Onto the 17th century

And a poem by a female author, apologising for writing...

An Apology for Writing So Much upon This Book ~ Margaret Cavendish

Condemn me not, I make so much ado About this book; it is my child, you know. Just like a bird, when her young are in nest, Goes in, and out, and hops, and takes no rest: But when their young are fledg’d, their heads out-peep, Lord! What a chirping does the old one keep! So I, for fear my strengthless child should fall Against a door, or stool, aloud I call; Bid have a care of such a dangerous place: Thus write I much, to hinder all disgrace.

Page 455, The Norton anthology of poetry.