nature that your lip must keep it from the
whole world? Disaster perhaps would overtake you, were it openly
published. If this were so, and if you would tell it to me, would
place your secret in my power, oh, never by any violence should
it be torn from me, for you I would go to death!" The bridegroom
cannot but be touched by such devoted gallant words from the fairest
lips. Off guard, he murmurs fondly, "Beloved!"--"Oh, make me proud
by your confidence, that I may not so deeply feel my unworthiness!"
she pleads, eagerly following up the advantage of his not having
yet remonstrated; "Let me know your secret, that I may see plainly
who you are!" Wilfully deaf to his imploring, "Hush, Elsa!" more
and more urgently she presses: "To my faithfulness reveal your
whole noble worth! Without fear of regret, tell me whence you came.
I will prove to you how strong in silence I can be!"

Her words, all at once, their significance penetrating fully, have
brought a change in him. Gravely he moves apart from her, and his
voice is for a moment stern as well as sorrowful: "Highest confidence
already have I shown you, placing trust as I unhesitatingly did in
your oath. If you will never depart from the command you swore to
observe, high above all women shall I deem you worthy of honour."
But he cannot continue in that tone, the altogether human bridegroom.
At sight of the pained look his severity has produced, he goes
quickly again to her, he makes instant reparation for his momentary
harshness. "Come to my breast, you sweet, you white one!" he profusely
caresses and consoles; "Be close to the warmth of my heart! Bend
upon me the soft light of your eye in which I saw foreshining my
whole happiness!..." And just to satisfy her so far as he can,
to prove still further his great love, he proceeds: "Oh, greatly
must your love compensate me for that which I relinquished for
your sake! No destiny in God's wide world could be esteemed nobler
than mine. If the King should offer me his crown, with good right I
might reject it. The only thing which can repay me for my sacrifice,
I must look for it in your love. Then cast doubt aside forever. Let
your love be my proud security! For I came to you from no obscure
and miserable lot. From splendour and joy am I come to you!" Oh,
the ill-inspired speech! What he dreamed must unite closer, in the
momentary mood of the incalculable feminine being he is dealing
with, divides further. The thought is insta