n aside the conversation into a
less dangerous channel, she gradually becomes more importunate:--

'Oh, make me glad with thy reliance,
Humble me not that bend so low.
Ne'er shalt thou rue thy dear affiance:
Him that I love, oh let me know!'

Seeing her husband does not yield to her tender pleading, Elsa
then redoubles her caresses. Her faint suspicions have taken
such firm root, and grow with such rapidity, that she is soon
almost wild with suspense. All his attempts to soothe her only
seem to excite her more, and suddenly, fancying that she hears
the swan boat coming to bear him away from her, she determines to
break the magic spell at any cost, as Ortrud cunningly advised
her, and demands his name. Just as Lohengrin is gazing upon her
in heart-rending but mute reproach, Telramund bursts into the
room, with a band of hired assassins, to take his life. A quick
motion from Elsa, whose trust returns when she sees her beloved
in danger, permits Lohengrin to parry the first blow with his
sword, and Frederick of Telramund soon lies dead upon the floor,
while his accomplices cringe at Lohengrin's feet imploring his
pardon. Day is dawning, and Lohengrin, after caring tenderly
for the half-fainting Elsa, bids the would-be assassins bear
the corpse into the presence of the king, where he promises to
meet Elsa and satisfy all her demands:--

'Bear hence the corpse into the king's judgment hall.
Into the royal presence lead her.
Arrayed as fits so fair a bride;
There all she asks I will concede her,
Nor from her knowledge aught will hide.'

At the last scene the king is again near the river, on his
judgment throne, whence he watches the mustering of the
troops which are to accompany him to the war, and makes a
patriotic speech, to which they gladly respond. Suddenly,
however, the four men appear with the corpse of Frederick of
Telramund, which they lay at the king's feet, declaring they
are obeying the orders of the new lord of Brabant, who will
soon come to explain all. Before the king can question further,
Elsa appears, pale and drooping, in spite of her bridal array,
and just as the king is rallying her at wearing so mournful an
expression when her bridegroom is only leaving her for a short
time to lead his troops to the fray, the Swan Knight appears,
and is enthusiastically welcomed by his men. Sadly he informs
them he can no longer lead them on to victory, and declares
that he slew