Her joy in gilded chariots, when alive, 55 And love of ombre, after death survive.[381] For when the fair in all their pride expire, To their first elements, their souls retire: The sprites of fiery termagants in flame Mount up, and take a salamander's name. 60 Soft yielding minds to water glide away, And sip, with nymphs, their elemental tea. The graver prude sinks downward to a gnome, In search of mischief still on earth to roam. The light coquettes in sylphs aloft repair, 65 And sport and flutter in the fields of air.[382] "Know further yet; whoever fair and chaste Rejects mankind, is by some sylph embraced: For spirits, freed from mortal laws, with ease Assume what sexes and what shapes they please.[383] 70 What guards the purity of melting maids, In courtly balls, and midnight masquerades, Safe from the treach'rous friend, the daring spark, The glance by day, the whisper in the dark, When kind occasion prompts their warm desires, 75 When music softens, and when dancing fires? 'Tis but their sylph, the wise celestials know, Though honour is the word with men below.[384] "Some nymphs there are, too conscious of their face,[385] For life predestined to the gnomes' embrace. 80 These[386] swell their prospects and exalt their pride, When offers are disdained, and love denied: Then gay ideas crowd the vacant brain, While peers and dukes, and all their sweeping train, And garters, stars, and coronets appear, 85 And in soft sounds 'Your Grace' salutes their ear. 'Tis these that early taint the female soul, Instruct the eyes of young coquettes to roll, Teach infant-cheeks a bidden blush to know, And little hearts to flutter at a beau. 90 "Oft, when the world imagine women stray, The sylphs through mystic mazes guide their way, Through all the giddy circle they pursue, And old impertinence expel by new. What tender maid but must a victim fall 95 To one man's treat, but for another's ball? When Florio speaks, what virgin could withstand, If gentle Damon did not squeeze her hand? With varying vanities, from ev'ry part, They shift the moving toyshop of their heart; 100 Where wigs with wigs, with sword-knots sword-knots strive, Beaux banish beaux, and coaches coaches drive.[387] This erring mortals levity may call; Oh blind to truth! the sylphs contrive it all. "Of these am I, who thy protection claim,[388] 105 A watchful sprite, and Ariel is my name. Late, as I ranged the crystal wilds of air, In the clear mirror of thy ruling star[389] I saw, alas! some dread event impend,