Hew Morrison Collection > Orain Ghàëlach le Uilleam Rŏs

But still lie was rejected by the coy maid ; and the
disappointment consequent on this unfortunate love affair,
was thought to have preyed so much on his mind, as to
have impaired his health and constitution during the sub-
sequent period of his life. To this beauteous young lady
he composed (before her marriage) that excellent song,
expressive of his feelings, almost bordering on despair,
" Feasgar luain as mi air chuairt," he.
As a WTÌter of Gaelic Songs, William Ross is entitled
to the highest praise. In the greater number of his
lyrics, the bard leads us along with him, and imparts to
us so much of his own tenderness, feeling, and enthu-
siasm, that our thoughts expand and kindle with his sen-
timents. They frequently display the highest powers
of imagination, while they breathe a spirit of aflPection
and delicate tenderness seldom sui-passed in Gaelic
poetry.
Without going beyond the bounds of " verity and
truth," it may be affirmed that his poetry, more perhaps
than that of most vvTÌters, deserves to be styled the
poetry of the heart — of a heart full to overflo^^ing with
noble sentiments, and with sublime and tender passions.