1. Gudrun, widow of Sigurd and Atli.
2. Swanhild, daughter of Gudrun by Sigurd.
3. Jonakur, Gudrun's third husband.
4. Sörli, }
5. Hamthir, } sons of Gudrun and Jonakur.
6. Erp, }
7. Jormunrek (Eormanric).
8. Randver, son of Jormunrek.
Jormunrek hears of the beauty of Swanhild and sends his son Randver to
seek her out for him in marriage. Gudrun consents; on the way Randver
is incited by the traitor Bicci to betray Swanhild, and is then accused
by him to the king. For this treachery Jormunrek hangs Randver and
causes Swanhild to be trampled to death by wild horses. Then the three
sons of Gudrun set out to avenge their sister. On the way his two
brothers kill Erp, and are consequently unable to kill Jormunrek. They
only succeed in maiming him.
Saxo Grammaticus, to whom we also owe the story of Hamlet, tells a
similar story.