Page from Jacob Cats, "Sinne- en minnebeelden" (1627), with an engraving depicting a turtle crawling on the ground, with the sea behind him. There is a ship at sea and a sea monster or whale visible in the waves. This last has been pointed out by a pencilled-in arrow and an accompanying manuscript note: "Whale -- but a little one!"
The illustration of the turtle accompanies the text of the book, given in Dutch, Latin, French, and Italian, which deals with the impossibility of running away from one's burdens--a fact especially true of the turtle, with its heavy shell.
The text translates to:
"It will not do to flee
Even if I run in the fields, or if I bathe in the sea,
Everywhere, where I go, my burden! accompanies me,
What should I do, poor lover? I wear my burden,
Though I change my country, I keep the same heart."
"He who has nothing will surely go.
Every day I wear all that belongs to me,
Oh joy, and oh the happiness of this uncommon sort of people!
That which everyone flees, it's my felicity
Oh, this learned poverty is composed of such pleasure!"
Further text is written on verso. No images on verso.
