Richard Wagner
Lohengrin
Act I
Translated by Abigail Dyer © Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved.
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Contents
Setting
Antwerp--First Half of the 10th Century (approx. 933 AD)
Act I, Scene 1
Curtain up. A meadow on the bank of the Scheldt River. King Heinrich sits under the Judgement Oak Tree. At his side are the Saxon counts and nobles of his retinue.
Across from them, stand Brabantian counts and nobles. At their head, Friedrich of Telramund and, at his side, Ortrud. The Herald steps from the King’s retinue Center and at his sign four royal trumpeters play a fanfare.
HERALD Now hear ye, nobles, free men of Brabant!
Heinrich the King of Germany has arrived
To render justice as the law demands.
Will you all freely follow his commands?
MEN OF BRABANT (pounding their weapons)
We all will freely follow his commands!
Oh Sire, accept our welcome to Brabant!
KING (rises)
God bless you, dearest people of Brabant! The reason that I journeyed here today is for the safety of our royal realms. Already you have heard the tribulation that comes from Eastern lands to German soil. The women and the children there are praying, “Lord God, preserve us from the Magyars’ wrath!” But I, because I’m king, must bear the burden to fight this horde and end my people’s suffering. The truce I signed had guaranteed us nine years’ peace. I used those years for our defense. I fortified our citadels and towns, and trained an army to resist our foe. The treaty’s at an end; the peace is o'er. Instead, our enemy prepares for war,
Now we must all protect our kingdom’s honor.
From East and West, together we shall band.
Our German troops will raise the German banner--
None shall humiliate our German lands!
MEN (pounding their weapons)
For God and for our king we’ll fight!
KING (once again, sitting)
I’ve come to call you, brave men of Brabant, to join our fight and march with me to battle. But with no prince to lead the people forth, your house divides against itself and falls. Wild rumors, accusations I have heard. Therefore I call Friedrich of Telramund!
I know you as an honorable man.
So tell me how this awful case began.
FRIEDRICH Thanks be to you, your royal majesty. Come judge me, for I never tell a lie. As dying lay the old duke of Brabant, he chose me as the guardian of his children: Elsa the maiden and Gottfried the young boy. Their guardian true and faithful I’ve been since then. Upon my honor I swore to protect them. But hear now, Sire, of my deepest pain, hear now who robbed me of my honor and the boy.
Blithely one morning Elsa led Gottfried to the woods but alone, without him, she returned. She feigned concern and worry for her brother. She left the boy alone for just a moment, so she said. He vanished with no trace.
Elsa led Gottfried to the woods but alone, without him, she returned
All our attempts to find him came to nothing. I threatened Elsa so she’d tell the truth. Her pale face and fear were her confession--the visible proof of Elsa’s awful crime.
Thus seized with rightful horror of the girl, to whom I’d been betrothed by promise of the duke, I broke it off right then and there and wed the woman who appealed to me:
(he presents Ortrud, who curtsies to the king)
Ortrud, Radbod’s, the Prince of Frisia’s, heir.
(solemnly steps forward)
Now hear the charge I lay on Elsa of Brabant: she killed her brother in cold blood!
This land I claim now for myself, by right, since I’m the next of kin to Brabant’s duke. My wife herself descends from those who ruled as princes once over Brabant’s land.
You’ve heard the charge now, Sire! Judge it well!
MEN The Count speaks of a dreadful crime!
To hear it leaves me horrified!
KING What dreadful accusation do you bring? Would such an act not be unthinkable?
FRIEDRICH Oh Sir, vain and romantic is the girl. She spurned my hand with arrogance and pride. A secret lover, therefore, she must have. She must have thought that once she’d killed her brother, then she could rule as Duchess of Brabant, deny her guardian her hand in marriage and openly consort then with her lover.
KING Call the defendant here!
(Herald solemnly returns to Center)
HERALD Is this to be a trial by power and by might?
KING (hangs his shield solemnly from the Oak)
Unguarded by my royal shield I’ll be,
Till I’ve judged mercifully.
MEN (All the men unsheathe their swords; the Saxons plant them in the ground and the Brabantians lay them flat on the ground in front of themselves.)
And may my sword rest on the ground
Till royal justice has been done.
KING Here where the royal shield hangs high
Will you find justice royal and wise.
I call the prisoner loud and clear:
Elsa, be judged before us here!
Act I, Scene 2
Elsa enters, lingers Upstage then steps forward very slowly and ashamedly Down Center. Women follow her in but remain Upstage, at the outer boundary of the Judgement Circle.
MEN Look there! She comes, the pale prisoner! She seems to shimmer with purity. To level such an accusation, he must be certain of her guilt.
KING Is your name Elsa of Brabant? (she nods) Do you accept me as your judge today? (Elsa turns her head to face the king, looks him in the eye and with a sad gesture, nods yes.) So then I must ask you: Do you know why you are here? What charges have been laid against you?
(Elsa glances and Friedrich and Ortrud and shivers. Shakes her head softly, then nods.)
What’s your answer to these charges? (Elsa gestures “none.”)
So you recognize your guilt? (Elsa stares for a while in front of her, sadly.)
ELSA My poor dead brother!
MEN We wonder at her very strange behavior!
KING Speak, Elsa! What confession will you make? (expectant silence)
ELSA (quietly staring out in front of her)
Lonely and cast in darkness
I prayed that God would know
The whisper of my heart’s wish
The sorrow of my soul.
My soul let out a sigh
As I poured my heart out in prayer;
That sound became a thunderous cry,
Echoing loud throughout the air.
I heard its echo dying,
A murmur in the deep--
My eyes had ceased their crying;
They closed instead in sleep.
MEN She must be enchanted, or does she dream?
KING (as if trying to wake Elsa from a dream)
Elsa, defend yourself before the court!
ELSA (Elsa’s expression changes from dreamy enchantment to passionate transfiguration)
In brightly gleaming armor
Appeared to me a knight.
Such purity and honor,
I’d never seen his like!
A golden horn in his left hand,
A broadsword in his right,
Thus, came to me the bless’d man,
My champion in the fight.
He crossed the space between us,
He spoke consolingly --
I await the knight I dreamed of!
He’ll come and fight for me!
MEN May Heaven favor us with sense
So we’ll know guilt from innocence!
KING Friedrich, you honorable knight,
Are you quite sure you’ve got it right?
FRIEDRICH I won’t be fooled by her dreamy daze. It’s plain, she raves about her lover! The charge is true. I know because I’ve heard eyewitness testimony to the crime. But to assuage your doubts and bring the witness here would offend my pride and my good name!
Here I am; here’s my sword! Which one of you would dare to test my honor in a fight?
MEN Not one of us! We only fight for you!
FRIEDRICH And, Sire, you! Remember well my service in battle, how I fought the wild Danes?
KING How sad if I should ever need reminding! Well you deserve each honor that you’ve won, and only in your hands would I entrust the safekeeping of Brabant. God alone must judge this case and render His own verdict!
MEN Let God be the judge! Let God be the judge! Let God!
KING (takes his sword and plants it in the ground in front of him)
Answer me, Friedrich, Count of Telramund. Will you be tried by combat to the death with God as the judge of all that you have charged here?
FRIEDRICH Yes!
KING Now you must answer, Elsa of Brabant. Will you be tried by combat to the death with God as your judge and someone as your champion?
ELSA (without looking up)
Yes!
KING Which knight will be your champion?
FRIEDRICH She’ll say the name now of her secret lover!
BRABANTIAN MEN Listen well!
ELSA (still in a state of passionate transfiguration; everyone watches her expectantly)
Hear ye what gifts I pass to
This man God will send down:
Here in my father’s castle
His head will wear the crown.
My goods I will entrust him.
I’ll love him all my life!
If I may call him husband
I’ll be his faithful wife!
MEN A pretty prize --if it is God’s to give!
He who fights for it has more to lose than win!
KING The sun is high. It’s noon already. This is the time to call out far and wide!
HERALD (steps forward with four trumpeters who turn and disperse to the four corners of the stage to send their call)
Who in this trial by combat comes to fight for Elsa of Brabant? Let him come forth! Let him come forth!
Elsa, who until this point has been patiently waiting, becomes increasingly worried.
MEN We hear no answer to the call. This is not going well for her.
FRIEDRICH Observe, was my accusation false? My cause is right, as God confirms.
ELSA (approaches the King)
Beloved Sire, may I ask you for one more call to find my champion, that he’ll hear if he’s far away?
KING (to the Herald)
Give one more call for Justice’s sake!
At the Herald’s sign, the trumpeters repeat their call.
HERALD Who in this trial by combat comes to fight for Elsa of Brabant? Let him come forth! Let him come forth!
MEN In somber silence, God has judged!
Elsa kneels in fervent prayer. The women gather worriedly around their Lady, coming a bit further downstage.
ELSA I trust in You and trust in Your Word.
At Your command, he came to me,
O God, now bring my champion forward
To help me in my hour of need.
WOMEN God! Send Your help to her!
Lord God! Hear our plea!
ELSA Let him appear to one and all,
To one and all,
Oh, hear my call!
Chorus I spots Lohengrin approaching the riverbank. He approaches on a small boat drawn by a swan.
MEN Look! Look! What a wondrous, strange thing! What? A swan? A swan pulling a raft up to our shore? A knight stands there! Ha! A knight stands upon it proud and tall! He holds a gleaming sword! A knight comes! Look, a knight comes! Look, there’s a knight! A swan?
Chorus II, Downstage and so further from the riverbank, react with curiosity. Chorus members gradually leave their spots to walk Upstage and see for themselves.
What? A swan? I scarcely can believe my eyes! Look, the raft draws close to our shore! He’s coming over here --Look, a knight comes! Look! There! Look, now the knight comes ever close. Look! Now he’s coming here! Truly, a knight comes here!
The last of the Chorus members have gone Upstage. Remaining Downstage are the King, Elsa, Friedrich, Ortrud and the Women.
And there’s a golden chain around the swan! Look! They come closer, ever closer to the shore! Look there! He comes!
Everyone returns Downstage, astonished.
From his raised chair, the King can see all of the action. Friedrich and Ortrud are frozen in horror; Elsa, who with increasing joy has been listening to the Men, stays Center facing Down, not trusting herself to turn around.
A miracle, a miracle, a miracle has happened, a most astounding miracle, a most astounding and confounding miracle!
ELSA Ah! (Elsa has turned and seen Lohengrin--this is her scream of recognition)
WOMEN (kneeling)
Thank you, Lord our God, who protects the defenseless!
Act I, Scene 3
The raft pulled by the Swan has arrived Upstage Center on the bank. Lohengrin, in shining silver armor, helmet on his head and shield at his back, a golden horn at his side, stands inside the raft, leaning on his sword. Friedrich looks at him in speechless astonishment. Ortrud, who’d had a cold, proud demeanor during the denunciation, receives a deadly shock at the sight of the Swan.
Lohengrin, in shining silver armor...stands inside the raft
CHORUS A hero who’s been sent by God! Welcome here, God has sent you! Welcome to Brabant!
As soon as Lohengrin begins to step off the boat, everyone falls into a tense silence.
LOHENGRIN Depart with thanks, beloved swan!
Float on the waiting waves of the tide;
Float back there to our happy home.
When I return, you’ll bring us joy!
Well and true, your duty’s done.
Swan swims back in the direction it came. Lohengrin looks mournfully after him.
Farewell, farewell, beloved Swan!
CHORUS We’re seized with holy fear--
What wondrous power leaves us dazed?
Lohengrin leaves the riverbank and steps solemnly Downstage
What handsome, noble man comes here?
His miraculous entrance leaves us amazed!
LOHENGRIN (bows to the King)
Hail, King Heinrich!
Evermore may God keep you victorious!
May God our Lord keep your good name on Earth forever glorious!
KING Praise be, and welcome to this land,
to which you must have been dispatched
By God our Lord Omnipotent.
LOHENGRIN To champion a defenseless maid
Who’s charged with murder of her kin,
I have been sent. Now she must say
If I do right to fight and win:
turns to Elsa
So tell me, Elsa of Brabant--
If I defend you before God,
Will you trust without fear or fright
In my protection and my might?
ELSA (who has been motionless, as if enchanted, since Lohengrin’s arrival, awakes and sinks to his feet, overcome with joy)
My rescuing hero! All I am
I will entrust into your hand.
LOHENGRIN If I should win this battle for you
Is it your will to marry me?
ELSA Just as I kneel here and adore you,
Body and soul, I pledge you free.
LOHENGRIN Elsa, if I’m to be your bridegroom,
Shield of your land and people be,
And ne’er be separated from you,
There’s one thing you must promise me:
That you will never doubt me
And never ask about me
From where and how I came,
And never ask my name!
ELSA Oh sir! I’ll never ask the question!
LOHENGRIN Elsa! Did you pay close attention?
Promise you’ll never doubt me
And never ask about me
From where and how I came
And never ask my name!
ELSA My shield, my angel, my salvation
Who knows my innocence is true,
Who’d suffer greater condemnation
Than one who breaks her faith with you?
Just as you shield me with your hand,
I pledge to honor your command!
LOHENGRIN (bring Elsa into an embrace)
Elsa! My one true love!
CHORUS What kind of marvel do I see?
What magic spell is cast on me?
My heart begins to palpitate
When it beholds this hero great.
LOHENGRIN (places Elsa in the King’s charge and steps solemnly into the center of the Judgement Circle)
Now hear, all you assembled. I’ll be blunt:
Free of all guilt is Elsa of Brabant.
You’ve falsely charged her, Count of Telramund.
Through God’s own verdict, you’ll see what I meant.
BRABANTIAN NOBLES (to Friedrich)
Give up! Go home! If you should dare
To face him it will bring despair!
If he’s protected from on high
What good will it do you to fight?
Give up, we loyally suggest!
Avoid defeat and bitterest regret!
FRIEDRICH (who has watched Lohengrin like a hawk since his arrival and has been in a state of terrible indecision, makes up his mind)
I’d rather die than quit!
Whatever magic brought you here,
Stranger with your special powers,
Your threats are meaningless, it’s clear.
I’m not a liar or a coward.
I’ll fight you for my honor’s cause
And hope for victory by our laws!
LOHENGRIN So, Sire, let the battle start!
KING I call three men to stand for each combatant and mark the boundaries of the battle ground.
Three Saxon nobles come forward for Lohengrin; three Brabantians for Friedrich. They measure off the battle space by paces and mark it off by planting their spears in the ground.
HERALD I’ll make the rules of combat clear:
Let no one try to interfere!
The battle space is out of bounds!
Who disrespects the battle ground
Shall have his strong right hand cut off,
Or, if a serf, his head will be lost!
CHORUS He’ll have his s strong right hand cut off
Or, if a serf, his head will be lost!
HERALD Now listen, you who are to fight:
Respect the law and do what’s right!
Let no black magic or deceit
Influence victory or defeat!
God judges rightfully and well
So trust in him and not yourselves!
LOHENGRIN AND FRIEDRICH (standing on either side of the battle space)
God judges rightfully and well.
I’ll trust in him, not in myself!
KING (moving solemnly to Center)
Oh Lord my God, I call you here.
(all bow their heads in reverence)
Come send your presence to this fight.
By victory make your verdict clear,
That falsehood may be known from right.
Give power to the hero’s arm
But let the liar’s strength be gone!
Oh help us, God,
Wise judgement send,
For we are only
Foolish men.
ELSA AND LOHENGRIN Now Heaven’s justice You’ll allot.
I trust You, Lord, and falter not.
FRIEDRICH I trust that justice You’ll allot.
Lord God, forsake my honor not.
ORTRUD I trust his sword to be my shield.
He’ll win the fight; he’ll never yield.
MEN Give power to the hero’s arm
But let the liar’s strength be gone.
Your justice, Lord, You’ll now allot.
Oh hear us, Lord, and falter not!
WOMEN Oh Lord my God, favor him!
Everyone watches with rapt attention. The six witnesses remain at the outer edge of the battle space, by their spears. Elsa, the Women and the King Downstage by the Oak. At the Herald’s signal, the trumpeters sound the battle call. The King draws his sword and strikes it on his shield, still hanging from the Oak, three times. The battle begins. Lohengrin strikes Friedrich down with a single, mighty blow. Friedrich tries to stand again, stumbles a few steps and falls back down.
King removes his shield from the Oak. All Men take their swords from the ground and raise them in celebration. Elsa hurries to Lohengrin.
Lohengrin strikes Friedrich down with a single, mighty blow
LOHENGRIN (his sword at Friedrich’s throat)
By God’s decree, your life is in my hands --
(sheaths sword)
So live, and take this chance to make amends!
KING, WOMEN AND MEN (King and Men sheath their swords; a crowd of Men joyfully enters the battle space)
Praise! Victory! Praise!
ELSA AND WOMEN If I could find the hymn that’s
Worthy of your deed
I’d joyfully sing it
On humbly bended knee.
ELSA I melt under your gaze,
Dissolve and disappear,
So make me happy always;
Take all that I hold dear.
LOHENGRIN My victory was won through
Your purest innocence.
May all you have gone through
Bring joyful recompense.
FRIEDRICH Oh, this is God’s damnation --
I’m crushed and in defeat,
Despairing of salvation,
Disgraced, dishonored, beat.
ORTRUD (furious at Friedrich’s defeat; keeps her sinister eyes fixed on Lohengrin)
Who brought him down? Damnation!
Who caused my man’s defeat?
Immune to my machination,
Does this man have us beat?
KING AND MEN Oh sing with jubilation,
Sing songs of praise and celebration.
Great be your fame,
Praise be, you won here!
Great be your name!
Praise be, you’ve come here!
KING, MEN AND WOMEN Shield of the blameless,
You did appear
And save the blameless.
Praise be, you won here!
Great be your name!
Only to you do we
Sing our songs and give our praises!
Such great heroic deeds
We will remember always!
Young men carry Lohengrin on his shield and Elsa on the King’s shield, which they lined for her with several cloaks, and carry them Off, rejoicing. Friedrich collapses unconscious at Ortrud’s feet.
ACT I CURTAIN