May and January

[WOMEN]
Behold the fates and years contrary
Plighting May and January
Behold sweet sixteen, pale as ashes
Shrinking from his gray mustaches
Behold the little flower love crossed
Trembling at the touch of frost

[MEN]
Behold the maid with blushes cherry
Gives her hand where she will marry
Behold the spring with winter crosses
Equalizing solar losses
Behold the rainbow bridge of mirth
Joins this paradise with earth

[ENSEMBLE]
Joins heaven and earth
Joins youth and ancient cheer
Joins love and worth
Romance and Musketeer
Romancе and Musketeer
Romance and Musketeer

[STUYVESANT, spoken]
Can anyonе give reason why this troth shall not be plighted?

[SCHERMERHORN, spoken]
I can.

[STUYVESANT, spoken]
What? What reason?

[SCHERMERHORN, spoken]
She visited the jail last night in a most indelicate and indecent manner.

[STUYVESANT, spoken]
This sweet and innocent girl?

[SCHERMERHORN, spoken]
Oh, she's not so innocent.

[STUYVESANT, spoken]
Did you visit the jail last night?

[TINA, spoken]
Yes, sir.

[STUYVESANT, spoken]
For what purpose?

[TINA, spoken]
To return Brom’s ring to him.

[STUYVESANT, spoken]
You were engaged to Brom Broeck?

[TINA, spoken]
Yes, sir.

[STUYVESANT, spoken]
Why, a perfectly sound and moral reason.

[SCHERMERHORN, spoken]
Then why did she kiss him?

[TINA, spoken]
I kissed him farewell.

[STUYVESANT, spoken]
Quite proper. Quite proper. I don't say that he young gentleman may not regret that kiss in the future. But your conduct was justifiable. And you are still, technically, a maiden?

[TINA, spoken]
Yes, sir.

[STUYVESANT, spoken]
Then we erase the whole episode!