The graces of form that wake emotion,
As bright as the sea-gull on the ocean,
Or cannach on brows of Morven.
Were mine thy fond kiss I’d cease repining,
Thy love would restore my health declining,
O! let me behold the beauties shining
Around the maiden of Morven.
A glance into the Oranaiche and other collections of Gaelic songs will reveal to the casual student of Gaelic literature what vast treasures of lyrics the language contains. These songs admirably exhibit the emotional lyrical spirit of the Gael, and leads us to much of the source of the genius of song which has rendered Scotland so deservedly renowned.
The Rev. Angus Macintyre, late of Kinlochspelvie, composed several poems of great merit. His love-song, “O’s runach leam an ribhinn donn,” is very pretty. [A translation by] Mr H. Whyte will be found in an interesting little volume recently published, “The Celtic Garland.” Here are some verses:—