For a moment Lohengrin knelt at Elsa’s feet, making a solemn vow to save her. Then he mounted his waiting steed, drew down his visor, and took his place in the lists.
The struggle began. Breathlessly the knights and ladies watched it. Nothing could be heard but the clank of steel, the heavy breathing of the two knights, and the tramp of their horses feet. The dust almost hid them from view.
Suddenly a terrible blow was heard. The great frame of Frederick of Telramund was seen to sway for a moment in the saddle, then to fall and roll in the dust. In a moment Lohengrin had dismounted. He stood with one foot on Telramund’s breast, ordering him to surrender.
Triumphant cries and joyful trumpets told of the victory. Cheer after cheer rang through the summer air, as Lohengrin knelt before Elsa once more. The cries of the knights and ladies were loud and long. They almost drowned Elsa’s sweet voice as she bade her champion rise and name his own reward.
Though the low spoken tones had been unheeded by the people, not one word had been lost by Lohengrin.
“Tempt me not, oh noble lady!” he replied. “Here at your feet where I would linger forever, I cannot but confess how much I love you, and how I hope some day to claim your hand.”
The pretty flush on Elsa’s soft cheeks deepened at these words. The long lashes drooped over the beautiful eyes. Timidly she held out her hand.
“You saved me, sir knight,” she softly whispered. “I am yours!”
Not a word of this conversation had been heard by the people, for their shouts had been redoubled as the knight bent low over Elsa’s hand and pressed it to his lips.
Before night, however, Elsa’s promise to become the knight’s bride had gone abroad. Preparations for the marriage were begun at once.