Count Herman had two daughters fair,
And very fair were they;
The one was like a summer night,
One like a summer day.
Though three or four brief years were all
They measured to each other,
Yet Elinore had always been
To Minna, like a mother.
A pale and thoughtful girl was she,
And with a statue's grace
Upon the tall and perfect form,
And on the pensive face.
But Minna was a fairy thing,
With sunshine in her eyes;
And such a blush as the red rose
To welcome June supplies.
The song with which she woke the morn,
At night was scarcely done;
Her spirits, to her sister, were
Like walking in the sun.
Of late the blush had been less bright,
The eyes of deeper blue;
As if the just awakening heart
Its own soft shadow threw.
