Strephon
The late John Wilmot is presented as "Strephon", giving him the name generally assigned to amorous shepherds in English pastoral poetry. In the pastoral tradition, everything and everybody was idealized and presented in its cleanest, freshest, nicest, and most positive way. The name "Strephon" thus identifies Wilmot as a well-intentioned, loving man who was nonetheless innocent and idealistic in his intentions. This identity contrasts with his popular image as a drunken libertine who was frequently banished from Court for violent and disrespectful behavior.
Muses
The nine Muses are minor goddesses from Greek mythology. They are generally described as illegitimate daughters of Zeus by Mnemosyne (the goddess of memory), and classical Greek poetry typically begins with the invocation of one or more of the Muses, to bless the writer with inspiration and skill. Wilmot/Strephon is presented not just as one of the best and most able tools of the Muses, but as a male Muse in his own right who provided inspiration to others.
Youths
The Youths are young men of the Court, presented as a collective, whose errant ways Wilmot supposedly reproached. Behn presented Wilmot's biting satire as a means of reining in young men's inappropriate conduct, which was ironic given that Wilmot had the reputation of being the biggest drunken libertine of all, whose inappropriate conduct caused him to be banished repeatedly from the royal presence.
Beauties
The women of the Court, addressed collectively by Behn as "Beauties", are the objects of Wilmot's romantic attention. Wilmot was not at all loyal to his wife, and died of what was believed to be a combination of alcoholism and venereal disease at age 33, although modern researchers suggest he may have had underlying problems with his kidneys or liver aggravated by his lifestyle. Instead of presenting Wilmot as someone who helped to spread this sort of disease and who contributed greatly to the vice and scandal at the Court, Behn redefines him as a victim of the women in question.
Little gods (Cupids)
Eros or Cupid -- of which there were several versions in the Roman tradition -- was historically presented as a winged boy with a bow, who shot people with the darts of love.
"World"
The world and the people in it are addressed in a macrocosmic synecdoche and instructed to mourn the loss of what could have been the greatest and most eminent writer of history.
