From the painting by Ferdinand Leeke
Smiling and bowing graciously, Elsa ascended the cathedral steps, when suddenly her way was barred by a tall commanding figure, who pushed through the astonished crowd and stood before her. It was Ortruda.
“Back, I say!” she cried wrathfully. “Thinkest thou that I am going to follow thee, like a serving-maid! No longer will I suffer it! The time has come when thou shalt bow before me!”
The attendants and courtiers stood aghast. “The woman must be mad!” they exclaimed to one another.
Elsa could scarce believe that this was the same Ortruda who, a few hours before, had knelt in the dust at her feet.
Pale and trembling she cried:
“Ortruda! Is it possible? What has happened to change thee thus terribly?”
Ortruda gave a mocking laugh.
“Thinkest thou,” she answered, “that because I foolishly forgot my high position and my worth for one short hour, I must forever after approach thee crawling? My lord was first in all the land! Not a foe but feared his sword, not a tongue but spake his praise. But thy hero! No man ever heard of him! Thou thyself canst not even give him a name.”