Moral emblems, with aphorisms, adages, and proverbs, of all ages and nations

262 Pages·2011·30.97 MB·English

by  Cats, Jacob, 1577-1660

s
Universityof California Berkeley
Frcm the estate of
JOAN WESCOTT

)
WITH
AND
APHORISMS, ADAGES, PROVERBS,
OF ALL AGES AND
NATIONS,
FROM
JACOB CATS AND ROBERT FARLIE.
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS FREELY RENDERED,
FROM DESIGNS FOUND IN THEIR WORKS,
BY JOHN LEIGHTON, F.S.A.
THE WHOLE
TRANSLATED AND EDITED, WITH ADDITIONS,
BY RICHARD PIGOT.
LONDON
:
LONGMAN, GREEN, LONGMAN, AND ROBERTS.
1860.
V, P3INTKH, 1I1IKA1)STIIKKTHill..

LIBROS Y AMIGOS,
TO
WILLIAM
STIRLING, ESQRE. (OF KEIR) M.P.
A LEARNED COLLECTOR OF THE PROVER-
BIAL PHILOSOPHY OF ALL AGES AND
NATIONS, THIS ATTEMPT TO REVIVE
A LOVE FOR EMBLEMATICAL
LITERATURE AND ART
DEDICATED
IS
BY
JOHN LEIGHTON.
LONDON
1860.
POCOS Y BUENOS.

A GOOD NAME IS BETTER THAN A GOLDEN GIRDLE.
INTRODUCTION.
z
ALTHOUGH the Typification of Moral truths and Doctrines by Symbolical
Images and Devices had its origin in remote antiquity, and subsequently became a Q
j favourite method of imparting counsel and instruction with the Greeks and Romans, UJ
it was not until the middle of the sixteenth century that it began to assume (first
in Italy) the character of a distinct kind of literature. Ul
Towards the 'end of that century, the poetic genius of the erudite Andrea
Alciati, of Milan, imparted so pleasing an impress to this new style of literature,
as to direct thereto the attention of men of letters, with whom it soon became
a favourite medium for the diffusion and popularization of moral maxims applicable
to all the phases and circumstances of human life.
The Emblems of Alciati, written in Latin verse, and eulogized by such men UJ
as Erasmus, Julius Scaliger, Toscan, Neander, and Borrichius, were soon translated
into the Italian, French, and German languages, and became so highly esteemed,
h that they were publicly read in the Schools, to teach youth the Art of Emblematic
writing. 0)
> UJ
Thus established, as an elegant and useful method of inculcating, both by D
"Word and Eye-pictures, the virtues of civil life; men of learning, poets, and states-
men, in France, Holland, Germany, Spain, and England, vied with each other, as it (t
were, throughout the seventeenth century, in the cultivation of this branch of
Composition, insomuch that it had become a favourite and admired medium for
the diffusion of Religious, Social, and Political maxims,and maintained that position
in public favour up to the end of the eighteenth century.
In the seventeenth century, Printing, and its sister art Engraving, had attained
in Holland to a higher grade of perfection than in any other country of Europe ;
and, favoured by circumstances so auxiliary to the artistic illustration of works in
the then not inaptly-termed " Picture Language," the poetic genius of a Jacob
Cats found, in the pencils of Jan and Adrian Van De Venne, and the burins
of Matham, Pet de Jode, Verstralen, Van Bremden,and others, artistic exponents
worthy of his muse, and equal to his most ardent desires.
WISDOM FREQUENTLY CONQUERS FORTUNE.
ix
WISDOM IS BETTER THAN RUBIES:
Introduction.
D. JACOB CATS, the eminent Dutch Jurisconsult, Statesman, and Poet, was born
at Brouwershaven in the Isle of Schouwen, province of Zeeland, on the loth
November, 1577. His father was a counsellor of some standing ; andhis son Jacob
was first destined to the profession ofthe law. Having completed his course ofphi-
losophy, he proceeded to the University of Leyden, to study jurisprudence. From
thence he went to France, and was some time at the University ofOrleans, where
he took the degree of Doctor of Laws. He subsequently went to Paris, and was
Q very desirous to visit Italy; but his family opposed his going thither, and he was
obliged to return to Holland. Arrived at the Hague, he applied himselfwholly to
jurisprudence, and was assiduous in his attendance at the Public Pleadings of the
most distinguished lawyers. To perfect himself still more in his profession, he put
himselfunder the direction of the jurisconsult, Cornelius Van der Pol, one of the
JJj
most eminent pleaders of the Dutch Bar. Some time afterwards, Cats practised with
distinction at Zieuwreckzee, and at Brouwershaven. At this period it would seem he
applied himself no less assiduously to Poetry, and not only became distinguished
among the literati of Holland for the purity and elegance of his Latin verses, but
soon took rank as one of her first lyrists in his native tongue. Falling seriously
0) ill of an hectic fever, induced by over-application to study, he was advised by his
physicians to seeka change of air.
Hereupon he repaired to England, and visited the Universities of Cambridge
2 and Oxford. When in London he consulted the then celebrated physician, Dr.
Butter, on the subject of the obstinate fever which still afflicted him; but that
physician was not more fortunate in his prescriptions than those of Holland. Upon
his return to his native country, he was eventually cured, says his biographer, Moreri,
by an old alchemyst.
Distinguishing himself by his legislatorial and statesmanlike qualifications, no
Q less than he had done by his poetic genius, Jacob Cats rose subsequently to high
Official rank, and for several years filled the post of State Pensionary and Chief
Magistrate of Middleburgh and Dordrecht. He was eventually promoted to the
rankofStateCounsellorandGrand Pensionaryofthe provinceofWest Friesland, and
0) made Keeper of the Great Seal of Holland. After filling these important Offices for
eighteen years, having now attained the age of seventy-two, he requested permission
to retire into private life; which was at length granted by the States. His valuable
Z services were, nevertheless, once more required, and he was solicited to form a
member of the Embassy sent at that time to England, to arrange a treaty of com-
merce between the two countries. After discharging the important duties therein
delegated to him, he retired wholly into private life, and devoted himself with
faculties still unimpaired to the Muses, up to the advanced age of eighty-three years,
when he may be said to have expired with the pen in his hand. Few men have left
behind them greater proofs of indefatigable industry than Jacob Cats ; and his
numerous lyrical works are as rich in poetic genius as they are replete with evidence
of world-knowledge and genial with the love of mankind.
ITS FRUIT IS BETTER THAN GOLD.