Scene Two
[An Apartment in the French King's Palace]
Enter at one door, King Henry, Exeter, Bedford, Warwick, [Gloucester, Clarence,] and other Lords; at another, Queen Isabel, [the Princess Katharine, Alice and other Ladies,] the [French] King, the Duke of Burgundy, and other French.
K. Hen. Peace to this meeting, wherefore we are met!
Unto our brother France, and to our sister,
Health and fair time of day; joy and good wishes
To our most fair and princely cousin Katharine;
And, as a branch and member of this royalty, 5
By whom this great assembly is contriv'd,
We do salute you, Duke of Burgundy;
And, princes French, and peers, health to you all! 8
Fr. King. Right joyous are we to behold your face,
Most worthy brother England; fairly met:
So are you, princes English, every one.
Q. Isa. So happy be the issue, brother England,
Of this good day and of this gracious meeting, 13
As we are now glad to behold your eyes;
Your eyes, which hitherto have borne in them
Against the French, that met them in their bent,
The fatal balls of murdering basilisks: 17
The venom of such looks, we fairly hope,
Have lost their quality, and that this day
Shall change all griefs and quarrels into love. 20
K. Hen. To cry amen to that, thus we appear.
Q. Isa. You English princes all, I do salute you.
Bur. My duty to you both, on equal love,
3 fair time of day: a common form of greeting
16 bent: aim or glance
17 basilisks: large cannon; cf. n.
