Moral Emblems - With Aphorisms, Adages, and Proverbs, of All Ages and Nations #255117

Distinguishing himself by his legislatorial and statesmanlike qualifications, no 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 rank of State Counsellor and Grand Pensionary of the province of West Friesland, and 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 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 3 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.