The Swan Knight on the Rhine

 Elsa of Brabant mourned inside the Castle of Cleves' dungeon at Nymwegen. Her father, Duke of Brabant, had appointed his powerful vassal Frederick of Telramund as her guardian. Frederick abused the lord's confidence and demanded that she become his wife. He threw her into prison until the wedding, knowing no one would dispute his action.

An appeal made in Elsa's behalf went to the Emperor, Henry I who decreed she should choose a champion to have the matter settled by combat.

In accordance with the Emperor's degree, Teleramund sent out a herald to proclaim his readiness to do battle with anyone. No knight came forward to match his skill against Frederick, a giant in stature and expert in swordplay.

On the bridal day no challenge had arrived. Behind her prison bars, Elsa wept and called upon the Virgin to save her from the threatened fate. She beat her breast with a chapel bell. Possessing magical properties, when rung, the bell's sound appeared faint at first, like a fairy lure. It grew in volume the farther it travelled. Eventually it resembled the swelling of an almighty chorus.

Far away over hill and dale went the sound growing richer and louder. Eventually it reached the temple where Parsifal and his knights guarded the Holy Grail. To them it seemed the notes contained an appeal for help directed to the Holy vessel over which they kept vigil.

Suddenly, a loud mysterious voice bid Parsifal to send his son, Lohengrin to rescue Elsa of Brabant.The knights recognized the voice of the Holy Grail. Lohengrin must take her for his wife without revealing his identity.

When Lohengrin reached she shores of the Rhine he found a boat drawn by a stately swan. Taking it as a sign from Heaven, he rode the swam boat on the Rhine to the sound of the music.

On the wedding day to her tyrant, Elsa heard the melodies and saw the swan-drawn boat with a sleeping knight. He awakened and stepped ashore. He found her face behind the prison bars, knelt and begged she would take him for her champion. A blast of trumpet followed and he challenged Telramund to take up arms on behalf of Elsa of Brabant. This enraged Telramund but he could not refuse.

News of the combat reached the people of Cleves and they gathered to witness the event in sympathy for the persecuted maiden.

Fierce combat ensued. Lohengrin, though not built like his gigantic opponent, was tall and strong and well-versed in the arts of war. One sword-stroke well-aimed he laid his enemy to dust. With combat over, Elsa went free.

As Lohengrin knelt before Elsa. she asked him to name his reward. He begged her hand in marriage. He requested that she did not question his identity. It seems a small condition to Elsa who promised to restrain her curiosity about his name and place of abode. Cheers went up when they learned that Elsa would marry the swan knight.

They had three sons. In time she worried that her sons did not have permission to bear their father's name.

She brooded until it fanned into open rebellion. So Elsa reproached her husband about his secrecy and begged for him to reveal his name and station for their sons' benefit.

"Oh Elsa," he said,  "Thy promise is broken and today I must leave thee forever."  He blew a blast on his silver horn.

Elsa repented her rash words. With tears and pleadings in vain, she heard the exquisite strains of music which had first heralded her lover's approach when from the window of the castle she spied the swan boat drawing toward the shore.

Lohengrin gave his children his sword, his horn, and his ring, bidding them never to separate or lose these legacies. He entered the boat which returned for him and vanished forever.

Her sons became brave knights worthy of the proud name they bore as Elsa mourned the loss of her beloved husband.



How might Elsa have used her creativity and magical music to regain her husband?