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 he
deemeth my honour to be gone away from me, even as the feathers
of this hawk;" and therewith he bade deliver him from the
gallows.
But in that while had Bikki wrought his will, and Randver was
dead-slain.
Ane, moreover, Bikki spake, "Against none hast thou more wrongs
to avenge thee of than against Swanhild; let her die a shameful
death."
"Yea," said the king, "we will do after thy counsel."
So she was bound in the gate of the burg, and horse were driven
at her to tread her down; but when she opened her eyes wide, then
the horses durst not trample her; so when Bikki beheld that, he
bade draw a bag over the head of her; and they did so, and
therewith she lost her life. (1)
ENDNOTES
(1) In the prose Edda the slaying of Swanhild is a spontaneous
and sudden act on the part of the king.
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