Act I. _Guntram_ has been brought up to manhood as pupil of the

religious knightly Band of the Good. This band has set for itself the realization of the Christian idea of love for the soul. The brotherly union of all men, who shall be brought through love to world peace is the aim of the band, the noble art of song its means of obtaining recruits. _Guntram_ seems to his teacher _Friedhold_ ready for the great work and so he is assigned to a difficult task. The _Old Duke_ has given the hand of his daughter _Freihild_, and also his estate, to _Duke Robert_. The latter, the only one of the powerful tyrants left, through his oppression had so stirred up the peaceful people that they rose against his rule. Then he had put down the rising cruelly and had burdened the unfortunate people so heavily that they were thinking of leaving their homes. _Freihild_ most deeply sympathizes with the people and had given her hand to the _Duke_ only unwillingly, and she seeks in the happiness of the people consolation for her loveless life. But the _Duke_ has forbidden her this work of love and she seeks release from life in a voluntary death in the waters of the lake. _Guntram_ rescues her. The _Old Duke_, out of gratitude for saving his daughter, promises pardon to the rebels and invites the singer to the feast that is to be given in the ducal palace in celebration of the putting down of the rebellion.