefore Madam, be advised by me
Turn, turn apostate to love's levity.
Suppress wild nature if she dare rebel.
There’s no such thing as leading apes in hell.*


*this was supposedly the proverbial fate of spinsters; apparently in the 1600s they thought hell was full of leaderless apes?