in immortal prose. The 'True Relation of the Fight at the Azores'
gives the keynote of Raleigh's heart. If readers will not take that
as the text on which his whole life is a commentary they may know a
great deal about him, but him they will never know.

The game becomes fiercer and fiercer. Blow and counterblow between
the Spanish king, for the whole West-Indian commerce was a government
job, and the merchant nobles of England. At last the Great Armada
comes, and the Great Armada goes again. Venit, vidit, fugit, as the
medals said of it. And to Walter Raleigh's counsel, by the testimony
of all contemporaries, the mighty victory is to be principally
attributed. Where all men did heroically, it were invidious to
bestow on him alone a crown, ob patriam servatam. But henceforth,
Elizabeth knows well that she has not been mistaken in her choice;
and Raleigh is better loved than ever, heaped with fresh wealth and
honours. And who deserves them better?

The immense value of his services in the defence of England should
excuse him from the complaint which one has been often inclined to
bring against him,--Why, instead of sending others Westward Ho, did
be not go himself? Surely he could have reconciled the jarring
instruments with which he was working. He could have organised such
a body of men as perhaps never went out before or since on the same
errand. He could have done all that Cortez did, and more; and done
it more justly and mercifully.

True. And here seems (as far as little folk dare judge great folk)
to have been Raleigh's mistake. He is too wide for real success. He
has too many plans; he is fond of too many pursuits. The man who
succeeds is generally the narrow mall; the man of one idea, who works