57 



A LAMENT AND A MORAL. 



Whene'er I take my walks abroad, 



Though many Ferns I see ; 

 No Scol. vulgare, frilled or fringed, 



Will e'er turn up for me. 



Polystichums in scores I find. 



And Lastreas galore ; 

 But never does a worthy prize 



Enable me to score. 



Of Lady Ferns I find a few, 



Of varied make and fashion, 

 But none with plumy foliage 



Reciprocates my passion. 



" Black Maidenhair" on verdant banks 



I find with greatest ease ; 

 But no "good sports" will earn my thanks, 



They're all alike as peas. 



Green Spleen worts, too, I've sometimes found 



On limestone rocky places ; 

 And A. trichomanes, of course, 



In chinks on old wall faces. 



In wild sea-caves, in wave-worn cliffs 



Marinum oft I've seen ; 

 But Spleenworts all alike refuse 



To mitigate my spleen. 



Muraria and Ceterach 



Alike reward my quest. 

 But always only "commoners," 



None honoured with a crest. 



