Less of Beauty

The state of marriage

 fills up the numbers of the elect,

 and hath in it the labor of love,

 and the delicacies of friendship,

 the blessing of society,

 and the union of hands and hearts;

 it hath in it less of beauty,

 but more of safety,

 than the single life;

 it hath more care, but less danger;

 it is more merry, and more sad;

 it is fuller of sorrows, and fuller of joys;

 it lies under more burdens,

 but is supported by all the strengths

 of love and charity,

 and those burdens are delightful.

 Marriage is the mother of the world,

 and preserves kingdoms,

 and fills cities, churches,

 and heaven itself.

~Bishop Jeremy Taylor

17th Century