William Shakespeare: The Life of King Henry V

ACT FIFTH. 2. SCENE II. France. A royal palace. (continued)

KING HENRY.
Upon that I kiss your hand, and call you my queen.

KATHARINE.
Laissez, mon seigneur, laissez, laissez! Ma foi, je ne veux point
que vous abaissez votre grandeur en baisant la main d'une indigne
serviteur. Excusez-moi, je vous supplie, mon tres-puissant seigneur.

KING HENRY.
Then I will kiss your lips, Kate.

KATHARINE.
Les dames et demoiselles pour etre baisees devant leur noces, il
n'est pas la coutume de France.

KING HENRY.
Madame my interpreter, what says she?

ALICE.
Dat it is not be de fashion pour les ladies of France,--I cannot
tell wat is baiser en Anglish.

KING HENRY.
To kiss.

ALICE.
Your Majestee entendre bettre que moi.

KING HENRY.
It is not a fashion for the maids in France to kiss before they
are married, would she say?

ALICE.
Oui, vraiment.

KING HENRY.
O Kate, nice customs curtsy to great kings. Dear Kate, you and I
cannot be confined within the weak list of a country's fashion.
We are the makers of manners, Kate; and the liberty that follows
our places stops the mouth of all find-faults, as I will do yours,
for upholding the nice fashion of your country in denying me a kiss;
therefore, patiently and yielding. [Kissing her.] You have
witchcraft in your lips, Kate; there is more eloquence in a sugar
touch of them than in the tongues of the French council; and they
should sooner persuade Harry of England than a general petition of
monarchs. Here comes your father.

[Re-enter the French Power and the English Lords.]

BURGUNDY.
God save your Majesty! My royal cousin, teach you our princess
English?

KING HENRY.
I would have her learn, my fair cousin, how perfectly I love her;
and that is good English.