But Tannhaeuser sat as one spellbound, until all at once, deeply overcome, he fell upon his knees. Ah, where could _he_ look for pardon for _his_ sins? The memory of all that ill-spent time in the Venusburg rushed upon him. Could he pray to the God whom he had forgotten? Tears choked his voice, and although a prayer arose from his heart it found no utterance. He lay prone upon the ground, weeping bitterly. The song of the pilgrims, the measured tread of their feet, grew faint and still fainter. It died away in the distance. Quiet ruled the peaceful valley again, for even the shepherd boy had gathered his flock and gone silently away. Soon, however, the cheery sound of hunters' horns and the answering bay of dogs broke the silence. A moment later, a pack of dogs ran down the forest path from the Wartburg, followed by the Landgrave Herman and his Knights, all clad in hunting dress. Seeing the figure of a knight lying upon the ground, their curiosity was at once aroused. One of the party, Sir Wolfram, ran hastily forward. A single glance was enough. "Tannhaeuser!" he cried. "Is it you?" Tannhaeuser arose hastily, striving to control his emotion and bowed mutely to the Landgrave. At first the Knights were uncertain whether he had come back as friend or foe. But his humble, downcast looks soon spoke for him. So they welcomed him gladly into their midst. But Tannhaeuser was loath to stay. He knew that if once the Knights learned where he had been, they would shrink from him in horror. Looking into their friendly faces, he was overwhelmed with disgust for all that wicked time in the Venusburg. He longed to fly from their sight. Since he would not listen to the entreaties of the Landgrave and his Knights, Sir Wolfram, Tannhaeuser's old friend, added his plea: "Have you forgotten Elizabeth?" he asked. "Elizabeth!" Tannhaeuser exclaimed in a tone of awe,--Elizabeth, the beautiful Princess, whose name he had forgotten--what of her? Then Wolfram, speaking softly,--for he loved the beautiful princess also,--told Tannhaeuser all. He told of that rare prize--the Princess's love--which had remained constant during Tannhaeuser's long absence. Many Knights had striven to win her, but she had remained true to the one who had gone away. While Tannhaeuser had strayed in distant lands, she had stayed in her bower saddened and alone, never gracing the tournaments with her presence, never coming forth to witness joust or tourney. Would he forsake a love like that? Deeply touched, Tannhaeuser listened until the end. Then the light of a great joy and a great hope illumined his face. If Elizabeth, the proud Princess, had not forgotten him, perhaps he might still continue as a Minstrel Knight in the Wartburg. "Lead me to her," he cried,--"to her." So the Landgrave sounded his horn, and to the lively baying of the dogs and the joyous song of the Knights the whole party proceeded to the Wartburg. II