ilt is Elsa von Brabant. That you
have falsely accused her, Count von Telramund, shall now through
God's judgment be confirmed to you!" Telramund, obviously in grave
doubt, gazes searchingly in the face of this extraordinary intruder.
He is sure of his own integrity, relies perfectly on his private
information against Elsa; what then is an agent of Heaven's doing
on the opposite side? How can this be an agent of Heaven's at all?
While he hesitates, the Brabantian nobles warn him in undertones:
"Keep from the fight! If you undertake it, never shall you come
forth victorious! If he be protected by supernal power, of what
use to you is your gallant sword?" But Friedrich, true to his stiff
necked, proud self, bursts forth: "Rather dead than afraid!" and
violently addresses the stranger: "Whatever sorcery have brought
you here, stranger, who wear such a bold front, your haughty threats
in no wise move me, since never have I intended deceit. I accept
your challenge, and look to triumph by the course of justice!"

The lists are set, the ground of the duel is marked off with spears
driven into the earth. When all is ready, the herald in solemn
proclamation warns all present to refrain from every sort of
interference, the penalty for any infringement of this rule to
be, in the case of a noble, the loss of his hand, in the case of
a churl, the loss of his head. He then addresses himself to the
combatants, warning them to loyally observe the rules of battle,
not by any evil art or trick of sorcery to disturb the virtue of
the judgment. God is to judge them according to custom in such
ordeals; in Him let them place their trust and not in their own
strength. The two champions with equal readiness declare themselves
prepared to obey this behest. The King descends from his throne,
removes his regal crown, and, while all beside uncover and unite
in his prayer, solemnly he makes over, as it were, his function
of judge to God. "My Lord and my God, I call upon Thee, that Thou
be present at this combat. Through victory of the sword speak Thy
sentence, and let truth and falsehood clearly appear. To the arm
of the righteous lend heroic strength, unstring the sinews of the
false! Help us Thou, O God, in this hour, for our best wisdom is
folly before Thee!"

Each of the persons present feels certain of victory for his own
side, even dark Ortrud, with the black secrets of her conscience,
who believes in no messengers from God, and pins her f