Where did "The World is Quiet Here" come from?

[MsSnicket]

I've looked nearly everywhere, including the works of Charles Baudelaire (in French & English), but I can't find a darned thing. What could it be??

[Pester, Rumormonger]

It's from the hymn of prosperine, a very long and complicated poem by Charles Swinburne. You can find more about it on that quidditch.com.

[JeromeSqualor]

SOmeone told me that an anagram for "The World is Quiet Here" is "This queer, weird hotel"...

[violetb14]

In the Carnivorus Carnival, Madame Lulu says that some people(VFD probobly) believed that there was a time that the world was simple and quiet. Though she says it was probobly just a legend.

[JeromeSqualor]

What is the page number?

[violetb14]

It is on page158

[JeromeSqualor]

Thanks, I will go look it up later...

[SnicketFires]

As Pester said, Its from The Garden Of Proserpine, the very same poem that is used in TSS, the eleventh stanza and all that, by Algernon Charles Swinburne.

Here, where the world is quiet,
Here, where all trouble seems
Dead winds' and spent waves' riot
In doubtful dreams of dreams;
I watch the green field growing
For reaping folk and sowing,
For harvest-time and mowing,
A sleepy world of streams.

I am tired of tears and laughter,
And men that laugh and weep;
Of what may come hereafter
For men that sow to reap:
I am weary of days and hours,
Blown buds of barren flowers,
Desires and dreams and powers
And everything but sleep.

Here life has death for neighbour,
And far from eye or ear
Wan waves and wet winds labour,
Weak ships and spirits steer;
They drive adrift, and whither
They wot not who make thither;
But no such winds blow hither,
And no such things grow here.

No growth of moor or coppice,
No heather-flower or vine,
But bloomless buds of poppies,
Green grapes of Proserpine,
Pale beds of blowing rushes,
Where no leaf blooms or blushes
Save this whereout she crushes
For dead men deadly wine.

Pale, without name or number,
In fruitless fields of corn,
They bow themselves and slumber
All night till light is born;
And like a soul belated,
In hell and heaven unmated,
By cloud and mist abated
Comes out of darkness morn.

Though one were strong as seven,
He too with death shall dwell,
Nor wake with wings in heaven,
Nor weep for pains in hell;
Though one were fair as roses,
His beauty clouds and closes;
And well though love reposes,
In the end it is not well.

Pale, beyond porch and portal,
Crowned with calm leaves, she stands
Who gathers all things mortal
With cold immortal hands;
Her languid lips are sweeter
Than love's who fears to greet her
To men that mix and meet her
From many times and lands.

She waits for each and other,
She waits for all men born;
Forgets the earth her mother,
The life of fruits and corn;
And spring and seed and swallow
Take wing for her and follow
Where summer song rings hollow
And flowers are put to scorn.

There go the loves that wither,
The old loves with wearier wings;
And all dead years draw thither,
And all disastrous things;
Dead dreams of days forsaken,
Blind buds that snows have shaken,
Wild leaves that winds have taken,
Red strays of ruined springs.

We are not sure of sorrow,
And joy was never sure;
Today will die tomorrow;
Time stoops to no man's lure;
And love, grown faint and fretful,
With lips but half regretful
Sighs, and with eyes forgetful
Weeps that no loves endure.

From too much love of living,
From hope and fear set free,
We thank with brief thanksgiving
Whatever gods may be
That no life lives for ever;
That dead men rise up never;
That even the weariest river
Winds somewhere safe to sea.

Then star nor sun shall waken,
Nor any change of light:
Nor sound of waters shaken,
Nor any sound or sight:
Nor wintry leaves nor vernal,
Nor days nor things diurnal;
Only the sleep eternal
In an eternal night.

[JeromeSqualor]

So, basically V.F.D. is surrounded by the poem of Prosperine?

[Antenora]

That poem is definitely VFD-related. Its general theme of death is certainly related to Snicket's grim world.
I like this poem, and it adds a layer of meaning to VFD and Snicket's work.

[JeromeSqualor]

I didn't read it all... Way too long... Like swans's post... ;D Just playing, swans...

[Dismay]

Why are you all writing about epitaphs for? it makes no sense, other than it being in the book i have not read!(he he he) oh, and and in my English class we had to write some funny ones on a book! I would like a quiet place. There is a song called in the secret we sing.

[Snicket]

Yes mabey it's multiple anagams for different vfd safe places.

[SnicketFires]

Snicket said:

Yes mabey it's multiple anagams for different vfd safe places.

What would be anagrams for VFD safe places?

Dismay, what are you talking about?

I posted the poem because it's an allusion used in ASOUE. Like Tocuna said, it adds depth and it's interesting to see that DH's resources are true/where he gets his ideas.

[JeromeSqualor]

It adds a little to the idea that ASOUE may all be true, after all... Nahhhhhhh! ;D