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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.
These shades were made for Love alone,—
Here only smiles and kisses sweet
Shall play around his flow’ry throne,
And doves shall sentinel the seat.
Come, Delia! ’tis a genial day;
It bids us to his bow’r repair:—
“But what will little Cupid say?”—
“Say! sweet?—why, give a welcome there.”
There not a tell-tale beam shall peep
Upon thy beauty’s rich display,—
There not a breeze shall dare to sweep
The leaves, to whisper what we say.