detect the
difference. For the hair was quite as bright and golden as the thread of
gold itself. The Queen takes the shirt and presents it to Alexander. Ah,
God! What joy would Alexander have felt had he known what the Queen was
giving him! And how glad would she, too, have been, who had inserted her
own hair, if she had known that her lover was to own and wear it! She
could then have taken great comfort; for she would not have cared
so much for all the hair she still possessed as for the little that
Alexander had. But, more is the pity, neither of them knew the truth.
The Queen's messenger finds the youths on the shore where they are
bathing, and gives the shirt to Alexander. He is greatly pleased with
it, esteeming the present all the more because it was given him by the
Queen. But if he had known the rest, he would have valued it still more;
in exchange for it he would not have taken the whole world, but rather
would have made a shrine of it and worshipped it, doubtless, day and
night.

(Vv. 1197-1260.) Alexander delays no longer, but dresses himself at
once. When he was dressed and ready, he returned to the King's tent with
all his companions. The Queen, it seems, had come there, too, wishing
to see the new knights present themselves. They might all be called
handsome, but Alexander with his shapely body was the fairest of them
all. Well, now that they are knights I will say no more of them for the
present, but will tell of the King and of his host which came to
London. Most of the people remained faithful to him, though many allied
themselves with the opposition. Count Angres assembled his forces,
consisting of all those whose influence could be gained by promises or
gifts. When he had gathered all his strength, he slipped away quietly at
night, fearing to be betrayed by the many who hated him. But before he
made off, he sacked London as completely as possible of provisions, gold
and silver, which he divided among his followers. This news was told to
the King, how the traitor had escaped with all his forces, and that
he had carried off from the city so many supplies that the distressed
citizens were impoverished and destitute. Then the King replied that
he would not take a ransom for the traitor, but rather hang him, if he
could catch him or lay hands on him. Thereupon, all the army proceeded
to Windsor. However it may be now, in those days the castle was not easy
to take when any one chose to defend it. The trait