der goldene fisch

it was about beginning of September that
I among the rest of my neighbours heard
in ordinary discourse that the plague was

returned in Holland again; for it had been
violent there in particular at Amsterdam
and Rotterdam in 1663; whither they say it

was brought: some said from Italy others
from the Levant among some goods which
were brought home by their Turkey fleet
others said it was brought from Candia

others from Cyrus; it mattered not
from whence it came; but all agreed
it was come into Holland again

(Daniel Defoe)