a moving prayer in which the King implores that right may prevail, and all present join him in offering it. The place of the duel is appointed, the trumpets sound, and the King strikes his shield with his sword three times as the signal for the duel to begin — a duel that does not last long. Lohengrin at once strikes a thunderbolt of a blow that fells Telramund to the ground, but he does not wish to kill him. The cheers of the crowd rise in salute

to the victor. Lohengrin embraces Elsa with joy and delight, and the act ends with jubilant commotion reigning over all — except Telramund and his wife Ortrud.

Scene: the courtyard of the castle of Antwerp.

Three buildings surround the courtyard: at the rear, the knights' dwelling; on the left, the women's wing; on the right, the façade of the huge cathedral. It is night, and Telramund and Ortrud are hiding in the pitch darkness, quarreling, each blaming the other for this disgrace that has dragged them into exile. Telramund attributes his shameful fall to Ortrud's plotting, and she, furious, tells him that if he could spill a single drop of Lohengrin's blood, this knight of the shining armor would lose his magic power. Yet she affirms, nonetheless, that hope is not entirely lost, for in her view Lohengrin's supernatural power is bound up with his name. If the name were known, he would become like other men. And there is no one but Elsa who can learn his name. Telramund and Ortrud then swear to avenge the disgrace that has befallen them.

Elsa appears on the balcony, singing to the wandering breeze. Ortrud then sends her husband

away and approaches Elsa, deceit-ful and wily, telling her that she is her friend and hopes for nothing but her happiness, and expressing her remorse for the unintended harm that she and Telramund may have harbored against her. And while making this show of good will, she tries to plant the seeds of doubt and suspicion in her soul concerning the origin of her bridegroom. But the happy Elsa dismisses every suspicion, and yet asks Ortrud to wait for her.

She returns to her room, while Ortrud pours out her fervent supplications to the gods Odin and

Freia. Elsa comes down from the balcony and appears at the door of the women's wing with two ladies of honor, and invites Ortrud to help her arrange the wedding celebration. Dawn breaks, the sky brightens little by little, trumpet calls sound from every quarter of the castle, and the day's business begins. Soon the castle courtyard fills with soldiers, knights, and men of the court. The herald proclaims the banishment of Telramund and the marriage of Lohengrin and Elsa.

Elsa comes out of the women's wing in a splendid procession, surrounded by her maids of honor, and crosses the castle courtyard; but before she reaches the cathedral steps the procession is

blocked by Ortrud, who declares with full pride that she will no longer abase herself before Elsa, nor be her servant, but will take her rightful place. Then she demands that she proclaim the name of the man she is to wed. Elsa answers with pride and dignity that her bridegroom is a knight beyond reproach, who defeated Telramund in honorable combat and spared his life. But Ortrud insists that the unknown warrior is a wicked sorcerer...

Meanwhile King Henry, Lohengrin, and some of the knights come into the courtyard. Ortrud is pushed out of the way, and the procession continues on its course; but Telramund blocks it, demanding that his words be heard, repeating his wife's accusa-tions — that Lohengrin is a sor-cerer who prevailed over him only by the power of magic. Lohengrin replies to this by saying that his honor is beyond suspicion, and that he is answerable to no one, save Elsa alone. The King and the rest of the knights gather around Lohengrin, affirming his words, and the order is given to remove Telramund and his wife Ortrud.

After this stormy scene the wedding procession resumes its advance, while Telramund and Ortrud stand to one side, confident that they have planted the seeds of doubt in Elsa's soul. Lohengrin himself has perceived this, for he has seen fear and doubt in Elsa's eyes. And no sooner do the bridal pair reach the cathedral door than Ortrud raises her hand in menace, and the orchestra thunders with a grim theme that signifies the fateful questions Elsa promised never to ask.

Act Three

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