Elsa was a very beautiful girl. She lived with her father, the Duke of Brabant. Her father loved her very much, so they lived happily in their lovely home. But one day Elsa’s father died, leaving her all of his lands and castles. Then she had no one to care for her, and she was very unhappy indeed.

The Duke of Brabant had had a trusted friend, Frederick of Telramund. He undertook the care of Elsa; but he did not guard the lonely maiden as her father would have wished. Indeed, this man tried to force her to marry him, that he might obtain all of her wealth.

In vain the lovely Elsa declared she did not love him. In vain she appealed to his chivalry. He cared nothing for her tears, but cruelly cast her into a damp prison[114] close by the rushing river. There she must suffer in loneliness until she would obey the will of Telramund.

At last Elsa sent a long message to Henry I. begging him for aid. He decided that the matter should be settled in the lists. Elsa should choose a champion to fight with Frederick of Telramund.

Poor Elsa lost all hope when she heard this decision. She knew full well that no knight in the neighborhood would dare accept a challenge from Telramund; for Telramund had fought many times and had never been defeated. Day after day the herald sought someone to battle for Elsa’s rights. It was as she had feared, no one answered the call.

Forsaken by all, the orphan girl turned to the helper of the helpless. Night and day she knelt in her narrow cell and prayed. In her great grief she struck her breast with the rosary clasped in her little hands.

[115]The little bell attached to the rosary, gave forth a low tinkling sound. These silvery tones were very soft and faint. They could scarcely be heard above the roar of the waters rushing past the tower. But they floated out through the narrow window into the open air.

The winds of heaven caught up the sounds and whirled them rapidly away. Farther and farther they traveled, louder and louder they became. At last it seemed as if all the bells on earth had united to ring forth one grand deafening peal.

These loud and pleading tones reached even into the far distant temple on Montsalvat. Here King Parsifal and his train of dauntless knights kept constant watch over the Holy Grail. The King was greatly alarmed by the tones. He knew that some poor creature needed aid, and so hastened into his inner temple.

Within this holy place there stood a beautiful vase, giving forth its rosy light. On its bright edge the King read the message[116] from heaven. “Send Lohengrin to defend his future bride, but let her trust him and never seek to know his origin.” These were the strange words which met the aged King’s eyes.

The King immediately sent for his son. Lohengrin was a brave young knight. He had been trained to receive the messages of the Holy Grail with the most perfect faith. When he heard the words from his father, he put on his armor, spoke his farewells, and at once prepared to mount his waiting steed.

Suddenly sweet music fell upon his ear. He had never heard anything like it on land or sea. Soft, low, and sweet, it rose and fell and rose again. Then, in the distance, Lohengrin saw a stately swan come floating toward him. It drew behind it a little skiff. Nearer and nearer came the stately swan, clearer and sweeter rose the mystic strain. Both came to a pause close by the shore where the wondering knight stood.

[117]Lohengrin sprang at once into the skiff. The swan took up its song again, and soon bore him out of sight.

The day for the tournament had dawned. The last preparations had been made. Many knights had gathered to view the scene. Yet not one dared to offer himself as champion for the lovely maiden.

Elsa clung to her prison bars. Tearfully she repeated for the last time her prayers.

“Send Thou the deliverer, O Lord!” she cried.

All at once her sobs ceased. The far away sounds of music fell comfortingly upon her ear. She looked out eagerly. There she beheld a spotless swan floating gently down the stream, skillfully guiding a little boat. In the boat a knight in full armor lay fast asleep on a glittering shield.

Just as the swan passed beneath the window where Elsa stood, the knight[118] awoke. His first glance rested upon her tear-stained face.

“Weep no more, fair maiden!” he cried, springing to his feet. “Fear naught! I have come to defend you!”

The skiff passed on down the river. The prison door opened, and Frederick of Telramund appeared to lead Elsa to the lists. A smile of triumph curled his cruel lips as he heard the herald give the last call for Elsa’s champion. The sound of the trumpets died away and Frederick had turned to address Elsa. Suddenly a ringing voice came from the end of the lists.

“Here am I, the Swan Knight, ready to fight for the rights of the Princess. I will win her cause or die.”

A cry of admiration arose from the crowd, as they tur............