the
time, nor ever knows.

The first Happy One is "that superb great haughty Ottima," wife of the
old magnate, Luca, who owns the silk-mills. The New Year's morning may
be wet--

". . . Can rain disturb
Her Sebald's homage? all the while thy rain
Beats fiercest on her shrub-house window-pane,
He will but press the closer, breathe more warm
Against her cheek: how should she mind the storm?"

Here we learn what later we are very fully to be shown--that Ottima's
"happiness" is not in her husband.

The second Happy One is Phene, the bride that very day of Jules, the
young French sculptor. They are to come home at noon, and though noon,
like morning, should be wet--

". . . what care bride and groom
Save for their dear selves? 'Tis their marriage day;

* * * * *

Hand clasping hand, within each breast would be
Sunbeams and pleasant weather, spite of thee."

The third Happy One--or Happy Ones, for these two Pippa cannot
separate--are Luigi, the young aristocrat-patriot, and his mother.
Evening is their time, for it is in the dusk that they "commune inside
our turret"--

"The lady and her child, unmatched, forsooth,
She in her age, as Luigi in his youth,
For true content . . ."

Aye--though the evening should be obscured with mist, _they_ will not
grieve--

". . . The cheerful town, warm, close,
And safe, the sooner that thou art morose
Receives them . . ."

That is all the difference bad weather can make to such a pair.

The Fourth Happy One is Monsignor, "that holy and beloved priest," who
is expected this night from Rome,

"To visit Asolo, his brother's home,
And say here masses proper to release
A soul from pain--what storm dares hurt his peace?
Calm would he pray, with his own thoughts to ward
Thy thunder off, nor want the angels' guard."

And now the great Day knows all that the Four Happy Ones possess,
besides its own "blue solemn hours serenely flowing"--for not rain at
morning can hurt Ottima with her Sebald, nor at noon the bridal pair,
nor in the evening Luigi and his mother, nor at night "that holy and
beloved" Bishop . . .

"But Pippa--just one such mischance would spoil
Her day that lightens the next twelvemonth's toil
At wearisome silk-winding, coil on coil."

+ + + +