The Book of Air and Shadows

For E.W.N.

Our Revels now are ended: These our actors (As I foretold you) were all Spirits, and Are melted into Ayre, into thin Ayre, And like the baselesse fabricke of this vision The Clowd-capt Towres, the gorgeous Pallaces, The solemne Temples, the great Globe it selfe, Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve, And like this insubstantial Pageant faded Leave not a racke behinde: we are such stuffe As dreames are made on; and our little life Is rounded with a sleepe… -WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE,

The Tempest, act IV, scene i,

The First Folio, 1623