id clouds of light he soared;
His words so low and tender
Brought life renewed to me.
My guardian, my defender,
Thou shalt my guardian be.'

These words and the maiden's rapt and innocent look are so
impressive, that the king and people utterly refuse to believe
the maiden guilty of crime, until Frederick of Telramund boldly
offers to prove the truth of his assertion by fighting against
any champion whom she may choose. Elsa accepts this proposal
gladly, for she hopes her heaven-sent champion may appear.
The lists are immediately prepared, while the herald calls
aloud:--

'He who in right of Heaven comes here to fight
For Elsa of Brabant, step forth at once.'

The first call remains unanswered; but, at Elsa's request, the
king commands a second to be made, while she sinks on her
knees and ardently begins praying for her champion's appearance.
Her prayer is scarcely ended when the men along the bank become
aware of the approach of a snowy swan, drawing a little skiff,
in which a handsome young knight in full armour stands erect.

Amid the general silence of the amazed spectators, Lohengrin, the
Swan Knight, springs ashore, and, turning to his swan, dismisses
it in a beautiful song, one of the gems of this opera:--

'I give thee thanks, my faithful swan.
Turn thee again and breast the tide;
Return unto that land of dawn
Where joyous we did long abide.
Well thy appointed task is done.
Farewell, my trusty swan.'

Then, while the swan slowly sails down the river and out of
sight, the Swan Knight announces to the king that he has come
as Elsa's champion, and, turning to her, asks whether she will
be his wife if he proves victorious. Elsa gladly promises him
her hand, nor does she even offer to withdraw this promise when
he tells her that she must trust him entirely, and never ask
who he is or whence he comes:--

'Say, dost thou understand me?
Never, as thou dost love me,
Aught shall to question move thee
From whence to thee I came,
Or what my race and name.'

Elsa faithfully promises to remember all these injunctions, and
bids him do battle for her, whereupon he challenges Telramund,
with whom he begins fighting at a given signal. The Swan Knight
soon defeats his enemy, who is thus convicted of perjury by the
judgment of God, but he magnanimously refuses to take his life.

Then, turning to Elsa, who thanks him passionately for saving
her, he