These proclamations are followed by general assent and gladness.
A small group there is, however, of malcontents, former adherents
of Telramund's, who grumble: "Hear that! He is to remove us out of
the country, against an enemy who has never so much as threatened
us! Such a bold beginning is ill-beseeming. Who will stand up against
him when he is in command?"--"I will!" comes from a muffled figure
that has crept among them, and Friedrich uncovers his countenance.
"How dare you venture here, in danger as you are from the hand of
every churl?" they ask him, frightened. "I shall dare and venture
more than this ere long, and the scales will drop from your eyes.
He who presumptuously calls you forth to war, I will accuse him of
treason in the things of God." The Brabantian gentlemen, afraid
of his being overheard or recognised, conceal the rash lord among
them, and compel him toward the church, out of sight.

Forerunners of the wedding-procession, young pages come from the
Kemenate, and clear a way through the crowd to the church-door. A
long train of ladies walk before the bride. There are happy cheers
when she appears, dazzling in her wedding-pomp; there are blessings
and the natural expressions of devotion from loyal subjects. The
pages and ladies stand massed at either side of the Minster-door
to give their mistress precedence in entering. She is slowly, with
bashful lowered eyes, mounting the stairs, when Ortrud, who in
magnificent apparel has been following in her train, steps quickly
before her, with the startling command, given in a furious voice:
"Back, Elsa! I will no longer endure to follow you like a serving-maid!
Everywhere shall you yield me precedence, and with proper deference
bow before me!" This is, we believe, no part of any deep-laid plan
of Ortrud's, though it does in the event help along her scheme; it
is an uncontrollable outburst of temper at sight of Elsa in her
eminence of bridal and ducal glory. "What does the woman mean?"
ask the people of one another, and step between Elsa and her. "What
is this?" cries Elsa, painfully startled; "What sudden change has
taken place in you?"--"Because for an hour I forgot my proper worth,"
Radbot's daughter continues violently, "do you think that I am
fit only to crawl before you? I will take measures to wipe out
my abasement. That which is due to me I am determined to
receive!"--"Woe's me!" complains Elsa, "Was I duped by your feigning,
when you stole to me l