ever, Raleigh was known to many powerful men. When he gave up
the Irish fighting and went back to court he found that people there had
heard of what he had accomplished and that he had a reputation for
courage bordering on recklessness. That was a quality the English of
that day much admired. The great lords were almost all reckless
adventurers, plundering wherever they could, and they were glad to find
young men who would do their bidding without asking questions.

By this time young Raleigh had become typical of his age, having its
virtues and its vices. The age was wild, coveting money in order to
fling it away on mad schemes, reveling in the dangers as well as the
glories of battle and exploration, of plundering Spanish galleons, or of
hunting untold riches in the world across the sea. Queen Elizabeth liked
daring men, and Raleigh took every opportunity to bring himself before
her notice.

The young courtier had learned all the arts that helped to make men's
fortunes. He was tall and very handsome, a splendid swordsman, and a wit
who could hold his own with poets and with statesmen. He still spoke
with the strong broad accent of Devon, and when he learned that the
Queen liked his unusual accent he was very careful to see that he never
lost it. He studied each chance to please.

Elizabeth was extremely vain and extremely fond of romance. One day as
she walked with certain of her lords and ladies she came to a marshy
place, and stopped in hesitation, fearing to soil her slippers. This was
the young courtier's chance. Raleigh had been in the background, but
seeing the Queen hesitate he sprang forward, and sweeping his new plush
cloak from his shoulders, spread it in the mire, so that she might
cross. The Queen's face lighted up with pleasure at the graceful act,
and she thanked the youthful gallant. Later she saw that he was given
many court suits for the cloak he had so admirably ruined.

Having thus won her attention Raleigh next sought to fix himself in his
Queen's mind. He wrote on the window of a room in which she passed much
time the line:

"Fain would I climb, yet fear I to fall."

Elizabeth learned who was author of the writing, and scratched the
answer underneath:

"If thy heart fails thee, climb not at all."

Raleigh had no fear whatever of falling, but a becoming modesty sat well
upon him. The Queen remembered the young man now for these two
qualities, his gallantry and his becoming modesty,