e of a mighty king of those days, and his son was
called Randver. Now this king called his son to talk with him, and said,
"Thou shalt fare on an errand of mine to King Jonakr, with my counsellor
Bikki, for with King Jonakr is nourished Swanhild, the daughter of
Sigurd Fafnir's-bane; and I know for sure that she is the fairest may
dwelling under the sun of this world; her above all others would I have
to my wife, and thou shalt go woo her for me."

Randver answered, "Meet and right, fair lord, that I should go on thine
errands."

So the king set forth this journey in seemly wise, and they fare till
they come to King Jonakr's abode, and behold Swanhild, and have many
thoughts concerning the treasure of her goodliness.

But on a day Randver called the king to talk with him, and said,
"Jormunrek the King would fain be thy brother-in-law, for he has heard
tell of Swanhild, and his desire it is to have her to wife, nor may it
be shown that she may be given to any mightier man than he is one."

The King says, "This is an alliance of great honour, for a man of fame
he is."

Gudrun says, "A wavering trust, the trust in luck that it change not!"

Yet because of the king's furthering, and all the matters that went
herewith, is the wooing accomplished; and Swanhild went to the ship with
a goodly company, and sat in the stern beside the king's son.

Then spake Bikki to Randver, "How good and right it were if thou thyself
had to wife so lovely a woman rather than the old man there."

Good seemed that word to the heart of the king's son, and he spake to
her with sweet words, and she to him in like wise.

So they came aland and go unto the king, and Bikki said unto him, "Meet
and right it is, lord, that thou shouldst know what is befallen, though
hard it be to tell of, for the tale must be concerning thy beguiling,
whereas thy son has gotten to him the full love of Swanhild, nor is she
other than his harlot; but thou, let not the deed be unavenged."

Now many an ill rede had he given the king or this, but of all his ill
redes did this sting home the most; and still would the king hearken
to all his evil redes; wherefore he, who might nowise still the wrath
within him, cried out that Randver should be taken and tied up to the
gallows-tree.

And as he was led to the gallows he took his hawk and plucked the
feathers from off it, and bade show it to his father; and when the king
saw it, then he said, "Now may folk behold that