The King himself was struck by this fair vision. The set look came out of his eyes, and he leaned forward and gently took her by the hand.
"Are you Elsa of Brabant?" he asked.
The young girl bowed and wrung her hands in silence.
"You are accused of the murder of your brother," continued the King. "What have you to say?"
"Oh, my poor brother!" cried Elsa; and not another word would she answer to the charge.
"Speak!" said the King. "Do you not know that I must adjudge you guilty unless you confide in me?"
Elsa looked up at the King and seemed to gain courage. The people gazed on the scene with stillness as of death. Elsa's voice was low but clear, and its tones were distinctly heard.
"When I have been in deep trouble," she said, "I have prayed to Heaven for help. It has been many times of late—O, many, many times! At last I was answered. I have had a dream, and it is such a beautiful dream that I know it must come true. A knight in glittering armour appeared in a vision and promised to be my champion whenever I should call upon him. O King, I claim him for my champion to-day! He will prove my innocence!"
Her words answered nothing and proved nothing; yet such was her manner that the people believed in her and shouted aloud that she was guiltless. The King himself seemed to seek a pretext to let her go free; but Frederick of Telramund stepped boldly forward.
"A likely story this, your Majesty!" he sneered. "Dream knights never yet have done anything; and if the Lady Elsa can but find her champion upon earth, here I stand ready to fight him to decide this cause."