The people at first refuse to believe his dark accusation against Elsa; but when Frederick declares she murdered her brother so as to become sole mistress of the duchy, and to bestow it upon some unworthy lover, the king sends for the maiden, and, hanging his shield upon an oak, declares he will not depart until he has tried this cause:—­

   ’Herald.

    Now shall the cause be tried as ancient use requires.

    King.

    Never again my shield to wear
    Till judgment is pronounced, I swear.’

The people receive this decree with joy, and the men, drawing their swords, thrust them into the ground as they form a circle around the king.  These preparations for a solemn court of justice are scarcely ended when Elsa appears, all in white, and attended by her ladies, who stand in the background while she timidly advances and stands before the king.  Her youth, beauty, and apparent innocence produce a great effect, not only upon the bystanders, but also upon the king, who gently begins to question her.

But, instead of answering him, the fair maiden merely bows and wrings her hands, exclaiming, ‘My hapless brother!’ until the king implores her to confide in him.  Suddenly her tongue is loosened, and she begins to sing, as if in a trance, of a vision with which she has been favoured, wherein a handsome knight had been sent by Heaven to become her champion:—­

   ’I saw in splendour shining
    A knight of glorious mien,
    On me his eye inclining
    With tranquil gaze serene;
    A horn of gold beside him,
    He leant upon his sword. 
    Thus when I erst espied him
    ’Mid 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:—­