ΤΟ Mrs. Arabella Fermor. MADAM, I T will be in vain to deny that I have fome Value for this Piece, fince I dedicate it to You. Yet You may bear me Witness, it was intended only to divert a few young Ladies, who have good Senfe and good Humour enough to laugh not only at their Sex's little un A 3 guarded guarded Follies, but at their own. But as it was communicated with the Air of a Secret, it foon found its Way into the World. An imperfect Copy having been offer'd to a Bookseller, You had the Good-Nature for my Sake to consent to the Publication of one more correct: This I was forc'd to before I had executed half my Defign, for the Machinery was entirely wanting to compleat it. The Machinery, Madam, is a Term invented by the Criticks, to fignify that 009 Part which the Deities, Angels, or Dæ NOY mons, are made to act in a Poem: For the ancient Poets are in one respect like many modern Ladies; Let an Action be never so trival in it self, they always make it appear of the ut moft most Importance. These Machines I determin'd to raise on a very new and odd Foundation, the Roficrucian Do ctrine of Spirits. I know how difagreeable it is to make use of hard Words before a La dy; but 'tis fo much the Concern of a Poet to have his Works understood, and particularly by Your Sex, that You must give me leave to explain two or three difficult Terms. The Roficrucians are a People I must bring You acquainted with. The best Account I know of them is in a French Book, call'd Le Comte de Gabalis, which both in its Title and Size is fo like a Novel, that many of the Fair Sex have read it for one by Miftake. According A 4 to to these Gentlemen, the four Elements are inhabited by Spirits, which they call Sylphs, Gnomes, Nymphs, and Salamanders. The Gnomes, or Dæmons of Earth, delight in Mischief; but the Sylphs, whofe Habitation is Air, are the best condition'd Creatures imaginable. For they fay, any Mortals may enjoy the most intimate Familiarities with these gentle Spirits, upon a Condition very easy to all true Adepts, an inviolate Preservation of Chastity. As to the following Canto's all the Paffages of them are as Fabulous, as the Vision at the Beginning, or the Transformation at the End; (except the Lofs of Your Hair, which I always name with Reverence) the Human Perfons are as Fictitious as the Airy |