uder, till at length it reached the temple where Parsifal
and his knights guarded the Holy Grail. To them it seemed that the
swelling notes contained an appeal for help directed to the Holy Vessel
over which they kept vigil. While they debated thereon a loud and
mysterious voice was heard bidding Parsifal send his son Lohengrin
to the rescue of Elsa of Brabant, whom he must take for his wife, yet
without revealing to her his identity.

The awed knights recognized the voice as that of the Holy Grail, and
Lohengrin at once set out, bound he knew not whither. When he reached
the shores of the Rhine he found awaiting him a boat drawn by a stately
swan. Taking it as a sign from Heaven, he stepped into the little boat
and was carried up the Rhine, to the sound of the most exquisite music.

It was the day on which Elsa was to be wedded to her tyrant. She had
spent the night in tears and bitter lamentations, and now, weary and
distraught, too hopeless even for tears, she looked out from the bars of
her prison with dull, despairing eyes. Suddenly she heard the melodious
strains and a moment later saw the approach of a swan-drawn boat,
wherein lay a sleeping knight. Hope leapt within her, for she remembered
the prophecy of an old nun, long since dead, that a sleeping knight
would rescue her from grave peril. Directly he stepped ashore the youth
made his way to the place of her confinement and, espying her face at
the heavily barred window, knelt before her and begged that she would
take him for her champion.

At that moment the blast of a trumpet was heard, followed by the voice
of the herald as, for the last time, he challenged any knight to take
up arms on behalf of Elsa of Brabant. Lohengrin boldly accepted the
challenge, and Telramund, when the news reached him of the unexpected
opposition, on the very day he had appointed for his wedding, was
surprised and enraged beyond measure, yet he dared not refuse to do
battle with the stranger knight, because of the Emperor's decree. So it
was arranged that the combat should take place immediately. News of it
reached the people of Cleves, and a great concourse gathered to witness
the spectacle, all of them secretly in sympathy with the persecuted
maiden, though these feelings were carefully concealed from the ruthless
Telramund.

Fierce indeed was the combat, for Lohengrin, though less powerfully
built than his gigantic opponent, was nevertheless tall and strong, and
well versed i