We are such stuff / As dreams are made on, and our little life / Is rounded with a sleep.
Prospero speaks these lines after he suddenly breaks off the betrothal masque he has conjured for Ferdinand and Miranda, remembering the plot against his life. They follow his speech beginning “Our revels now are ended”.
All the world’s a stage, / And all the men and women merely players;
Cowards die many times before their deaths; / The valiant never taste of death but once.
Doubt thou the stars are fire; / Doubt that the sun doth move; / Doubt truth to be a liar; / But never doubt I love.
Because I could not stop for Death – / He kindly stopped for me –
Break, break, break, / On thy cold gray stones, O Sea! / And I would that my tongue could utter / The thoughts that arise in me.
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, / Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before;