ld not admit in
the Knight of the swan a god-sent hero, she cannot see in Elsa an
uncommonly good-hearted girl. "Oh, that arrogance!" she is muttering
while Elsa is exhorting her; "It shall teach me how I may undo that
trustfulness of hers! Against it shall the weapons be turned, her
pride shall bring about her fall!"--Elsa by gesture inviting, the
other feigning confusion at so great kindness, the two pass into
the house together.

The first grey of dawn lightens the sky. Telramund, who has been
spying unseen, exults to see mischief in the person of his wife
entering the house of the enemy. He is not an evil man, he cares
beyond all for honour, and his consciousness of a certain unfairness
in the methods his wife will use is implied in his exclamation;
but the violent man so rages under a sense of injustice that all
weapons to him are good which shall bring about the ruin of those who
have ruined him. "Thus does mischief enter that house! Accomplish,
woman, what your subtlety has devised. I feel no power to check you
at your work. The mischief began with my downfall; now shall you
plunge after me, you who brought me to it! One thing alone stands
clear before me: The robbers of my honour shall see destruction!"

Daylight brightens. The warders sound the reveille from the turret.
Telramund conceals himself behind a buttress of the minster. The
business of the day is gradually taken up in the citadel court. The
porter unlocks the tower-gate that lets out on to the city-road;
servants come and go about their work, drawing water, hanging festive
garlands. At a summons from the King's trumpeters, nobles and burghers
assemble in great number before the Minster. The King's herald
coming out on the Palace-steps makes the following announcements:
Firstly: Banished and outlawed is Friedrich von Telramund, for
having undertaken the ordeal with a knowledge of his own guilt.
Any one sheltering or associating with him shall according to the
law of the realm come under the same condemnation. Secondly: The
King invests the unknown God-sent man, about to espouse Elsa, with
the lands and the crown of Brabant; the hero to be called, according
to his preference, not Duke, but Protector of Brabant. Thirdly: The
Protector will celebrate with them this day his nuptial feast, but
they shall join him tomorrow in battle-trim, to follow, as their
duty is, the King's arms. He himself, renouncing the sweetness of
repose, will lead them to glory.