Vile

From Slavic.info

Serbian vile (plural of vila) are very poetical and sympathetic creatures, for they are eternally young and beautiful fair girls, robed in white gauze, with long golden hair, milk-white complexions and white wings. Vile sing beautifully and like to dance, especially during the moonlight nights. Vile Brodaritze live near the streams and fords; Vile Oblakinye prefer to live in the clouds. Both of them are not only harmless generally, but they are distinctly patriotic and take a lively interest in national heroes and national affairs of the Serb. In some cases a Vila seems to have taken up the position of a guardian angel, and attached herself to one particular human being. So for instance we read in the Serbian folksongs of the Vila who came to Marko Kraljevich, telling him of his impending death. The speed of the Vila was extraordinary, and many passages in these folk-songs descriptive of her flight rival the lines in Lalla Rookh:

"Rapidly as comets run

To the embraces of the sun:—

Fleeter than the starry brands

Flung at night from angel hands

At those dark and daring sprites

Who would climb th' empyreal heights."