courtier's exhibition； as the veteran racer is roused when a
high…mettled colt passes him on the way。 He turned the discourse
on shows； banquets； pageants； and on the character of those by
whom these gay scenes were then frequented。 He mixed acute
observation with light satire； in that just proportion which was
free alike from malignant slander and insipid praise。 He
mimicked with ready accent the manners of the affected or the
clownish； and made his own graceful tone and manner seem doubly
such when he resumed it。 Foreign countriestheir customs； their
manners； the rules of their courts…the fashions； and even the
dress of their ladies…were equally his theme； and seldom did he
conclude without conveying some compliment； always couched in
delicacy； and expressed with propriety； to the Virgin Queen； her
court； and her government。 Thus passed the conversation during
this pleasure voyage； seconded by the rest of the attendants upon
the royal person； in gay discourse； varied by remarks upon
ancient classics and modern authors； and enriched by maxims of
deep policy and sound morality； by the statesmen and sages who
sat around and mixed wisdom with the lighter talk of a female
court。
When they returned to the Palace； Elizabeth accepted； or rather
selected； the arm of Leicester to support her from the stairs
where they landed to the great gate。 It even seemed to him
（though that might arise from the flattery of his own
imagination） that during this short passage she leaned on him
somewhat more than the slippiness of the way necessarily
demanded。 Certainly her actions and words combined to express a
degree of favour which； even in his proudest day he had not till
then attained。 His rival； indeed； was repeatedly graced by the
Queen's notice； but it was in manner that seemed to flow less
from spontaneous inclination than as extorted by a sense of his
merit。 And in the opinion of many experienced courtiers； all the
favour she showed him was overbalanced by her whispering in the
ear of the Lady Derby that 〃now she saw sickness was a better
alchemist than she before wotted of； seeing it had changed my
Lord of Sussex's copper nose into a golden one。〃
The jest transpired； and the Earl of Leicester enjoyed his
triumph； as one to whom court…favour had been both the primary
and the ultimate motive of life； while he forgot； in the
intoxication of the moment； the perplexities and dangers of his
own situation。 Indeed； strange as it may appear； he thought less
at that moment of the perils arising from his secret union； than
of the marks of grace which Elizabeth from time to time showed to
young Raleigh。 They were indeed transient； but they were
conferred on one accomplished in mind and body； with grace；
gallantry； literature； and valour。 An accident occurred in the
course of the evening which riveted Leicester's attention to this
object。
The nobles and courtiers who had attended the Queen on her
pleasure expedition were invited； with royal hospitality； to a
splendid banquet in the hall of the Palace。 The table was not；
indeed； graced by the presence of the Sovereign； for； agreeable
to her idea of what was at once modest and dignified； the Maiden
Queen on such occasions was wont to take in private； or with one
or two favourite ladies； her light and temperate meal。 After a
moderate interval； the court again met in the splendid gardens of
the Palace； and it was while thus engaged that the Queen suddenly
asked a lady； who was near to her both in place and favour； what
had become of the young Squire Lack…Cloak。
The Lady Paget answered； 〃She had seen Master Raleigh but two or
three minutes since standing at the window of a small pavilion or
pleasure…house； which looked out on the Thames； and writing on
the glass with a diamond ring。〃
〃That ring；〃 said the Queen； 〃was a small token I gave him to
make amends for his spoiled mantle。 Come； Paget； let us see what
use he has made of it； for I can see through him already。 He is
a marvellously sharp…witted spirit。〃 They went to the spot；
within sight of which； but at some distance； the young cavalier
still lingered； as the fowler watches the net which he has set。
The Queen approached the window； on which Raleigh had used her
gift； to inscribe the following line：
〃Fain would I climb； but that I fear to fall。〃
The Queen smiled； read it twice over； once with deliberation to
Lady Paget； and once again to herself。 〃It is a pretty
beginning；〃 she said； after the consideration of a moment or two；
〃but methinks the muse hath deserted the young wit at the very
outset of his task。 It were good…naturedwere it not； Lady
Paget？to complete it for him。 Try your rhyming faculties。〃
Lady Paget； prosaic from her cradle upwards as ever any lady of
the bedchamber before or after her； disclaimed all possibility of
assisting the young poet。
〃Nay； then； we must sacrifice to the Muses ourselves；〃 said
Elizabeth。
〃The incense of no one can be more acceptable；〃 said Lady Paget；
〃and your Highness will impose such obligation on the ladies of
Parnassus〃
〃Hush； Paget；〃 said the Queen； 〃you speak sacrilege against the
immortal Nineyet； virgins themselves； they should be exorable
to a Virgin Queenand thereforelet me see how runs his verse
'Fain would I climb； but that I fear to fall。'
Might not the answer （for fault of a better） run thus？
'If thy mind fail thee； do not climb at all。'〃
The dame of honour uttered an exclamation of joy and surprise at
so happy a termination； and certainly a worse has been applauded；
even when coming from a less distinguished author。
The Queen； thus encouraged； took off a diamond ring； and saying；
〃We will give this gallant some cause of marvel when he finds his
couplet perfected without his own interference；〃 she wrote her
own line beneath that of Raleigh。
The Queen left the pavilion； but retiring slowly； and often
looking back； she could see the young cavalier steal； with the
flight of a lapwing； towards the place where he had seen her make
a pause。 〃She stayed but to observe；〃 as she said； 〃that her
train had taken；〃 and then； laughing at the circumstance with the
Lady Paget； she took the way slowly towards the Palace。
Elizabeth； as they returned； cautioned her companion not to
mention to any one the aid which she had given to the young poet；
and Lady Paget promised scrupulous secrecy。 It is to be supposed
that she made a mental reservation in favour of Leicester； to
whom her ladyship transmitted without delay an anecdote so little
calculated to give him pleasure。
Raleigh； in the meanwhile； stole back to the window； and read；
with a feeling of intoxication； the encouragement thus given him
by the Queen in person to follow out his ambitious career； and
returned to Sussex and his retinue； then on the point of
embarking to go up the river； his heart beating high with
gratified pride； and with hope of future distinction。
The reverence due to the person of the Earl prevented any notice
being taken of the reception he had met with at court； until they
had landed； and the household were assembled in the great hall at
Sayes Court； while that lord； exhausted by his late illness and
the fatigues of the day； had retired to his chamber； demanding
the attendance of Wayland； his successful physician。 Wayland；
however； was nowhere to be found； and while some of the party
were； with military impatience； seeking him and cursing his
absence； the rest flocked around Raleigh to congratulate him on
his prospects of court…favour。
He had the good taste and judgment to conceal the decisive
circumstance of the couplet to which Elizabeth had deigned to
find a rhyme； but other indications had transpired； which plainly
intimated that he had made some progress in the Queen's favour。
All hastened to wish him joy on the mended appearance of his
fortunesome from real regard； some； perhaps； from hopes that
his preferment might hasten their own； and most from a mixture of
these motives； and a sense that the countenance shown to any one
of Sussex's household was； in fact； a triumph to the whole。
Raleigh returned the kindest thanks to them all； disowning； with
becoming modesty； that one day's fair reception made a favourite；
any more than one swallow a summer。 But he observed that Blount
did not join in the general congratulation； and； somewhat hurt at
his apparent unkindness； he plainly asked him the reason。
Blount replied with equal sincerity〃My good Walter； I wish thee
as well as do any of these chattering gulls； who are whistling
and whooping gratulations in thine ear because it seems fair
weather with thee。 But I fear for thee； 〃Walter〃 （and he wiped
his honest eye）； 〃I fear for thee with all my heart。 These
court…tricks； and gambols； and flashes of fine women's favour are
the tricks and trinkets that bring fair fortunes to farthings；
and fine faces and witty coxcombs to the acquaintance of dull
block and sharp axes。〃
So saying； Blount arose and left the hall； while Raleigh looked
after him with an expression that blanked for a moment his bold
and animated countenance。
Stanley just then entered the hall； and said to Tressilian；