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matter　is　that　I　love　him　and　am　his。　If　he　does　not　love　me；　I
shall　love　him　all　the　same。〃

Thus　both　he　and　she　complain；　and　the　one　hides　the　case　from
the　other；　they　have　sorrow　in　the　night　and　worse　by　day。　In
such　pain　they　have；　it　seems　to　me；　been　a　long　while　in
Brittany　until　it　came　to　the　end　of　summer。　Right　at　the
beginning　of　October　came　messengers　from　the　parts　about　Dover
from　London　and　from　Canterbury　to　bring　the　king　tidings　that
have　troubled　his　heart。　The　messengers　have　told　him　thisthat
he　may　well　tarry　too　long　in　Brittany；　for　he　to　whom　he　had
entrusted　his　land；　and　had　consigned　so　great　a　host　of　his
subjects　and　of　his　friends；　will　now　set　himself　in　battle　array
against　the　king；　and　he　has　marched　into　London　in　order　to　hold
the　city　against　the　hour　that　Arthur　should　have　returned。

When　the　king　heard　the　news　he　calls　all　his　barons；　for　he　was
indignant　and　full　of　displeasure。　That　he　may　the　better　stir
them　up　to　confound　the　traitor；　he　says　that　all　the　blame　for
his　toil　and　for　his　war　is　theirs；　for　through　their　persuasion
he　gave　his　land　and　put　it　into　the　hand　of　the　traitor　who　is
worse　than　Ganelon。　There　is　not　one　who　does　not　quite　allow
that　the　king　has　right　and　reason；　for　they　all　counselled　him
to　do　so；　but　the　traitor　will　be　ruined　for　it。　And　let　him　know
well　of　a　truth　that　in　no　castle　or　city　will　he　be　able　so　to
protect　his　body　that　they　do　not　drag　him　out　of　it　by　force。
Thus　they　all　assure　the　king　and　solemnly　affirm　and　swear　that
they　will　give　up　the　traitor　or　no　longer　hold　their　lands。　And
the　king　has　it　proclaimed　through　all　Brittany　that　none　who　can
bear　arms　in　the　host　remain　in　the　country　without　coming　after
him　quickly。

All　Brittany　is　moved：　never　was　such　a　host　seen　as　King　Arthur
assembled。　When　the　ships　moved　out　it　seemed　that　everybody　in
the　world　was　on　the　sea；　for　not　even　the　waves　were　seen；　so
covered　were　they　with　ships。　This　fact　is　certain；　that　it　seems
from　the　stir　that　all　Brittany　is　taking　ship。　Now　have　the
ships　made　the　passage；　and　the　folk　who　have　thronged　together
go　into　quarters　along　the　shore。　It　came　into　Alexander's　heart
to　go　and　beg　the　king　to　make　him　a　knight；　for　if　ever　he　is　to
win　renown　he　will　win　it　in　this　war。　He　takes　his　comrades　with
him；　as　his　will　urges　him　on　to　do　what　he　has　purposed。　They
have　gone　to　the　king's　tent：　the　king　was　sitting　before　his
tent。　When　he　sees　the　Greeks　coming　he　has　called　them　before
him。　〃Sirs；〃　quoth　he；　〃hide　not　from　me　what　need　brought　you
here。〃　Alexander　spoke　for　all　and　has　told　him　his　desire：　〃I　am
come；〃　quoth　he；　〃to　pray　you　as　I　am　bound　to　pray；　my　lord；　for
my　companions　and　for　myself；　that　you　make　us　knights。〃　The　king
replies：　〃Right　gladly；　and　not　a　moment's　delay　shall　there　be；
since　you　have　made　me　this　request。〃　Then　the　king　bids　there　be
borne　harness　for　twelve　knights：　done　is　what　the　king　commands。
Each　asks　for　his　own　harness；　and　each　has　his　own　in　his
possession；　fair　arms　and　a　good　steed：　each　one　has　taken　his
harness。　All　the　twelve　were　of　like　value；　arms　and　apparel　and
horse；　but　the　harness　for　Alexander's　body　was　worth　as　muchif
any　one　had　cared　to　value　or　to　sell　itas　the　arms　of　all　the
other　twelve　together。　Straightway　by　the　sea　they　disrobed　and
washed　and　bathed；　for　they　neither　wished　nor　deigned　that　any
other　bath　should　be　heated　for　them。　They　made　the　sea　their
bath　and　tub。

The　queen；　who　does　not　hate　Alexanderrather　does　she　love　and
praise　and　prize　him　muchhears　of　the　matter。　She　wills　to　do
him　a　great　service；　it　is　far　greater　than　she　thinks。　She
searches　and　empties　all　her　chests　till　she　has　drawn　forth　a
shirt　of　white　silk　very　well　wrought　very　delicate　and　very
fine。　There　was　no　thread　in　the　seams　that　was　not　of　gold；　or
at　the　least　of　silver。　Soredamors　from　time　to　time　had　set　her
hands　to　the　sewing；　and　had　in　places　sewn　in　beside　the　gold　a
hair　from　her　head；　both　on　the　two　sleeves　and　on　the　collar　to
see　and　to　put　to　the　test　whether　she　could　ever　find　a　man　who
could　distinguish　the　one　from　the　other；　however　carefully　he
looked　at　it；　for　the　hair　was　as　shining　and　as　golden　as　the
gold　or　even　more　so。　The　queen　takes　the　shirt　and　has　given　it
to　Alexander。　Ah　God！　how　great　joy　would　Alexander　have　had　if
he　had　known　what　the　queen　is　sending　him。　Very　great　joy　would
she　too　have　had；　who　had　sewn　her　hair　there　if　she　had　known
that　her　love　was　to　have　and　wear　it。　Much　comfort　would　she
have　had　thereof；　for　she　would　not　have　loved　all　the　rest　of
her　hair　so　much　as　that　which　Alexander　had。　But　neither　he　nor
she　knew　it：　great　pity　is　it　that　they　do　not　know。　To　the
harbour　where　the　youths　are　washing　came　the　messenger　of　the
queen；　he　finds　the　youths　on　the　beach　and　has　given　the　shirt
to　him；　who　is　much　delighted　with　it　and　who　held　it　all　the
dearer　for　that　it　came　from　the　queen。　But　if　he　had　known　the
whole　case　he　would　have　loved　it　still　more；　for　he　would　not
have　taken　all　the　world　in　exchange；　but　rather　he　would　have
treated　it　as　a　relic；　I　think；　and　would　have　worshipped　it　day
and　night。

Alexander　delays　no　longer　to　apparel　himself　straightway。　When
he　was　clad　and　equipped　he　has　returned　to　the　tent　of　the　king；
and　all　his　comrades　together　with　him。　The　queen；　as　I　think；
had　come　to　sit　in　the　tent　because　she　wished　to　see　the　new
knights　arrive。　Well　might　one　esteem　them　fair；　but　fairest　of
all　was　Alexander　with　the　agile　body。　They　are　now　knights；　for
the　present　I　say　no　more　about　them。　Henceforth　shall　I　speak　of
the　king　and　of　the　host　which　came　to　London。　The　greater　part
of　the　folk　held　to　his　side；　but　there　is　a　great　multitude　of
them　against　him。　Count　Engres　musters　his　troops；　all　that　he
can　win　over　to　him　by　promise　or　by　gift。　When　he　had　got　his
men　together　he　has　secretly　fled　by　night；　for　he　was　hated　by
several　and　feared　to　be　betrayed；　but　before　he　fled　he　took
from　London　as　much　as　he　could　of　victuals　of　gold　and　of
silver；　and　distributed　it　all　to　his　folk。　The　tidings　is　told
to　the　kingthat　the　traitor　is　fled；　and　all　his　　army　with
him；　and　that　he　had　taken　so　much　of　victuals　and　goods　from　the
city　that　the　burgesses　are　impoverished　and　destitute　and　at　a
loss。　And　the　king　has　replied　just　this：　that　never　will　he　take
ransom　of　the　traitor；　but　will　hang　him　if　he　can　find　or　take
him。　Now　all　the　host　bestirs　itself　so　much　that　they　reached
Windsor。　At　that　day；　however　it　be　now；　if　any　one　wished　to
defend　the　castle；　it　would　not　have　been　easy　to　take；　for　the
traitor　enclosed　it　as　soon　as　he　planned　the　treason　with　treble
walls　and　moats；　and　had　strengthened　the　walls　behind　with
sharpened　stakes；　so　that　they　should　not　be　thrown　down　by　any
siege…engine。　He　had　spent　great　sums　in　strengthening　it　all
June　and　July　and　August；　in　making　walls；　and　bastions；　and
moats；　and　drawbridges；　trenches；　and

breast…works；　and　barriers；　and　many　a　portcullis　of　iron；　and　a
great　tower　of　stones；　hewn　foursquare。　Never　had　he　shut　the
gate　there　for　fear　of　attack。　The　castle　stands　on　a　high　hill
and　below　it　runs　Thames。　The　host　is　encamped　on　the　river　bank；
on　　that　day　they　had　time　for　nought　save　encamping　and　pitching
their　tents。

The　host　has　encamped　on　Thames：　all　the　meadow　is　covered　with
tents；　green　and　vermilion。　The　sun　strikes　on　the　colours　and
the　river　reflects　their　sheen　for　more　than　a　full　league。　The
defenders　of　the　castle　had　come　to　take　their　pleasure　along　the
strand　with　their　lances　only　in　their　hands；　their　shields
locked　close　in　front　of　them；　for　they　bore　no　arms　but　these。
To　their　foes　without　they　made　it　appear　that　they　feared　them
not　at　all　inasmuch　as　they　had　come　unarmed。　Alexander；　on　the
other　side；　perceived　the　knights　who　go　before　them；　playing　a
knightly　game　on　horseback。　Hot　is　his　desire　to　meet　with　them；
and　he　calls　his　comrades　one　after　the　other　by　their　names：
first　Cornix；　whom　he　greatly　loved；　then　the　stout　Licorides；
then　Nabunal　of　Mycenae；　and　Acoriondes　of　Athens；　and　Ferolin　of
Salonica；　and　Calcedor　from　towards　Africa；　Parmenides　and
Francagel；　Torin　the　Strong；　and　Pinabel；　Nerius；　and　Neriolis。
〃Lords；〃　quoth　he；　〃a　longing　has　seized　me　to　go　and　make　with
lance　and　with　shield　acquaintance　with　those　who　come　to　tourney
before　us。　I　see　full　well　that　they　take　us　for　laggards　and
esteem　us　lightlyso　it　seems　to　mesince　they　have　come　here
all　unarmed　to　tourney　before　our　faces。　We　have　been　newly
dubbed　knights；　we　have　not　yet　shown　our　mettle　to　knights　or　at
quintain。　Too　long　have　we　kept　our　new　lances　virgin。　Why　were
our　shields　made？　Not　yet　have　they　been　pierced　or　broken。　Such
a　gift　avails　us　nought　save　for　tour　or　for　assault。　Let　us　pass
the　ford；　and　let　us　attack　them。〃　All　say：　〃We　will　not　fail
you。〃　Each　one　says：　〃So　may　God　save　me；　as　I　am　not　the　man　to
fail　you　here。〃　Now　they　gird　on　their　swords；　saddle　and　girth
their　steeds；　mount　and　take　their　shields。　When　they　had　hung
the　shields　from　their　necks；　and　taken　the　lances　blazoned　in
quarterings；　they　all　at　once　rush　on　to　the　ford；　and　the　enemy
lower　their　lances　and　ride　quickly　to　strike　them。　But　Alexander
and　his　comrades　knew　well　how　to　pay　them　back；　and　they　neither
spare　them　nor　shirk　nor　yield　a　foot　before　them；　rather　each
strikes　his　own　foe　so　doughtily　that　there　is　no　knight　so　good
but　he　must　void　his　saddle…bow。　The　Greeks　did　not　take　them　for
boys　for　cowards　or　for　men　bewildered。　They　have　not　wasted
their　first　blows；　for　they　have　unhorsed　thirteen。　The　noise　of
their　blows　and　strokes　has　reached　as　far　as　to　the　army。　In　a
short　time　the　melee　would　have　been　desperate；　if　the　enemy　had
dared　to　stand　before　them。　The　king's　men　run　through　the　host
to　take　their　weapons；　and　dash　into　the　water　noisily；　and　the
enemy　turn　to　flight；　for　they　see　that　it　is　not　good　to　stay
there。　And　the　Greeks　follow　them；　striking　with　lances　and
swords。　Many　heads　there　were　cut　open；　but　of　the　Greek