Excerpt from Lohengrin: Opera in Three Acts Henry I., King of Germany, surnamed the Fowler, has arrived at Ant werp, with the intention of levying a force to assist in repelling the Hungarians, who have threatened his dominions with invasion. He finds Brabant in a state of anarchy. Godfrey, the young son of the late Duke, has disappeared, and his sister elsa is accused of murdering him by her guardian, frederick, Count of Telra mund, who has married ortrud, daughter of radbod, Prince of Friesland, and in right of his wife claims to be the ruler of the Duchy. Elsa, appearing before the King, asserts her innocence, and it'is agreed that the cause should be decided by a judicial combat between Frederick and any champion who may appear on behalf of the accused. When her condition seems most hopeless, a knight appears ascend ing the River Scheldt, in a boat drawn by a single swan, which on landing he dis misses, and undertakes her defense, Elsa promising that if he is victorious she will bestow upon him her hand, and never question him as to his name or origin. In the combat that ensues Frederick is stricken to the ground by his unknown an tagonist, and deprived of his title and estate. Preparations are made for the immediate marriage of the stranger with Elsa; but while all are reveling in the Pallas, or abode of the knights, Frederick and Ortrud are without, plotting how they may be avenged and recover their lost hon ors. Presenting herself at the K emenate, or abode of the ladies, Ortrud moves the compassion of Elsa, who not only gains her admission, but promises to obtain the pardon of Frederick, and listens to the suggestion that she ought to inquire into the name and origin of her future husband, who, without the ducal title, has been appointed by the King Protector o-f Brabant and leader of the Brabant Contingent of the German Army. As the nuptial procession approaches the cathedral, the Conspirators reveal themselves in their true character, Ortrud opposing Elsa at the door, and Frederick declaring that the unknown knight is a sorcerer, who has gained his victory by unfair means. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.