He is a fool who starts a tower
Without the funds within his power
And knows not what he'll have to spend
To bring it to a proper end.

Nebúchadnézzar, ancient king,
Took undue pride in everything:
He built the whorish Babylon,
And thought his fame should rest thereon;
Yet quickly he discovered how
A mighty king becomes a cow.

Who grieves when hopes are unfulfilled
Would better plan before he build,
For half-baked schemes soon turn a curse
And later on deplete the purse.