“Hail, royal Henry! May the blessing of Heaven ever rest on thee!” said Lohengrin.
“Welcome, sir knight!” replied the king graciously. “Surely by a miracle divine thou art come to this land?”
“I have been sent, O king, to fight for the honor of an innocent maiden, in sore need and distress,” answered Lohengrin. Then, going before Elsa, he asked her: “Wilt thou trust thy cause to me, O Elsa of Brabant? Wilt thou take me for thy champion without doubt or fear?”
Elsa raised her eyes to his. “My deliverer, my knight—with my whole heart do I trust thee!” she answered. Lohengrin knelt and, taking her hand in his, asked: “And if, with Heaven’s help, I win this fight for thee, wilt thou consent to be my bride?”
“I am thine—thine only, my knight. All I have I give thee gladly!” said Elsa, with shining eyes.
“One promise wilt thou give me?”
“To thee will I promise anything,” Elsa answered readily.
“Then if thou desirest, as I, that nothing part us ever—that thy people and thy country become from henceforth my people and my country—never shalt thou ask of me my name and race, or whence I come,” said Lohengrin earnestly.
“Never will I seek to know thy secret. Thy love is enough for me—naught else do I desire!”