And once, and no more, he is given to travel this way.
And woe if he flies from the task, whatever the odds;
For the task is appointed to him on the scroll of the gods.
There is waiting a work where only your hands can avail;
And so if you falter, a chord in the music will fail.
We may laugh to the sky, we may lie for an hour in the sun;
But we dare not go hence till the labor appointed is done.
To each man is given a marble to carve for the wall,
A stone that is needed to heighten the beauty of all;
And only his soul has the magic to give it a grace,