The Pleasures of a Single Life, Or, The Miseries of Matrimony: Occasionally writ upon the many divorces lately granted by Parliament. With The choice, or, the pleasures of a country-life. Dedicated to the beaus against the next vacation

In Short

This volume is a collection of three polemical poems from the first decade of the eighteenth century, centered on the domestic and social debates of the era. Through biting satire and earnest description, it navigates the perceived misery of "matrimony" and the contrasting ideals of a secluded, scholarly country life. By presenting both a cynical rejection of marriage and a hopeful, nuanced defense of it, the book serves as a historical window into how personal happiness, gender roles, and the desire for independence were weighed by readers during a period of shifting social values.

The Story

The collection begins with a stark, first-person lament titled The Pleasures of a Single Life. The speaker, a man who once enjoyed a life of intellectual serenity, recounts his former days of contented isolation. He describes his home as a sanctuary of books, where he acted as an "upright judge" over the wisdom of the ancients, free from the storms of public life or the burdens of household management. This peaceful existence is shattered when a "curs'd fiend" leads him to a woman of superficial beauty. Captivated by her outward grace, he abandons his scholarly pursuits for the "gulph of miseries" that is marriage.

The marriage quickly descends into a nightmare of betrayal. The speaker discovers his wife’s infidelity and, despite his attempts at reconciliation and forgiveness, finds her nature to be irredeemable. He compares the institution of marriage to the "blustring month of March," a season of unpredictable storms and decay. Ultimately, he succeeds in obtaining a divorce through Parliament, casting off his wife and reclaiming his single state with a bitter, final vow to never again invite such misery into his life.

Following this, the author shifts gears to The Choice, a contemplative vision of a perfect, bachelor country life. Here, the speaker details his ideal retreat: a modest, uniform home near a town, surrounded by nature and a library filled with Virgil and Horace. He describes the quiet, disciplined pleasure of intellectual study, the enjoyment of a well-stocked cellar, and the company of a few select friends who share his values.

The narrative arc reaches its conclusion with two responses that challenge this cynical view. The Answer to the Pleasures of a Single Life argues that God ordained marriage to complete humanity, suggesting the bachelor is merely a "brutish" egoist who avoids the higher duties of love. Finally, The Ladies Choice features a dialogue between two women, Melissa and Belinda. Belinda mentors young Melissa on how to navigate the "fools" and "fops" of the city to find a worthy partner. Rather than rejecting marriage entirely, she envisions a refined, tranquil country life where the "yoke" of marriage is made easy by mutual respect and intellectual alignment—a domestic "Eden" where true happiness thrives within the bond of matrimony.

How It Unfolds

The scholar’s solitude The reader is introduced to a man who finds complete fulfillment in his books and the freedom to contemplate the universe from his study. He views this life as a calm sea, unburdened by the requirements of others or the chaos of the outside world.

The descent into marriage A sudden encounter with a woman of captivating beauty leads the narrator into a whirlwind of infatuation. He describes his marriage as a disastrous shipwreck, where the initial illusion of bliss is swiftly replaced by the harsh reality of a deceitful partner.

The struggle for peace The narrator attempts to maintain his dignity by forgiving his wife’s transgressions, but his efforts are met with further arrogance and infidelity. The poem culminates in his legal release from these bonds, resulting in a fierce rejection of women and the church-sanctioned institution of marriage.

The vision of the country retreat The text pivots to an idealized, alternative lifestyle where the speaker outlines the perfect physical and mental environment for a man of reason. He dreams of a life marked by moderation, literature, and the absence of litigious or social strife.

The defense of union The collection closes by contrasting these views with the voices of those who reject the solitary life as inherently selfish. The final dialogue offers a blueprint for a balanced, joyful marriage, suggesting that the problem lies not in the institution itself, but in the poor choice of a partner.

The People

The central figure of the opening poem is the Cuckold, a man who prizes reason and intellectual independence above all else. His desire for a quiet life is thwarted by his own susceptibility to beauty, turning him from a calm scholar into a bitter, vengeful husband. He ends his story as a man permanently scarred by his experience, viewing marriage as a trap that only a fool would enter.

In contrast, Melissa and Belinda represent the thoughtful, discerning side of the debate. Melissa is young and inexperienced, possessing the beauty that the narrator of the first poem found so dangerous; however, she is wise enough to seek the counsel of her elder. Belinda is the voice of experience, providing a map of social pitfalls—warnng against the "fop," the "soldier," and the "courtier." She does not see marriage as a "clog" but as an opportunity for a "glorious" union, provided one has the sense to choose a partner of compatible character. Through her, the reader sees a vision of a woman who values her own mind and refuses to settle for anything less than a partner who is both a friend and a intellectual equal.

In Its Own Voice

Wedlock, oh! Curs'd uncomfortable State, Cause of my Woes, and Object of my hate.

The opening lines establish the narrator’s deep resentment toward the institution of marriage following his traumatic experience.

Marriage is Bondage, but where Cupid Reigns, The Yoke is easie; Glorious are the Chains:

In the final poem, Belinda offers a counter-perspective, suggesting that love transforms the perceived burden of marriage into a desirable commitment.

Marriage is Bondage, but where Cupid Reigns, The Yoke is easie; Glorious are the Chains:

Belinda suggests that the quality of one's happiness is entirely dependent on the presence of genuine affection between partners.

What It's Really About

At its core, this book interrogates the nature of individual liberty versus social responsibility. It asks whether a life of solitary, intellectual refinement can ever truly satisfy a person, or if such isolation is merely a form of prideful evasion. The text serves as a battleground for two competing philosophies: the cynical view that marriage is a destructive, archaic institution that stifles the soul, and the idealistic view that marriage is a sacred, necessary complement to a meaningful life. Beneath these arguments lies a deeper anxiety about the "fops" and "beaus" of the time—a fear that modern social conventions were making it impossible to find partners of substance, thereby rendering the question of "to marry or not to marry" a high-stakes search for survival.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the biting wit of Restoration-era literature or those curious about the history of gendered social expectations will find this collection fascinating. It captures a raw, combative energy that feels surprisingly modern in its debates over the "proper" way to live. The book is not a unified narrative, but rather a collection of voices arguing in a public forum, which gives it a conversational, if occasionally polemical, intensity.

Be prepared for the period-specific language and the stark, unapologetic misogyny found in the early sections; it reflects the attitudes of a century that was often overtly aggressive in its discourse. However, the contrast provided by the final dialogue makes the collection a balanced study in historical perspectives. You will likely walk away from it thinking about how little the fundamental struggle for balance—between our public roles and our need for a private, tranquil life—has changed. It is a slim, fast-paced read that rewards those interested in the architecture of domestic ideology. While the poetry varies in quality, the sheer conviction of the voices involved makes the book a compelling artifact for anyone interested in the social anxieties of the past.