"Him will I trust!" she cried. "He shall my Champion be!"
The knights, the nobles, the King, were startled. But Frederick of Telramund cried out.
"Such words do not mislead me. See! does she not speak of a secret lover? What further proof do you need? Here stand I, and here's my sword, both ready to fight for my honor."
Now since King Henry believed that God in His wisdom would surely give might to the hands that fought for Right, he asked Frederick if he were ready to fight for life or death to uphold this charge that he had brought.
Frederick answered, "Yes."
Then the King turned to Elsa, and asked her if she were willing to have her champion fight for life or death to prove her blameless.
Elsa answered, "Yes," and, to the great astonishment of all, named her unknown knight as her champion.
"None other will I have," she said. "He will come to defend me, and upon him will I bestow my father's lands. Aye, should he deign to wed me, I will be his bride."
"Then cry out the summons," ordered the King.
The herald stepped forth with his trumpeters four. Placing one to the east and one to the west, one to the north, and one to the south, he bade them blow a great blast.