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A varied collection of lyrical and occasional poems encompassing light social verse, pastoral descriptions, travel pieces gathered from earlier fugitive publication, and personal elegies. Pieces range from tranquil nature scenes and grotto meditations to expressions of romantic longing and formal dedications; a prominent elegy mourns a beloved brother and traces grief and memory. The preface frames the poems as modest divertissements written across youth and maturity, and some material derives from the author's tours. The tone alternates between playful, reflective, and mournful, favoring accessible meters and conventional poetic imagery rather than experimental forms.
Wilt thou, because thy Florio loves,
Forsake the giddy glitt’ring throng,
With him to dwell in peaceful groves,
With him to hear the shepherd’s song?
Can’st thou, without a sigh, resign
The homage by thy charms inspir’d?
To one, oh! say, can’st thou confine
What oft so many have admir’d?
Sweet maid! oh! bless’d shall be our love,
Till time shall bid it cease to flow;
With thee shall ev’ry moment prove
A little heaven form’d below!