The Anatomy of Melancholy

To beget children is most delightful; But, by Hercules, to be free is much more delightful.

Are you young? Then do not marry yet; if old, do not marry at all.

Do you wish to marry while young? The time has not yet come. As age advances, the time has already passed.

And so, like that philosopher, always answer your friends who press you to marry, “It is still untimely”: it is not yet the right time, and never will be.

Consider, too, how free, how happy, how secure, how heavenly by comparison is a single man’s condition. As he said in the comedy, “And what those people think a piece of good fortune: I have never had a wife.” And what all my neighbours admire and applaud me for, what they account so great a blessing: I have never had a wife.

Consider how contentedly, peacefully, neatly, abundantly, pleasantly and merrily he lives! He has no one to care for but himself, no one to please, no dependants, no one to control him. He is bound to no residence, has no charge to attend to, may come and go when and where he wishes, live wherever he chooses, be his own master and do whatever he pleases.

Consider the excellence of virgins: “The virgin has merited heaven.” Marriage fills the earth, but virginity Paradise. Elijah, Elisha and John the Baptist were bachelors. Virginity is a precious jewel, a beautiful garland, a flower that never fades. For why was Daphne changed into a green laurel tree, except to show that virginity is immortal?

As a flower grows secluded in enclosed gardens, Unknown to cattle, bruised by no plough, Caressed by breezes, strengthened by the sun, nourished by rain, etc., So a maiden, while she remains untouched, while dear to her own; but When she has lost her chaste flower, etc.

Virginity is a beautiful picture, as Bonaventure calls it, a blessed thing in itself, and, if you will believe a Papist, meritorious.

And although such people suffer some inconveniences—boredom, loneliness, etc.—and lack those comforts, “a woman to sit beside the sick man, tend him in his illness, prepare a soothing application, send for the doctor, etc.,” embraces, dalliance, kisses, caresses, etc., those passionate stirrings and sensual pleasures a newly married wife generally enjoys, yet these are trifles by comparison, easily endured when set against the frequent burdens of marriage.

Loneliness may be avoided in other ways: with merriment, music, good company, business and occupation. In a word, “He will rejoice less and grieve less.” In exchange for their good nights, he will have good days.

And it seems to me that, sooner or later, among so many rich bachelors a benefactor ought to be found to build a monastic college where unmarried women who are old, impoverished, disfigured or unhappy could live together—women who have lost their first loves or met with other misfortunes, or who, for whatever reason, wish to lead a single life.