accustomed to rely upon Divine aid in every need, sinks upon his
knees, and is rapt in silent prayer. Suddenly a beam of heavenly
light streams down upon his upturned face, and the white dove
of the Holy Grail is seen hovering over his head. Lohengrin,
perceiving it, springs to his feet, looses the golden chain
which binds the swan to the skiff, and as the snowy bird sinks
out of sight a fair young knight in silver armour rises out of
the stream. Then all perceive that he is in truth, as Lohengrin
proclaims, the missing Godfrey of Brabant, released from bondage
by the power of the Holy Grail. Elsa embraces her brother with
joy, the king and nobles gladly welcome him, and Ortrud sinks
fainting to the ground. Lohengrin, seeing that his beloved has
now a protector, springs into the skiff, whose chain is caught
by the dove, and rapidly drawn out of sight. As it vanishes,
Elsa sinks lifeless to the ground with a last passionate cry of
'My husband!' and all gaze mournfully after him, for they know
they will never see Lohengrin, the Swan Knight, again.




[Illustration: TRISTAN'S DEATH.]


TRISTAN AND YSOLDE.


It was in 1854, when still an exile from his native land, that
Wagner, weary of his long work, 'The Ring of the Niblungs,'
of which only the first two parts were completed, conceived