Using "<" and ">" as normal text when using Markup with a Text Box

[#1]

 Is there a way to display "<" and/or ">" as normal text in a Text Box.  For example, the script below gives an error, it is interpreting the < and > characters as parts of an HTML tag.  

names default to here(1);
string = "the value is <b> <<a </b>, but <i> > b </i>";
new window("test",
	text box(string, <<Markup(1))
)

What I want to display in the text box is 

the value is <<a, but > b

[#2 · Accepted solution]

Maybe escaping with "<" with &lt; could work?

names default to here(1);
string = "the value is <b> &lt;&lt;a </b>, but <i> > b </i>";
new window("test",
	text box(string, <<Markup(1))
)

 And &gt; for >

[#3]

That's it! I tried using &lt and &gt, but without the semicolon after.