Samuel Rowlands

Samuel Rowlands Poems

Samuel Rowlands Biography

Samuel Rowlands (c. 1573–1630) was an English author of pamphlets in prose and verse, which reflect the follies and humours of the lower middle-class life of his time. He seems to have had no contemporary literary reputation; but his work throws considerable light on the development of popular literature and social life in London of his day. He spent his life in London, and it is thought that he kept close contact with the middle and lower classes of London society. It is also believed that from 1600-1615 he worked for William White, and then George Loftus, booksellers who published Rowlands’ pamphlets during this time.)

The Best Poem Of Samuel Rowlands

A Moral

He that performes not what he ought,
But doth the same neglect,
Let him be sure not to receive
The thinge he doth expect.

When once the tall and loftie tree
Vnto the ground doth fall,
Why euery peassont hath an axe
To hew his boughes withall.

He that for virtue merrits well,
And yet doth nothing clayme,
A double kind of recompence
Deserueth for the same.

Acquaint me but with whom thou goest,
And thy companions tell,
I will resolue thee what thou doest,
Whether ill done or well.

He knowes enough that knoweth nought,
If he can silence keepe :
The tongue oft makes the heart to sigh,
The eyes to waile and weepe.

He takes the best and choycest course
Of any man doth live,
That takes good counsell when his friend
Doth that rich iewell give.

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