“You in the sunshine, Mannikin, 
Will you be the Flower King? 

Ever runs your courage high, 

Tinge us with your blood’s red dye!” 


2 
“Flower bright and flower pale, 
You've drunk my blood and drunk it deep. 


Now my kingdom without fail! 
In calyx, in calyx let me steep!” 


3 


“Sweet your blood was, Little Man, 
Show your deep little heart, if you can. 
If our King you would become, 
Your heart must glisten in the sun.” 


4 


“My heart, my heart beats high and true, 
It shines forth fairly in my gaze. 
If I gave up my heart to you, 
Never again I'll feast my eyes.” 


5 


“Mannikin, we'll jump and rest, 
All of us, inside your breast. 

Let your heart shine in the sun, 
Flower King you shall become!” 


Early Literary Experiments 561 


6 


He starts, he thinks, that Mannikin, 

He tears his breast rose-red apart. 
“Give me sceptre, give me crown, 

Take, O take my deep little heart!” 


7 


“You in the sunshine, Mannikin, 
Cannot be the Flower King. 

No more your rose-red blood can spurt, 
For us must glow your deep little heart.’’ 


8 


The Mannikin plucks out his eyes, 
Digs himself a hole deep down, 

Digs his own deep grave, and lies 
Buried, buried underground.