rst seeds of suspicion.

Frederick of Telramund, in the mean while, has watched his wife
disappear with Elsa, and, hiding in a niche of the old church,
he sees the gradual approach of day, and hears the herald
proclaiming through the streets the Emperor's ban upon him:--

'Our king's august decree through all the lands
I here make known,--mark well what he commands:
Beneath a ban he lays Count Telramund
For tempting Heaven with traitorous intent.
Whoe'er shall harbour or companion him
By right shall share his doom with life and limb.'

The unhappy man also hears the herald announce Elsa's coming
marriage with the heaven-sent Swan Knight, and grimly tells the
bystanders he will soon unmask the traitor. A few minutes later,
when he has returned to his hiding place, he sees Elsa appear in
bridal array, followed by her women, and by Ortrud, who is very
richly clad. But at the church door Ortrud insolently presses
in front of Elsa, claiming the right of precedence as her due,
and taunting her for marrying a man who has won her by magic
arts only, and whose name and origin she does not even know.

This altercation is interrupted by the appearance of the king
and his attendants, among whom is the Swan Knight. He hastens
to Elsa's side, while the monarch imperiously demands the cause
of strife. Lohengrin tenderly questions Elsa, who tells him
all. As Ortrud's venomous insinuations have had no apparent
effect upon her, he is about to lead her into the church,
when Telramund suddenly steps forward, loudly declaring that
the Swan Knight overcame him by sorcery, and imploring Elsa
not to believe a word he says.

These accusations are, however, dismissed by the king and his
men, since Elsa passionately refuses to credit them, and the
wedding procession sweeps into the church, followed by the
vindictive glances of Telramund and Ortrud,--glances which the
trembling Elsa alone seems to perceive.

The third act takes place on that selfsame evening. The
festivities are nearly ended, and through opposite doors
the wedding procession enters the nuptial chamber to the
accompaniment of the well known Bridal Chorus. The attendants
soon depart, however, leaving Elsa and Lohengrin to join in a
duet of happy married love. Now that they are alone together
for the first time, Elsa softly begins chiding her lover for not
showing more confidence in her, and revealing who he is. In spite
of his tender attempts to tur