Prospero's Short Lived Joy

Act 4 Scene 1

The scene begins with Ferdinand and Miranda getting Prospero's blessing to get married. Three goddesses come and give the couple gifts which are for prosperity in the future. However, during the celebration, Prospero realizes that Caliban wants to kill him. He displays his disdain and sorrow for Caliban when he says,"There is not only disgrace and dishonor in that monster, but an infinite loss." 

Later, Prospero says "...These our actors, as I foretold you, were all spirits, and are melted into air, into thin air, and, like the baseless fabric of vision, the cloud-capped towers, the gorgeous palaces,the solemn temples, the great globe itself,yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve and, like this insubstantial pageant faded, leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with sleep."

This monologue by Prospero is his comparison of humans to actors. I think he is expressing that he thinks human life is so short that "shall dissolve" and that he shouldn't be wasting his time and leaving the celebration of his daughter's engagement to fight or be unhappy.