Another tragedy lately acted at Hamburg was of a monstrous virago, born in the dukedom of Zell, who by an unnatural disposition of her uterine parts was capable of acting the part of a man; and accordingly she made it her practice in rambling from place to place to marry at each a young woman, several of whom she had murdered. With her last spouse, whom she had let into all her mysterious impiety, she murdered one of her former wives; as likewise a man, whom they had cajoled for sometime into their company, and whose head they afterwards boiled for venefical uses, as they pretended. But being caught and tortured, they confessed this black history of their life, and were executed here about a year since.
The campain about the neighbourhood of Hamburg is green, and well distinguished with wood and shade; but at a farther distance, like other parts of Lower Saxony, it is a dull and unfruitful heath. The immediate circuit of the walls affords delicious walks, all kept in good repair, and adorned on each side with rows of trees, kept in a beautiful order. Sometime after we had received the account of the capture of the Spanish galleons at Vigo, happening to have a leisure hour, I amused myself in writing the following short poem upon that agreable subject.
Erit altera, quae vehat Argo
Delectos heroas. Virg. Ecl. iv. ℣. 34.
Hactenus Argoos cecinisti, Graecia, nautas,
Et rudis aethereo pinus in axe micat;
Altera Britannas nunc implet Iberia puppes,
Terraque Phrixeam Cantabra mittit ovem.
Alter es Aeëtes, Lodoix, vinctusque sopore
Aeterno serpens Gallica classis erit.