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@@ -0,0 +1,2910 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Life and Death of Cormac the Skald, by Unknown + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Life and Death of Cormac the Skald + Anonymous Icelandic Epic, 1250-1300 A.D., Although Parts + may be Based on a now Lost 12th Century Saga + +Author: Unknown + +Translator: W.G. Collingwood and J. Stefansson + +Release Date: July 3, 2008 [EBook #265] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE AND DEATH OF CORMAC *** + + + + +Produced by Doublas B. Killings + + + + + +LIFE AND DEATH OF CORMAC THE SKALD + +By Unknown Author + + +Originally written in Icelandic sometime between 1250 - 1300 A.D. +although parts may be based on a now lost 12th century saga. + +Translation by W.G. Collingwood & J. Stefansson (Ulverston, 1901). + + + + + +CHAPTER ONE. Cormac's Fore-Elders. + +Harald Fairhair was king of Norway when this tale begins. There was a +chief in the kingdom in those days and his name was Cormac; one of the +Vik-folk by kindred, a great man of high birth. He was the mightiest of +champions, and had been with King Harald in many battles. + +He had a son called Ogmund, a very hopeful lad; big and sturdy even as a +child; who when he was grown of age and come to his full strength, took +to sea-roving in summer and served in the king's household in winter. So +he earned for himself a good name and great riches. + +One summer he went roving about the British Isles and there he fell in +with a man named Asmund Ashenside, who also was a great champion and had +worsted many vikings and men of war. These two heard tell of one another +and challenges passed between them. They came together and fought. +Asmund had the greater following, but he withheld some of his men from +the battle: and so for the length of four days they fought, until many +of Asmund's people were fallen, and at last he himself fled. Ogmund won +the victory and came home again with wealth and worship. + +His father said that he could get no greater glory in war,--"And now," +said he, "I will find thee a wife. What sayest thou to Helga, daughter +of Earl Frodi?" + +"So be it," said Ogmund. + +Upon this they set off to Earl Frodi's house, and were welcomed with all +honour. They made known their errand, and he took it kindly, although +he feared that the fight with Asmund was likely to bring trouble. +Nevertheless this match was made, and then they went their ways home. +A feast was got ready for the wedding and to that feast a very great +company came together. + +Helga the daughter of Earl Frodi had a nurse that was a wise woman, and +she went with her. Now Asmund the viking heard of this marriage, and set +out to meet Ogmund. He bade him fight, and Ogmund agreed. + +Helga's nurse used to touch men when they went to fight: so she did with +Ogmund before he set out from home, and told him that he would not be +hurt much. + +Then they both went to the fighting holm and fought. The viking laid +bare his side, but the sword would not bite upon it. Then Ogmund whirled +about his sword swiftly and shifted it from hand to hand, and hewed +Asmund's leg from under him: and three marks of gold he took to let him +go with his life. + + + + +CHAPTER TWO. How Cormac Was Born and Bred. + +About this time King Harald Fairhair died, and Eric Bloodaxe reigned in +his stead. Ogmund would have no friendship with Eric, nor with Gunnhild, +and made ready his ship for Iceland. + +Nor Ogmund and Helga had a son called Frodi: but when the ship was +nearly ready, Helga took a sickness and died; and so did their son +Frodi. + +After that, they sailed to sea. When they were near the land, Ogmund +cast overboard his high-seat-pillars; and where the high-seat-pillars +had already been washed ashore, there they cast anchor, and landed in +Midfiord. + +At this time Skeggi of Midfiord ruled the countryside. He came riding +toward them and bade them welcome into the firth, and gave them the +pick of the land: which Ogmund took, and began to mark out ground for +a house. Now it was a belief of theirs that as the measuring went, so +would the luck go: if the measuring-wand seemed to grow less when they +tried it again and again, so would that house's luck grow less: and if +it grew greater, so would the luck be. This time the measure always grew +less, though they tried it three times over. + +So Ogmund built him a house on the sandhills, and lived there ever +after. He married Dalla, the daughter of Onund the Seer, and their sons +were Thorgils and Cormac. Cormac was dark-haired, with a curly lock upon +his forehead: he was bright of blee and somewhat like his mother, big +and strong, and his mood was rash and hasty. Thorgils was quiet and easy +to deal with. + +When the brothers were grown up, Ogmund died; and Dalla kept house with +her sons. Thorgils worked the farm, under the eye of Midfiord-Skeggi. + + + + +CHAPTER THREE. How Cormac Fell In Love. + +There was a man named Thorkel lived at Tunga (Tongue). He was a wedded +man, and had a daughter called Steingerd who was fostered in Gnupsdal +(Knipedale). + +Now it was one autumn that a whale came ashore at Vatnsnes (Watsness), +and it belonged to the brothers, Dalla's sons. Thorgils asked Cormac +would he rather go shepherding on the fell, or work at the whale. He +chose to fare on the fell with the house-carles. + +Tosti, the foreman, it was should be master of the sheep-gathering: so +he and Cormac went together until they came to Gnupsdal. It was night: +there was a great hall, and fires for men to sit at. + +That evening Steingerd came out of her bower, and a maid with her. Said +the maid, "Steingerd mine, let us look at the guests." + +"Nay," she said, "no need": and yet went to the door, and stepped on the +threshold, and spied across the gate. Now there was a space between the +wicker and the threshold, and her feet showed through. Cormac saw that, +and made this song:-- + + (1) + "At the door of my soul she is standing, + So sweet in the gleam of her garment: + Her footfall awakens a fury, + A fierceness of love that I knew not, + Those feet of a wench in her wimple, + Their weird is my sorrow and troubling, + --Or naught may my knowledge avail me-- + Both now and for aye to endure." + +Then Steingerd knew she was seen. She turned aside into a corner +where the likeness of Hagbard was carved on the wall, and peeped under +Hagbard's beard. Then the firelight shone upon her face. + +"Cormac," said Tosti, "seest eyes out yonder by that head of Hagbard?" + +Cormac answered in song:-- + + (2) + "There breaks on me, burning upon me, + A blaze from the cheeks of a maiden, + --I laugh not to look on the vision-- + In the light of the hall by the doorway. + So sweet and so slender I deem her, + Though I spy bug a glimpse of an ankle + By the threshold:--and through me there flashes + A thrill that shall age never more." + +And then he made another song:-- + + (3) + "The moon of her brow, it is beaming + 'Neath the bright-litten heaven of her forehead: + So she gleams in her white robe, and gazes + With a glance that is keen as the falcon's. + But the star that is shining upon me + What spell shall it work by its witchcraft? + Ah, that moon of her brow shall be mighty + With mischief to her--and to me?" + +Said Tosti, "She is fairly staring at thee!"--And he answered:-- + + (4) + "She's a ring-bedight oak of the ale-cup, + And her eyes never left me unhaunted. + The strife in my heart I could hide not, + For I hold myself bound in her bondage. + O gay in her necklet, and gainer + In the game that wins hearts on her chessboard,-- + When she looked at me long from the doorway + Where the likeness of Hagbard is carved." + +Then the girls went into the hall, and sat down. He heard what they said +about his looks,--the maid, that he was black and ugly, and Steingerd, +that he was handsome and everyway as best could be,--"There is only +one blemish," said she, "his hair is tufted on his forehead:"--and he +said:-- + + (5) + "One flaw in my features she noted + --With the flame of the wave she was gleaming + All white in the wane of the twilight-- + And that one was no hideous blemish. + So highborn, so haughty a lady + --I should have such a dame to befriend me: + But she trows me uncouth for a trifle, + For a tuft in the hair on my brow!" + +Said the maid, "Black are his eyes, sister, and that becomes him not." +Cormac heard her, and said in verse:-- + + (6) + "Yes, black are the eyes that I bring ye, + O brave in your jewels, and dainty. + But a draggle-tail, dirty-foot slattern + Would dub me ill-favoured and sallow. + Nay, many a maiden has loved me, + Thou may of the glittering armlet: + For I've tricks of the tongue to beguile them + And turn them from handsomer lads." + +At this house they spent the night. In the morning when Cormac rose up, +he went to a trough and washed himself; then he went into the ladies' +bower and saw nobody there, but heard folk talking in the inner room, +and he turned and entered. There was Steingerd, and women with her. + +Said the maid to Steingerd, "There comes thy bonny man, Steingerd." + +"Well, and a fine-looking lad he is," said she. + +Now she was combing her hair, and Cormac asked her, "Wilt thou give me +leave?" + +She reached out her comb for him to handle it. She had the finest hair +of any woman. Said the maid, "Ye would give a deal for a wife with hair +like Steingerd's, or such eyes!" + +He answered:-- + + (7) + "One eye of the far of the ale-horn + Looking out of a form so bewitching, + Would a bridegroom count money to buy it + He must bring for it ransom three hundred. + The curls that she combs of a morning, + White-clothed in fair linen and spotless, + They enhance the bright hoard of her value,-- + Five hundred might barely redeem them!" + +Said the maid, "It's give and take with the two of ye! But thou'lt put a +big price upon the whole of her!" He answered:-- + + (8) + "The tree of my treasure and longing, + It would take this whole Iceland to win her: + She is dearer than far-away Denmark, + And the doughty domain of the Hun-folk. + With the gold she is combing, I count her + More costly than England could ransom: + So witty, so wealthy, my lady + Is worth them,--and Ireland beside!" + +Then Tosti came in, and called Cormac out to some work or other; but he +said:-- + + (9) + "Take my swift-footed steel for thy tiding, + Ay, and stint not the lash to him, Tosti: + On the desolate downs ye may wander + And drive him along till he weary. + I care not o'er mountain and moorland + The murrey-brown weathers to follow,-- + Far liefer, I'd linger the morning + In long, cosy chatter with Steingerd." + +Tosti said he would find it a merrier game, and went off; so Cormac sat +down to chess, and right gay he was. Steingerd said he talked better +than folk told of; and he sat there all the day; and then he made this +song:-- + + (10) + "'Tis the dart that adorneth her tresses, + The deep, dewy grass of her forehead. + So kind to my keeping she gave it, + That good comb I shall ever remember! + A stranger was I when I sought her + --Sweet stem with the dragon's hoard shining--" + With gold like the sea-dazzle gleaming-- + The girl I shall never forget." + +Tosti came off the fell and they fared home. After that Cormac used to +go to Gnupsdal often to see Steingerd: and he asked his mother to make +him good clothes, so that Steingerd might like him the most that could +be. Dalla said there was a mighty great difference betwixt them, and it +was far from certain to end happily if Thorkel at Tunga got to know. + + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. How Cormac Liked Black-Puddings. + +Well Thorkel soon heard what was going forward, and thought it would +turn out to his own shame and his daughter's if Cormac would not pledge +himself to take her or leave her. So he sent for Steingerd, and she went +home. + +Thorkel had a man called Narfi, a noisy, foolish fellow, boastful, and +yet of little account. Said he to Thorkel, "If Cormac's coming likes +thee not, I can soon settle it." + +"Very well," says Thorkel. + +Now, in the autumn, Narfi's work it was to slaughter the sheep. Once, +when Cormac came to Tunga, he saw Steingerd in the kitchen. Narfi stood +by the kettle, and when they had finished the boiling, he took up a +black-pudding and thrust it under Cormac's nose, crying:-- + + (11) + "Cormac, how would ye relish one? + Kettle-worms I call them." + +To which he answered:-- + + (12) + "Black-puddings boiled, quoth Ogmund's son, + Are a dainty,--fair befall them!" + +And in the evening when Cormac made ready to go home he saw Narfi, and +bethought him of those churlish words. "I think, Narfi," said he, "I am +more like to knock thee down, than thou to rule my coming and going." +And with that struck him an axe-hammer-blow, saying:-- + + (13) + "Why foul with thy clowning and folly, + The food that is dressed for thy betters? + Thou blundering archer, what ails thee + To be aiming thy insults at me?" + +And he made another song about:-- + + (14) + "He asked me, the clavering cowherd + If I cared for--what was it he called them?-- + The worms of the kettle. I warrant + He'll be wiping his eyes by the hearth-stone. + I deem that yon knave of the dunghill + Who dabbles the muck on the meadow + --Yon rook in his mud-spattered raiment-- + Got a rap for his noise--like a dog." + + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. They Waylay Cormac: And The Witch Curses Him. + +There was a woman named Thorveig, and she knew a deal too much. She +lived at Steins-stadir (Stonestead) in Midfiord, and had two sons; the +elder was Odd, and the younger Gudmund. They were great braggarts both +of them. + +This Odd often came to see Thorkel at Tunga, and used to sit and +talk with Steingerd. Thorkel made a great show of friendship with the +brothers, and egged them on to waylay Cormac. Odd said it was no more +than he could do. + +So one day when Cormac came to Tunga, Steingerd was in the parlour and +sat on the dais. Thorveig's sons sat in the room, ready to fall upon him +when he came in; and Thorkel had put a drawn sword on one side of the +door, and on the other side Narfi had put a scythe in its shaft. When +Cormac came to the hall-door the scythe fell down and met the sword, and +broke a great notch in it. Out came Thorkel and began to upbraid Cormac +for a rascal, and got fairly wild with his talk: then flung into the +parlour and bade Steingerd out of it. Forth they went by another door, +and he locked her into an outhouse, saying that Cormac and she would +never meet again. + +Cormac went in: and he came quicker than folk thought for, and they were +taken aback. He looked about, and no Steingerd: but he saw the brothers +whetting their weapons: so he turned on his heel and went, saying:-- + + (14) + "The weapon that mows in the meadow + It met with the gay painted buckler, + When I came to encounter a goddess + Who carries the beaker of wine. + Beware! for I warn you of evil + When warriors threaten me mischief. + It shall not be for nought that I pour ye + The newly mixed mead of the gods." + +And when he could find Steingerd nowhere, he made this song:-- + + (15) + "She has gone, with the glitter of ocean + Agleam on her wrist and her bosom, + And my heart follows hard on her footsteps, + For the hall is in darkness without her. + I have gazed, but my glances can pierce not + The gloom of the desolate dwelling; + And fierce is my longing to find her, + The fair one who only can heal me." + +After a while he came to the outhouse where Steingerd was, and burst it +open and had talk with her. + +"This is madness," cried she, "to come talking with me; for Thorveig's +sons are meant to have thy head." + +But he answered:-- + + (16) + "There wait they within that would snare me; + There whet they their swords for my slaying. + My bane they shall be not, the cowards, + The brood of the churl and the carline. + Let the twain of them find me and fight me + In the field, without shelter to shield them, + And ewes of the sheep should be surer + To shorten the days of the wolf." + +So he sat there all day. By that time Thorkel saw that the plan he had +made was come to nothing; and he bade the sons of Thorveig waylay Cormac +in a dale near his garth. "Narfi shall go with ye two," said he; "but I +will stay at home, and bring you help if need be." + +In the evening Cormac set out, and when he came to the dale, he saw +three men, and said in verse:-- + + (17) + "There sit they in hiding to stay me + From the sight of my queen of the jewels: + But rude will their task be to reave me + From the roof of my bounteous lady. + The fainer the hatred they harbour + For him that is free of her doorway, + The fainer my love and my longing + For the lass that is sweeter than samphire." + +Then leaped up Thorveig's sons, and fought Cormac for a time: Narfi the +while skulked and dodged behind them. Thorkel saw from his house that +they were getting but slowly forward, and he took his weapons. In that +nick of time Steingerd came out and saw what her father meant. She laid +hold on his hands, and he got no nearer to help the brothers. In the end +Odd fell, and Gudmund was so wounded that he died afterwards. Thorkel +saw to them, and Cormac went home. + +A little after this Cormac went to Thorveig and said he would have her +no longer live there at the firth. "Thou shalt flit and go thy way at +such a time," said he, "and I will give no blood-money for thy sons." + +Thorveig answered, "It is like enough ye can hunt me out of the +countryside, and leave my sons unatoned. But this way I'll reward thee. +Never shalt thou have Steingerd." + +Said Cormac, "That's not for thee to make or to mar, thou wicked old +hag!" + + + + +CHAPTER SIX. Cormac Wins His Bride and Loses Her. + +After this, Cormac went to see Steingerd the same as ever: and once when +they talked over these doings she said no ill of them: whereupon he made +this song:-- + + (18) + "There sat they in hiding to slay me + From the sight of my bride and my darling: + But weak were the feet of my foemen + When we fought on the island of weapons. + And the rush of the mightiest rivers + Shall race from the shore to the mountains + Or ever I leave thee, my lady, + And the love that I feast on to-day!" + +"Say no such big words about it," answered she; "Many a thing may stand +in the road." + +Upon which he said:-- + + (19) + "O sweet in the sheen of thy raiment, + The sight of thy beauty is gladdening! + What man that goes marching to battle, + What mate wouldst thou choose to be thine?" + +And she answered:-- + + (20) + "O giver of gold, O ring-breaker, + If the gods and the high fates befriend me, + I'd pledge me to Frodi's blithe brother + And bind him that he should be mine." + +Then she told him to make friends with her father and get her in +marriage. So for her sake Cormac gave Thorkel good gifts. Afterwards +many people had their say in the matter; but in the end it came to +this,--that he asked for her, and she was pledged to him, and the +wedding was fixed: and so all was quiet for a while. + +Then they had words. There was some falling-out about settlements. It +came to such a pass that after everything was ready, Cormac began to +cool off. But the real reason was, that Thorveig had bewitched him so +that they should never have one another. + +Thorkel at Tunga had a grown-up son, called Thorkel and by-named +Tooth-gnasher. He had been abroad some time, but this summer he came +home and stayed with his father. + +Cormac never came to the wedding at the time it was fixed, and the hour +passed by. This the kinsfolk of Steingerd thought a slight, deeming that +he had broken off the match; and they had much talk about it. + + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. How Steingerd Was Married To Somebody Else. + +Bersi lived in the land of Saurbae, a rich man and a good fellow: he was +well to the fore, a fighter, and a champion at the holmgang. He had been +married to Finna the Fair: but she was dead: Asmund was their son, +young in years and early ripe. Helga was the sister of Bersi: she was +unmarried, but a fine woman and a pushing one, and she kept house for +Bersi after Finna died. + +At the farm called Muli (the Mull) lived Thord Arndisarson: he was +wedded to Thordis, sister of Bork the Stout. They had two sons who were +both younger than Asmund the son of Bersi. + +There was also a man with Vali. His farm was named Vali's stead, and it +stood on the way to Hrutafiord. + +Now Thorveig the spaewife went to see Holmgang Bersi and told him her +trouble. She said that Cormac forbade her staying in Midfiord: so Bersi +bought land for her west of the firth, and she lived there for a long +time afterwards. + +Once when Thorkel at Tunga and his son were talking about Cormac's +breach of faith and deemed that it should be avenged, Narfi said, "I see +a plan that will do. Let us go to the west-country with plenty of goods +and gear, and come to Bersi in Saurbae. He is wifeless. Let us entangle +him in the matter. He would be a great help to us." + +That counsel they took. They journeyed to Saurbae, and Bersi welcomed +them. In the evening they talked of nothing but weddings. Narfi up and +said there was no match so good as Steingerd,--"And a deal of folk say, +Bersi, that she would suit thee." + +"I have heard tell," he answered, "that there will be a rift in the +road, though the match is a good one." + +"If it's Cormac men fear," cried Narfi, "there is no need; for he is +clean out of the way." + +When Bersi heard that, he opened the matter to Thorkel Toothgnasher, and +asked for Steingerd. Thorkel made a good answer, and pledged his sister +to him. + +So they rode north, eighteen in all, for the wedding. There was a man +named Vigi lived at Holm, a big man and strong of his hands, a warlock, +and Bersi's kinsman. He went with them, and they thought he would be +a good helper. Thord Arndisarson too went north with Bersi, and many +others, all picked men. + +When they came to Thorkel's, they set about the wedding at once, so that +no news of it might get out through the countryside: but all this was +sore against Steingerd's will. + +Now Vigi the warlock knew every man's affairs who came to the steading +or left it. He sat outmost in the chamber, and slept by the hall door. + +Steingerd sent for Narfi, and when they met she said,--"I wish thee, +kinsman, to tell Cormac the business they are about: I wish thee to take +this message to him." + +So he set out secretly; but when he was a gone a little way Vigi came +after, and bade him creep home and hatch no plots. They went back +together, and so the night passed. + +Next morning Narfi started forth again; but before he had gone so far as +on the evening, Vigi beset him, and drove him back without mercy. + +When the wedding was ended they made ready for their journey. Steingerd +took her gold and jewels, and they rode towards Hrutafiord, going rather +slowly. When they were off, Narfi set out and came to Mel. Cormac was +building a wall, and hammering it with a mallet. Narfi rode up, with his +shield and sword, and carried on strangely, rolling his eyes about like +a hunted beast. Some men were up on the wall with Cormac when he came, +and his horse shied at them. Said Cormac,--"What news, Narfi? What folk +were with you last night?" + +"Small tidings, but we had guests enough," answered he. + +"Who were the guests?" + +"There was Holmgang Bersi, with seventeen more to sit at his wedding." + +"Who was the bride?" + +"Bersi wed Steingerd Thorkel's daughter," said Narfi. "When they were +gone she sent me here to tell thee the news." + +"Thou hast never a word but ill," said Cormac, and leapt upon him and +struck at the shield: and as it slipped aside he was smitten on the +breast and fell from his horse; and the horse ran away with the shield +(hanging to it). + +Cormac's brother Thorgils said this was too much. "It serves him right," +cried Cormac. And when Narfi woke out of his swoon they got speech of +him. + +Thorgils asked, "What manner of men were at the wedding?" + +Narfi told him. + +"Did Steingerd know this before?" + +"Not till the very evening they came," answered he; and then told of his +dealings with Vigi, saying that Cormac would find it easier to whistle +on Steingerd's tracks and go on a fool's errand than to fight Bersi. +Then said Cormac:-- + + (21) + "Now see to thy safety henceforward, + And stick to thy horse and thy buckler; + Or this mallet of mine, I can tell thee, + Will meet with thine ear of a surety. + Now say no more stories of feasting, + Though seven in a day thou couldst tell of, + Or bumps thou shalt comb on thy brainpan, + Thou that breakest the howes of the dead. + +Thorgils asked about the settlements between Bersi and Steingerd. Her +kinsmen, said Narfi, were now quit of all farther trouble about that +business, however it might turn out; but her father and brother would be +answerable for the wedding. + + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. How Cormac Chased Bersi And His Bride. + +Cormac took his horse and weapons and saddle-gear. + +"What now, brother?" asked Thorgils. + +He answered:-- + + (22) + "My bride, my betrothed has been stolen, + And Bersi the raider has robbed me. + I who offer the song-cup of Odin-- + Who else?--should be riding beside her. + She loved me--no lord of them better: + I have lost her--for me she is weeping: + The dear, dainty darling that kissed me, + For day upon day of delight." + +Said Thorgils, "A risky errand is this, for Bersi will get home before +you catch him. And yet I will go with thee." + +Cormac said he would away and bide for no man. He leapt on his horse +forthwith, and galloped as hard as he could. Thorgils made haste to +gather men,--they were eighteen in all,--and came up with Cormac on the +hause that leads to Hrutafiord, for he had foundered his horse. So they +turned to Thorveig the spaewife's farmsteading, and found that Bersi was +gone aboard her boat. + +She had said to Bersi, "I wish thee to take a little gift from me, and +good luck follow it." + +This was a target bound with iron; and she said she reckoned Bersi would +hardly be hurt if he carried it to shield him,--"but it is little worth +beside this steading thou hast given me." He thanked her for the gift, +and so they parted. Then she got men to scuttle all the boats on the +shore, because she knew beforehand that Cormac and his folk were coming. + +When they came and asked her for a boat, she said she would do them no +kindness without payment;--"Here is a rotten boat in the boathouse which +I would lend for half a mark." + +Thorgils said it would be in reason if she asked two ounces of silver. +Such matters, said Cormac, should not stand in the way; but Thorgils +said he would sooner ride all round the water-head. Nevertheless Cormac +had his will, and they started in the boat; but they had scarcely put +off from shore when it filled, and they had hard work to get back to the +same spot. + +"Thou shouldst pay dearly for this, thou wicked old hag," said Cormac, +"and never be paid at all." + +That was no mighty trick to play them, she said; and so Thorgils paid +her the silver; about which Cormac made this song:-- + + (23) + "I'm a tree that is tricked out in war-gear, + She, the trim rosy elf of the shuttle: + And I break into singing about her + Like the bat at the well, never ceasing. + With the dew-drops of Draupnir the golden + Full dearly folk buy them their blessings; + Then lay down three ounces and leave them + For the leaky old boat that we borrowed." + +Bersi got hastily to horse, and rode homewards; and when Cormac saw that +he must be left behind, he made this song:-- + + (24) + "I tell you, the goddess who glitters + With gold on the perch of the falcon, + The bride that I trusted, by beauty, + From the bield of my hand has been taken. + On the boat she makes glad in its gliding + She is gone from me, reft from me, ravished! + O shame, that we linger to save her, + Too sweet for the prey of the raven! + +They took their horses and rode round the head of the firth. They met +Vali and asked about Bersi; he said that Bersi had come to Muli and +gathered men to him,--"A many men." + +"Then we are too late," said Cormac, "if they have got men together." + +Thorgils begged Cormac to let them turn back, saying there was little +honour to be got; but Cormac said he must see Steingerd. + +So Vali went with them and they came to Muli where Bersi was and many +men with him. They spoke together. Cormac said that Bersi had betrayed +him in carrying off Steingerd, "But now we would take the lady with us, +and make him amends for his honour." + +To this said Thord Arndisarson, "We will offer terms to Cormac, but the +lady is in Bersi's hands." + +"There is no hope that Steingerd will go with you," said Bersi; "but +I offer my sister to Cormac in marriage, and I reckon he will be well +wedded if take Helga." + +"This is a good offer," said Thorgils; "let us think of it, brother." + +But Cormac started back like a restive horse. + + + + +CHAPTER NINE. Of Another Witch, And Two Magic Swords. + +There was a woman called Thordis--and a shrew she was--who lived at +Spakonufell (Spaequean's-fell), in Skagastrand. She, having foresight of +Cormac's goings, came that very day to Muli, and answered this matter on +his behalf, saying, "Never give him yon false woman. She is a fool, and +not fit for any pretty man. Woe will his mother be at such a fate for +her lad!" + +"Aroint thee, foul witch!" cried Thord. They should see, said he, that +Helga would turn out fine. But Cormac answered, "Said it may be, for +sooth it may be: I will never think of her." + +"Woe to us, then," said Thorgils, "for listening to the words of yon +fiend, and slighting this offer!" + +Then spoke Cormac, "I bid thee, Bersi, to the holmgang within half a +month, at Leidholm, in Middal." + +Bersi said he would come, but Cormac should be the worse for his choice. + +After this Cormac went about the steading to look for Steingerd. When he +found her he said she had betrayed him in marrying another man. + +"It was thou that made the first breach, Cormac," said she, "for this +was none of my doing." + +Then said he in verse:-- + + (25) + "Thou sayest my faith has been forfeit, + O fair in thy glittering raiment; + But I wearied my steed and outwore it, + And for what but the love that bare thee? + O fainer by far was I, lady, + To founder my horse in the hunting-- + Nay, I spared not the jade when I spurred it-- + Than to see thee the bride of my foe." + +After this Cormac and his men went home. When he told his mother how +things had gone, "Little good," she said, "will thy luck do us. Ye have +slighted a fine offer, and you have no chance against Bersi, for he is a +great fighter and he has good weapons." + +Now, Bersi owned the sword they call Whitting; a sharp sword it was, +with a life-stone to it; and that sword he had carried in many a fray. + +"Whether wilt thou have weapons to meet Whitting?" she asked. Cormac +said he would have an axe both great and keen. + +Dalla said he should see Skeggi of Midfiord and ask for the loan of his +sword, Skofnung. So Cormac went to Reykir and told Skeggi how matters +stood, asking him to lend Skofnung. Skeggi said he had no mind to lend +it. Skofnung and Cormac, said he, would never agree: "It is cold and +slow, and thou art hot and hasty." + +Cormac rode away and liked it ill. He came home to Mel and told +his mother that Skeggi would not lend the sword. Now Skeggi had the +oversight of Dalla's affairs, and they were great friends; so she said, +"He will lend the sword, though not all at once." + +That was not what he wanted, answered Cormac,--"If he withhold it not +from thee, while he does withhold it from me." Upon which she answered +that he was a thwart lad. + +A few days afterwards Dalla told him to go to Reykir. "He will lend thee +the sword now," said she. So he sought Skeggi and asked for Skofnung. + +"Hard wilt thou find it to handle," said Skeggi. "There is a pouch to +it, and that thou shalt let be. Sun must not shine on the pommel of the +hilt. Thou shalt not wear it until fighting is forward, and when ye come +to the field, sit all alone and then draw it. Hold the edge toward thee, +and blow on it. Then will a little worm creep from under the hilt. Then +slope thou the sword over, and make it easy for that worm to creep back +beneath the hilt." + +"Here's a tale of tricks, thou warlock!" cried Cormac + +"Nevertheless," answered Skeggi, "it will stand thee in good stead to +know them." + +So Cormac rode home and told his mother, saying that her will was of +great avail with Skeggi. He showed the sword, and tried to draw it, but +it would not leave the sheath. + +"Thou are over wilful, my son," said she. + +Then he set his feet against the hilts, and pulled until he tore the +pouch off, at which Skofnung creaked and groaned, but never came out of +the scabbard. + +Well, the time wore on, and the day came. He rode away with fifteen men; +Bersi also rode to the holm with as many. Cormac came there first, and +told Thorgils that he would sit apart by himself. So he sat down and +ungirt the sword. + +Now, he never heeded whether the sun shone upon the hilt, for he had +girt the sword on him outside his clothes. And when he tried to draw it +he could not, until he set his feet upon the hilts. Then the little worm +came, and was not rightly done by; and so the sword came groaning and +creaking out of the scabbard, and the good luck of it was gone. + + + + +CHAPTER TEN. The Fight On Leidarholm. + +After that Cormac went to his men. Bersi and his party had come by that +time, and many more to see the fight. + +Cormac took up Bersi's target and cut at it, and sparks flew out. + +Then a hide was taken and spread for them to stand on. Bersi spoke and +said, "Thou, Cormac, hast challenged me to the holmgang; instead of +that, I offer thee to fight in simple sword-play. Thou art a young man +and little tried; the holmgang needs craft and cunning, but sword-play, +man to man, is an easy game." + +Cormac answered, "I should fight no better even so. I will run the risk, +and stand on equal footing with thee, every way." + +"As thou wilt," said Bersi. + +It was the law of the holmgang that the hide should be five ells long, +with loops at its corners. Into these should be driven certain pins with +heads to them, called tjosnur. He who made it ready should go to the +pins in such a manner that he could see sky between his legs, holding +the lobes of his ears and speaking the forewords used in the rite called +"The Sacrifice of the tjosnur." Three squares should be marked round +the hide, each one foot broad. At the outermost corners of the squares +should be four poles, called hazels; when this is done, it is a hazelled +field. Each man should have three shields, and when they were cut up +he must get upon the hide if he had given way from it before, and guard +himself with his weapons alone thereafter. He who had been challenged +should strike the first stroke. If one was wounded so that blood fell +upon the hide, he should fight no longer. If either set one foot outside +the hazel poles "he went on his heel," they said; but he "ran" if both +feet were outside. His own man was to hold the shield before each of the +fighters. The one who was wounded should pay three marks of silver to be +set free. + +So the hide was taken and spread under their feet. Thorgils held his +brother's shield, and Thord Arndisarson that of Bersi. Bersi struck the +first blow, and cleft Cormac's shield; Cormac struck at Bersi to the +like peril. Each of them cut up and spoilt three shields of the +other's. Then it was Cormac's turn. He struck at Bersi, who parried with +Whitting. Skofnung cut the point off Whitting in front of the ridge. The +sword-point flew upon Cormac's hand, and he was wounded in the thumb. +The joint was cleft, and blood dropped upon the hide. Thereupon folk +went between them and stayed the fight. + +Then said Cormac, "This is a mean victory that Bersi has gained; it is +only from my bad luck; and yet we must part." + +He flung down his sword, and it met Bersi's target. A shard was broken +out of Skofnung, and fire flew out of Thorveig's gift. + +Bersi asked the money for release, Cormac said it would be paid; and so +they parted. + + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. The Songs That Were Made About The Fight. + +Steinar was the name of a man who was the son of Onund the Seer, and +brother of Dalla, Cormac's mother. He was an unpeaceful man, and lived +at Ellidi. + +Thither rode Cormac from the holme, to see his kinsman, and told him +of the fight, at which he was but ill pleased. Cormac said he meant to +leave the country,--"And I want thee to take the money to Bersi." + +"Thou art no bold man," said Steinar, "but the money shall be paid if +need be." + +Cormac was there some nights; his hand swelled much, for it was not +dressed. + +After that meeting, Holmgang Bersi went to see his brother. Folk asked +how the holmgang had gone, and when he told them they said that two bold +men had struck small blows, and he had gained the victory only through +Cormac's mishap. When Bersi met Steingerd, and she asked how it went, he +made this verse:-- + + (26) + "They call him, and truly they tell it, + A tree of the helmet right noble: + But the master of manhood must bring me + Three marks for his ransom and rescue. + Though stout in the storm of the bucklers + In the stress of the Valkyrie's tempest + He will bid me no more to the battle, + For the best of the struggle was ours." + +Steinar and Cormac rode from Ellidi and passed through Saurbae. They saw +men riding towards them, and yonder came Bersi. He greeted Cormac and +asked how the wound was getting on. Cormac said it needed little to be +healed. + +"Wilt thou let me heal thee?" said Bersi; "though from me thou didst get +it: and then it will be soon over." + +Cormac said nay, for he meant to be his lifelong foe. Then answered +Bersi:-- + + (27) + "Thou wilt mind thee for many a season + How we met in the high voice of Hilda. + Right fain I go forth to the spear-mote + Being fitted for every encounter. + There Cormac's gay shield from his clutches + I clave with the bane of the bucklers, + For he scorned in the battle to seek me + If we set not the lists of the holmgang." + +Thus they parted; and then Cormac went home to Mel and saw his mother. +She healed his hand; it had become ugly and healed badly. The notch in +Skofnung they whetted, but the more they whetted the bigger it was. +So he went to Reykir, and flung Skofnung at Skeggi's feet, with this +verse:-- + + (28) + "I bring thee, thus broken and edgeless, + The blade that thou gavest me, Skeggi! + I warrant thy weapon could bite not: + I won not the fight by its witchcraft. + No gain of its virtue nor glory + I got in the strife of the weapons, + When we met for to mingle the sword-storm + For the maiden my singing adorns." + +Said Skeggi, "It went as I warned thee." Cormac flung forth and went +home to Mel: and when he met with Dalla he made this song:-- + + (29) + "To the field went I forth, O my mother + The flame of the armlet who guardest,-- + To dare the cave-dweller, my foeman + And I deemed I should smite him in battle. + But the brand that is bruited in story + It brake in my hand as I held it; + And this that should thrust men to slaughter + Is thwarted and let of its might. + + (30) + For I borrowed to bear in the fighting + No blunt-edged weapon of Skeggi: + There is strength in the serpent that quivers + By the side of the land of the girdle. + But vain was the virtue of Skofnung + When he vanquished the sharpness of Whitting; + And a shard have I shorn, to my sorrow, + From the shearer of ringleted mail. + + (31) + Yon tusker, my foe, wrought me trouble + When targe upon targe I had carven: + For the thin wand of slaughter was shattered + And it sundered the ground of my handgrip. + Loud bellowed the bear of the sea-king + When he brake from his lair in the scabbard, + At the hest of the singer, who seeketh + The sweet hidden draught of the gods. + + (32) + Afar must I fare, O my mother, + And a fate points the pathway before me, + For that white-wreathen tree may woo not + --Two wearisome morrows her outcast. + And it slays me, at home to be sitting, + So set is my heart on its goddess, + As a lawn with fair linen made lovely + --I can linger no third morrow's morn." + +After that, Cormac went one day to Reykir and talked with Skeggi, who +said the holmgang had been brought to scorn. Then answered Cormac:-- + + (33) + "Forget it, O Frey of the helmet, + --Lo, I frame thee a song in atonement-- + That the bringer of blood, even Skofnung, + I bare thee so strangely belated. + For by stirrers of storm was I wounded; + They smote me where perches the falcon: + But the blade that I borrowed, O Skeggi, + Was borne in the clashing of edges. + + (34) + I had deemed, O thou Grey of fighting, + Of the fierce song of Odin,--my neighbour, + I had deemed that a brand meet for bloodshed + I bare to the crossways of slaughter. + Nay,--thy glaive, it would gape not nor ravin + Against him, the rover who robbed me: + And on her, as the surge on the shingle, + My soul beats and breaks evermore." + + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. Bersi's Bad Luck At The Thor's-Ness Thing. + +In the winter, sports were held at Saurbae. Bersi's lad, Asmund, was +there, and likewise the sons of Thord; but they were younger than he, +and nothing like so sturdy. When they wrestled Asmund took no heed +to stint his strength, and the sons of Thord often came home blue and +bleeding. Their mother Thordis was ill pleased, and asked her husband +would he give Bersi a hint to make it up on behalf of his son. Nay, +Thord answered, he was loath to do that. + +"Then I'll find my brother Bork," said she, "and it will be just as bad +in the end." + +Thord bade her do no such thing. "I would rather talk it over with him," +said he; and so, at her wish, he met Bersi, and hinted that some amends +were owing. + +Said Bersi, "Thou art far too greedy of getting, nowadays. This kind of +thing will end in losing thee thy good name. Thou wilt never want while +anything is to be got here." + +Thord went home, and there was a coolness between them while that winter +lasted. + +Spring slipped by, until it was time for the meeting at Thor's-ness. +By then, Bersi thought he saw through this claim of Thord's, and found +Thordis at the bottom of it. For all that, he made ready to go to the +Thing. By old use and wont these two neighbours should have gone riding +together; so Bersi set out and came to Muli, but when he got there Thord +was gone. + +"Well," said he, "Thord has broken old use and wont in awaiting me no +longer." + +"If breach there be," answered Thordis, "it is thy doing. This is +nothing to what we owe thee, and I doubt there will be more to follow." + +They had words. Bersi said that harm would come of her evil counsel; and +so they parted. + +When he left the house he said to his men, "Let us turn aside to the +shore and take a boat; it is a long way to ride round the waterhead." So +they took a boat--it was one of Thord's--and went their way. + +They came to the meeting when most other folks were already there, and +went to the tent of Olaf Peacock of Hjardarholt (Herdholt), for he was +Bersi's chief. It was crowded inside, and Bersi found no seat. He used +to sit next Thord, but that place was filled. In it there sat a big and +strong-looking man, with a bear-skin coat, and a hood that shaded his +face. Bersi stood a while before him, but the seat was not given up. He +asked the man for his name, and was told he might call him Bruin, or +he might call him Hoodie--which-ever he liked; whereupon he said in +verse:-- + + (35) + "Who sits in the seat of the warriors, + With the skin of the bear wrapped around him, + So wild in his look?--Ye have welcomed + A wolf to your table, good kinsfolk! + Ah, now may I know him, I reckon! + Doth he name himself Bruin, or Hoodie?-- + We shall meet once again in the morning, + And maybe he'll prove to be--Steinar." + +"And it's no use for thee to hide thy name, thou in the bearskin," said +he. + +"No more it is," he answered. "Steinar I am, and I have brought money +to pay thee for Cormac, if so be it is needed. But first I bid thee to +fight. It will have to be seen whether thou get the two marks of silver, +or whether thou lose them both." + +Upon which quoth Bersi:-- + + (36) + "They that waken the storm of the spear-points-- + For slaughter and strife they are famous-- + To the island they bid me for battle, + Nor bitter I think it nor woeful; + For long in that craft am I learned + To loosen the Valkyrie's tempest + In the lists, and I fear not to fight them-- + Unflinching in battle am I. + +"Well I wot, though," said he, "that ye and your gang mean to make away +with me. But I would let you know that I too have something to say about +it--something that will set down your swagger, maybe." + +"It is not thy death we are seeking," answered Steinar; "all we want is +to teach thee thy true place." + +Bersi agreed to fight him, and then went out to a tent apart and took up +his abode there. + +Now one day the word went round for bathing in the sea. Said Steinar to +Bersi, "Wilt try a race with me, Bersi?" + +"I have given over swimming," said he, "and yet I'll try." + +Bersi's manner of swimming was to breast the waves and strike out with +all his might. In so doing he showed a charm he wore round his neck. +Steinar swam at him and tore off the lucky-stone with the bag it was in, +and threw them both into the water, saying in verse:-- + + (37) + "Long I've lived, + And I've let the gods guide me; + Brown hose I never wore + To bring the luck beside me. + I've never knit + All to keep me thriving + Round my neck a bag of worts, + --And lo! I'm living!" + +Upon that they struck out to land. + +But this turn that Steinar played was Thord's trick to make Bersi lose +his luck in the fight. And Thord went along the shore at low water and +found the luck-stone, and hid it away. + +Now Steinar had a sword that was called after Skrymir the giant: it was +never fouled, and no mishap followed it. On the day fixed, Thord and +Steinar went out of the tent, and Cormac also came to the meeting to +hold the shield of Steinar. Olaf Peacock got men to help Bersi at the +fight, for Thord had been used to hold his shield, but this time failed +him. So Bersi went to the trysting-place with a shield-bearer who is not +named in the story, and with the round target that once had belonged to +Thorveig. + +Each man was allowed three shields. Bersi cut up two, and then Cormac +took the third. Bersi hacked away, but Whitting his sword stuck fast +in the iron border of Steinar's shield. Cormac whirled it up just when +Steinar was striking out. He struck the shield-edge, and the sword +glanced off, slit Bersi's buttock, sliced his thigh down to the +knee-joint, and stuck in the bone. And so Bersi fell. + +"There!" cried Steinar, "Cormac's fine is paid." + +But Bersi leapt up, slashed at him, and clove his shield. The +sword-point was at Steinar's breast when Thord rushed forth and dragged +him away, out of reach. + +"There!" cried Thord to Bersi, "I have paid thee for the mauling of my +sons." + +So Bersi was carried to the tent, and his wound was dressed. After a +while, Thord came in; and when Bersi saw him he said:-- + + (38) + "When the wolf of the war-god was howling + Erstwhile in the north, thou didst aid me: + When it gaped in my hand, and it girded + At the Valkyries' gate for to enter. + But now wilt thou never, O warrior, + At need in the storm-cloud of Odin + Give me help in the tempest of targes + --Untrusty, unfaithful art thou. + + (39) + "For when I was a stripling I showed me + To the stems of the lightning of battle + Right meet for the mist of the war-maids; + --Ah me! that was said long ago. + But now, and I may not deny it + My neighbours in earth must entomb me, + At the spot I have sought for grave-mound + Where Saurbae lies level and green." + +Said Thord, "I have no wish for thy death; but I own it is no sorrow to +see thee down for once." + +To which Bersi answered in song:-- + + (40) + "The friend that I trusted has failed me + In the fight, and my hope is departed: + I speak what I know of; and note it, + Ye nobles,--I tell ye no leasing. + Lo, the raven is ready for carnage, + But rare are the friends who should succour. + Yet still let them scorn me and threaten, + I shrink not, I am not dismayed." + +After this, Bersi was taken home to Saurbae, and lay long in his wounds. + +But when he was carried into the tent, at that very moment Steinar spoke +thus to Cormac:-- + + (41) + "Of the reapers in harvest of Hilda + --Thou hast heard of it--four men and eight men + With the edges of Skrymir to aid me + I have urged to their flight from the battle. + Now the singer, the steward of Odin, + Hath smitten at last even Bersi + With the flame of the weapon that feedeth + The flocks of the carrion crows." + +"I would have thee keep Skrymir now for thy own, Cormac," said he, +"because I mean this fight to be my last." + +After that, they parted in friendly wise: Steinar went home, and Cormac +fared to Mel. + + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. Steingerd Leaves Bersi. + +Next it is told of Bersi. His wound healed but slowly. Once on a time a +many folk were met to talk about that meeting and what came of it, and +Bersi made this song:-- + + (42) + "Thou didst leave me forlorn to the sword-stroke, + Strong lord of the field of the serpent! + And needy and fallen ye find me, + Since my foeman ye shielded from danger. + Thus cunning and counsel are victors, + When the craft of the spear-shaft avails not; + But this, as I think, is the ending, + O Thord, of our friendship for ever!" + +A while later Thord came to his bedside and brought back the luck-stone; +and with it he healed Bersi, and they took to their friendship again and +held it unbroken ever after. + +Because of these happenings, Steingerd fell into loathing of Bersi and +made up her mind to part with him; and when she had got everything +ready for going away she went to him and said:--"First ye were called +Eygla's-Bersi, and then Holmgang-Bersi, but now your right name will be +Breech-Bersi!" and spoke her divorce from him. + +She went north to her kinsfolk, and meeting with her brother Thorkel she +bade him seek her goods again from Bersi--her pin-money and her dowry, +saying that she would not own him now that he was maimed. Thorkel +Toothgnasher never blamed her for that, and agreed to undertake her +errand; but the winter slipped by and his going was put off. + + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. The Bane Of Thorkel Toothgnasher. + +Afterwards, in the spring, Thorkel Toothgnasher set out to find Bersi +and to seek Steingerd's goods again. Bersi said that his burden was +heavy enough to bear, even though both together underwent the weight of +it. "And I shall not pay the money!" said he. + +Said Thorkel, "I bid thee to the holmgang at Orrestholm beside Tjaldanes +(Tentness)." + +"That ye will think hardly worth while," said Bersi, "such a champion as +you are; and yet I undertake for to come." + +So they came to the holme and fell to the holmgang. Thord carried the +shield before Bersi, and Vali was Thorkel's shield-bearer. When two +shields had been hacked to splinters, Bersi bade Thorkel take the third; +but he would not. Bersi still had a shield, and a sword that was long +and sharp. + +Said Thorkel, "The sword ye have, Bersi, is longer than lawful." + +"That shall not be," cried Bersi; and took up his other sword, Whitting, +two-handed, and smote Thorkel his deathblow. Then sang he:-- + + (43) + "I have smitten Toothgnasher and slain him, + And I smile at the pride of his boasting. + One more to my thirty I muster, + And, men! say ye this of the battle:-- + In the world not a lustier liveth + Among lords of the steed of the oar-bench; + Though by eld of my strength am I stinted + To stain the black wound-bird with blood." + +After these things Vali bade Bersi to the holmgang, but he answered in +this song:-- + + (44) + "They that waken the war of the mail-coats, + For warfare and manslaying famous, + To the lists they have bid me to battle, + Nor bitter I think it not woeful. + It is sport for yon swordsmen who goad me + To strive in the Valkyries' tempest + On the holme; but I fear not to fight them-- + Unflinching in battle am I!" + +The were even about to begin fighting, when Thord came and spoke to them +saying:--"Woeful waste of life I call it, if brave men shall be smitten +down for the sake of any such matters. I am ready to make it up between +ye two." + +To this they agreed, and he said:--"Vali, this methinks is the most +likely way of bringing you together. Let Bersi take thy sister Thordis +to wife. It is a match that may well be to thy worship." + +Bersi agreed to this, and it was settled that the land of Brekka should +go along with her as a dowry; and so this troth was plighted between +them. Bersi afterwards had a strong stone wall built around his +homestead, and sat there for many winters in peace. + + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. The Rescue Of Steinvor Slim-ankles. + +There was a man named Thorarin Alfsson, who lived in the north at +Thambardal; that is a dale which goes up from the fiord called Bitra. +He was a big man and mighty, and he was by-named Thorarin the Strong. He +had spent much of his time in seafaring (as a chapman) and so lucky was +he that he always made the harbour he aimed at. + +He had three sons; one was named Alf, the next Loft, and the third +Skofti. Thorarin was a most overbearing man, and his sons took after +him. They were rough, noisy fellows. + +Not far away, at Tunga (Tongue) in Bitra, lived a man called Odd. His +daughter was named Steinvor, a pretty girl and well set up; her by-name +was Slim-ankles. Living with Odd were many fisherman; among them, +staying there for the fishing-season, was one Glum, an ill-tempered +carle and bad to deal with. + +Now once upon a time these two, Odd and Glum, were in talk together +which were the greatest men in the countryside. Glum reckoned Thorarin +to be foremost, but Odd said Holmgang Bersi was better than he in every +way. + +"How can ye make that out?" asked Glum. + +"Is there any likeness whatever," said Odd, "between the bravery of +Bersi and the knavery of Thorarin?" + +So they talked about this until they fell out, and laid a wager upon it. + +Then Glum wend and told Thorarin. He grew very angry and made many a +threat against Odd. And in a while he went and carried off Steinvor +from Tunga, all to spite her father; and he gave out that if Odd +said anything against it, the worse for him: and so took her home to +Thambardal. + +Things went on so for a while, and then Odd went to see Holmgang Bersi, +and told him what had happened. He asked him for help to get Steinvor +back and to wreak vengeance for that shame. Bersi answered that such +words had been better unsaid, and bade him go home and take no share in +the business. "But yet," added he, "I promise that I will see to it." + +No sooner was Odd gone than Bersi made ready to go from home. He rode +fully armed, with Whitting at his belt, and three spears; he came to +Thambardal when the day was far spent and the women were coming out +of the bower. Steinvor saw him and turning to meet him told of her +unhappiness. + +"Make ready to go with me," said he; and that she did. + +He would not go to Thambardal for nothing, he said; and so he turned to +the door where men were sitting by long fires. He knocked at the door, +and out there came a man--his name was Thorleif. But Thorarin knew +Bersi's voice, and rushed forth with a great carving-knife and laid on +to him. Bersi was aware of it, and drew Whitting, and struck him his +death-blow. + +Then he leapt on horseback and set Steinvor on his knee and took his +spears which she had kept for him. He rode some way into the wood, where +in a hidden spot he left his horse and Steinvor, bidding her await him. +Then he went to a narrow gap through which the high-road ran, and there +made ready to stand against his foes. + +In Thambardal there was anything but peace. Thorleif ran to tell the +sons of Thorarin that he lay dead in the doorway. They asked who had +done the deed. He told them. Then they went after Bersi and steered the +shortest way to the gap, meaning to get there first; but by that time he +was already first at the gap. + +When they came near him, Bersi hurled a spear at Alf, and it went right +through him. Then Loft cast at Bersi, but he caught the spear on his +target and it dropped off. Then Bersi threw at Loft and killed him, and +so he did by Skofti. + +When all was over, the house-carles of the brothers came up. Thorleif +turned back to meet them, and they all went home together. + +After that Bersi went to find Steinvor, and mounted his horse. He came +home before men were out of bed. They asked him about his journey and +he told them. When Odd met him he asked about the fight and how it had +passed, and Bersi answered in this verse:-- + + (45) + "There was one fed the wolves has encountered + His weird in the dale of the Bowstring-- + Thorarin the Strong, 'neath the slayer + Lay slain by the might of my weapon. + And loss of their lives men abided + When Loft fell, and Alf fell, and Skofti. + They were four, yonder kinsmen, and fated-- + They were fey--and I met them, alone!" + +After that Odd went home, but Steinvor was with Bersi, though it +misliked Thordis, his wife. By this time his stone wall was some-what +broken down, but he had it built up again; and it is said that no +blood-money was ever paid for Thorarin and his sons. So the time went +on. + + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. How Vali Fell Before An Old Man And A Boy. + +Once on a day when Thordis and Bersi were talking together, said he, +"I have been thinking I might ask Olaf Peacock for a child of his to +foster." + +"Nay," said she, "I think little of that. It seems to me a great +trouble, and I doubt if folk will reckon more of us for it." + +"It means that I should have a sure friend," answered he. "I have many +foes, and I am growing heavy with age." + +So he went to see Olaf, and asked for a child to foster. Olaf took it +with thanks, and Bersi carried Halldor home with him and got Steinvor to +be nurse. This too misliked Thordis, and she laid hands on every penny +she could get (for fear it should go to Steinvor and the foster-child). + +At last Bersi took to ageing much. There was one time when men riding to +the Thing stayed at his house. He sat all by himself, and his food was +brought him before the rest were served. He had porridge while other +folk had cheese and curds. Then he made this verse:-- + + (46) + "To batten the black-feathered wound-bird + With the blade of my axe have I stricken + Full thirty and five of my foemen; + I am famed for the slaughter of warriors. + May the fiends have my soul if I stain not + My sharp-edged falchion once over! + And then let the breaker of broadswords + Be borne--and with speed--to the grave!" + +"What?" said Halldor; "hast thou a mind to kill another man, then?" + +Answered Bersi, "I see the man it would rightly serve!" + +Now Thordis let her brother Vali feed his herds on the land of Brekka. +Bersi bade his house-carles work at home, and have no dealings with +Vali; but still Halldor thought it a hardship that Bersi had not his own +will with his own wealth. One day Bersi made this verse:-- + + (47) + "Here we lie, + Both on one settle-- + Halldor and I, + Men of no mettle. + Youth ails thee, + But thou'lt win through it; + Age ails me, + And I must rue it!" + +"I do hate Vali," said Halldor; and Bersi answered thus in verse:-- + + (48) + "Yon Vali, so wight as he would be, + Well wot I our pasture he grazes; + Right fain yonder fierce helmet-wearer + Under foot my dead body would trample! + But often my wrongs have I wreaked + In wrath on the mail-coated warrior-- + On the stems of the sun of the ocean + I have stained the wound-serpent for less!" + +And again he said:-- + + (49) + "With eld I am listless and lamed-- + I, the lord of the gold of the armlet: + I sit, and am still under many + A slight from the warders of spear-meads. + Though shield-bearers shape for the singer + To shiver alone in the grave-mound, + Yet once in the war would I redden + The wand that hews helms ere I fail." + +"Thy heart is not growing old, foster-father mine!" cried Halldor. + +Upon that Bersi fell into talk with Steinvor, and said to her "I am +laying a plot, and I need thee to help me." + +She said she would if she could. + +"Pick a quarrel," said he, "with Thordis about the milk-kettle, and do +thou hold on to it until you whelm it over between you. Then I will come +in and take her part and give thee nought but bad words. Then go to Vali +and tell him how ill we treat thee." + +Everything turned out as he had planned. She went to Vali and told him +that things were no way smooth for her; would he take her over the gap +(to Bitra to her father's:) and so he did. + +But when he was on the way back again, out came Bersi and Halldor to +meet him. Bersi had a halberd in one hand and a staff in the other, and +Halldor had Whitting. As soon as Vali saw them he turned and hewed +at Bersi. Halldor came at his back and fleshed Whitting in his +hough-sinews. Thereupon he turned sharply and fell upon Halldor. +Then Bersi set the halberd-point betwixt his shoulders. That was his +death-wound. + +Then they set his shield at his feet and his sword at his head, and +spread his cloak over him; and after that got on horseback and rode to +five homesteads to make known the deed they had done and then rode home. +Men went and buried Vali, and the place where he fell has ever since +been called Vali's fall. + +Halldor was twelve winters old when these doings came to pass. + + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. How Steingerd Was Married Again. + +Now there was a man named Thorvald, the son of Eystein, bynamed +the Tinker: he was a wealthy man, a smith, and a skald; but he was +mean-spirited for all that. His brother Thorvard lived in the north +country at Fliot (Fleet); and they had many kinsmen,-- the Skidings they +were called,--but little luck or liking. + +Now Thorvald the Tinker asked Steingerd to wife. Her folk were for it, +and she said nothing against it; and so she was wed to him in the very +same summer in which she left Bersi. + +When Cormac heard the news he made as though he knew nothing whatever +about the matter; for a little earlier he had taken his goods aboard +ship, meaning to go away with his brother. But one morning early he rode +from the ship and went to see Steingerd; and when he got talk with her, +he asked would she make him a shirt. To which she answered that he had +no business to pay her visits; neither Thorvald nor his kinsmen would +abide it, she said, but have their revenge. + +Thereupon he made his voice:-- + + (50) + "Nay, think it or thole it I cannot, + That thou, a young fir of the forest + Enwreathed in the gold that thou guardest, + Shouldst be given to a tinkering tinsmith. + Nay, scarce can I smile, O thou glittering + In silk like the goddess of Baldur, + Since thy father handfasted and pledged thee, + So famed as thou art, to a coward." + +"In such words," answered Steingerd, "an ill will is plain to hear. I +shall tell Thorvald of this ribaldry: no man would sit still under such +insults." + +Then sang Cormac:-- + + (51) + "What gain is to get if he threatens, + White goddess in raiment of beauty, + The scorn that the Skidings may bear me? + I'll set them a weft for their weaving! + I'll rhyme you the roystering caitiffs + Till rocks go afloat on the water; + And lucky for them if they loosen + The line of their fate that I ravel!" + +Thereupon they parted with no blitheness, and Cormac went to his ship. + + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. Cormac's Voyage To Norway. + +The two brothers had but left the roadstead, when close beside their +ship, uprose a walrus. Cormac hurled at it a pole-staff, which struck +the beast, so that it sank again: but the men aboard thought that they +knew its eyes for the eyes of Thorveig the witch. That walrus came up +no more, but of Thorveig it was heard that she lay sick to death; and +indeed folk say that this was the end of her. + +Then they sailed out to sea, and at last came to Norway, where at that +time Hakon, the foster-son of Athelstan, was king. He made them welcome, +and so they stayed there the winter long with all honour. + +Next summer they set out to the wars, and did many great deeds. Along +with them went a man called Siegfried, a German of good birth; and they +made raids both far and wide. One day as they were gone up the country +eleven men together came against the two brothers, and set upon them; +but this business ended in their overcoming the whole eleven, and so +after a while back to their ship. The vikings had given them up for +lost, and fain were their folk when they came back with victory and +wealth. + +In this voyage the brothers got great renown: and late in the summer, +when winter was coming on, they made up their minds to steer for Norway. +They met with cold winds; the sail was behung with icicles, but the +brothers were always to the fore. It was on his voyage that Cormac made +the song:-- + + (52) + "O shake me yon rime from the awning; + Your singer's a-cold in his berth; + For the hills are all hooded, dear Skardi, + In the hoary white veil of the firth. + There's one they call Wielder of Thunder + I would were as chill and as cold; + But he leaves not the side of his lady + As the lindworm forsakes not its gold." + +"Always talking of her now!" said Thorgils; "and yet thou wouldst not +have her when thou couldst." + +"That was more the fault of witchcraft," answered Cormac, "that any want +of faith in me." + +Not long after they were sailing hard among crags, and shortened sail in +great danger. + +"It is a pity Thorvald Tinker is not with us here!" said Cormac. + +Said Thorgils with a smile, "Most likely he is better off than we, +to-day!" + +But before long they came to land in Norway. + + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. How Cormac Fought In Ireland, And Went Home To +Iceland; And How He Met Steingerd Again. + +While they were abroad there had been a change of kings; Hakon was dead, +and Harald Greyfell reigned in his stead. They offered friendship to the +king, and he took their suit kindly; so they went with him to Ireland, +and fought battles there. + +Once upon a time when they had gone ashore with the king, a great host +came against him, and as the armies met, Cormac made this song:-- + + (53) + "I dread not a death from the foemen, + Though we dash at them, buckler to buckler, + While our prince in the power of his warriors + Is proud of me foremost in battle. + But the glimpse of a glory comes o'er me + Like the gleam of the moon on the skerry, + And I faint and I fail for my longing, + For the fair one at home in the North." + +"Ye never get into danger," said Thorgils, "but ye think of Steingerd!" + +"Nay," answered Cormac, "but it's not often I forget her." + +Well: this was a great battle, and king Harald won a glorious victory. +While his men drove the rout before him, the brothers were shoulder to +shoulder; and they fell upon nine men at once and fought them. And while +they were at it, Cormac sang:-- + + (54) + "Fight on, arrow-driver, undaunted, + And down with the foemen of Harald! + What are nine? they are nought! Thou and I, lad, + Are enough;--they are ours!--we have won them! + But--at home,--in the arms of an outlaw + That all the gods loathe for a monster, + So white and so winsome she nestles + --Yet once she was loving to me!" + +"It always comes down to that!" said Thorgils. When the fight was over, +the brothers had got the victory, and the nine men had fallen before +them; for which they won great praise from the king, and many honours +beside. + +But while they were ever with the king in his warfarings, Thorgils was +aware that Cormac was used to sleep but little; and he asked why this +might be. This was the song Cormac made in answer:-- + + (55) + "Surf on a rock-bound shore of the sea-king's blue domain-- + Look how it lashes the crags, hark how it thunders again! + But all the din of the isles that the Delver heaves in foam + In the draught of the undertow glides out to the sea-gods' + home. + Now, which of us two should test? Is it thou, with thy + heart at ease, + Or I that am surf on the shore in the tumult of angry seas? + --Drawn, if I sleep, to her that shines with the ocean- + gleam, + --Dashed, when I wake, to woe, for the want of my + glittering dream." + +"And now let me tell you this, brother," he went on. "Hereby I give out +that I am going back to Iceland." + +Said Thorgils, "There is many a snare set for thy feet, brother, to drag +thee down, I know not whither." + +But when the king heard of his longing to begone, he sent for Cormac, +and said that he did unwisely, and would hinder him from his journey. +But all this availed nothing, and aboard ship he went. + +At the outset they met with foul winds, so that they shipped great seas, +and the yard broke. Then Cormac sang:-- + + (56) + "I take it not ill, like the Tinker + If a trickster had foundered his muck-sled; + For he loves not rough travelling, the losel, + And loath would he be of this uproar. + I flinch not,--nay, hear it, ye fearless + Who flee not when arrows are raining,-- + Though the steeds of the ocean be storm-bound + And stayed in the harbour of Solund." + +So they pushed out to sea, and hard weather they tholed. Once on a time +when the waves broke over the deck and drenched them all, Cormac made +this song:-- + + (57) + "O the Tinker's a lout and a lubber, + And the life of a sailor he dares not, + When the snow-crested surges caress us + And sweep us away with their kisses, + He bides in a berth that is warmer, + Embraced in the arms of his lady; + And lightly she lulls him to slumber, + --But long she has reft me of rest!" + +They had a very rough voyage, but landed at last in Midfiord, and +anchored off shore. Looking landward they beheld where a lady was riding +by; and Cormac knew at once that it was Steingerd. He bade his men +launch a boat, and rowed ashore. He went quickly from the boat, and got +a horse, and rode to meet her. When they met, he leapt from horseback +and helped her to alight, making a seat for her beside him on the +ground. + +Their horses wandered away: the day passed on, and it began to grow +dark. At last Steingerd said, "It is time to look for our horses." + +Little search would be needed, said Cormac; but when he looked about, +they were nowhere in sight. As it happened, they were hidden in a gill +not far from where the two were sitting. + +So, as night was hard at hand, they set out to walk, and came to a +little farm, where they were taken in and treated well, even as they +needed. That night they slept each on either side of the carven wainscot +that parted bed from bed: and Cormac made this song:-- + + (58) + "We rest, O my beauty, my brightest, + But a barrier lies ever between us. + So fierce are the fates and so mighty + --I feel it--that rule to their rede. + Ah, nearer I would be, and nigher, + Till nought should be left to dispart us, + --The wielder of Skofnung the wonder, + And the wearer of sheen from the deep." + +"It was better thus," said Steingerd: but he sang:-- + + (59) + "We have slept 'neath one roof-tree--slept softly, + O sweet one, O queen of the mead-horn, + O glory of sea-dazzle gleaming, + These grim hours,--these five nights, I count them. + And here in the kettle-prow cabined + While the crow's day drags on in the darkness, + How loathly me seems to be lying, + How lonely,--so near and so far!" + +"That," said she, "is all over and done with; name it no more." But he +sang:-- + + (60) + "The hot stone shall float,--ay, the hearth-stone + Like a husk of the corn on the water, + --Ah, woe for the wight that she loves not!-- + And the world,--ah, she loathes me!--shall perish, + And the fells that are famed for their hugeness + Shall fail and be drowned in the ocean, + Or ever so gracious a goddess + Shall grow into beauty like Steingerd." + +Then Steingerd cried out that she would not have him make songs upon +her: but he went on:-- + + (61) + "I have known it and noted it clearly, + O neckleted fair one, in visions, + --Is it doom for my hopes,--is it daring + To dream?--O so oft have I seen it!-- + Even this,--that the boughs of thy beauty, + O braceleted fair one, shall twine them + Round the hill where the hawk loves to settle, + The hand of thy lover, at last." + +"That," said she, "never shall be, if I can help it. Thou didst let me +go, once for all; and there is no more hope for thee." + +So then they slept the night long; and in the morning, when Cormac was +making ready to be gone, he found Steingerd, and took the ring off his +finger to give her. + +"Fiend take thee and thy gold together!" she cried. And this is what he +answered:-- + + (62) + "To a dame in her broideries dainty + This drift of the furnace I tendered; + O day of ill luck, for a lover + So lured, and so heartlessly cheated! + Too blithe in the pride of her beauty-- + The bliss that I crave she denies me; + So rich that no boon can I render, + --And my ring she would hurl to the fiends!" + +So Cormac rode forth, being somewhat angry with Steingerd, but still +more so with the Tinker. He rode home to Mel, and stayed there all the +winter, taking lodgings for his chapmen near the ship. + + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY. Of A Spiteful Song That Cormac Never Made; And How Angry +Steingerd Was. + +Now Thorvald the Tinker lived in the north-country at Svinadal +(Swindale), but his brother Thorvard at Fliot. In the winter Cormac took +his way northward to see Steingerd; and coming to Svinadal he dismounted +and went into the chamber. She was sitting on the dais, and he took his +seat beside her; Thorvald sat on the bench, and Narfi by him. + +Then said Narfi to Thorvald, "How canst thou sit down, with Cormac here? +It is no time, this, for sitting still!" + +But Thorvald answered, "I am content; there is no harm done it seems to +me, though they do talk together." + +"That is ill," said Narfi. + +Not long afterwards Thorvald met his brother Thorvard and told him about +Cormac's coming to his house. + +"Is it right, think you," said Thorvard, "to sit still while such things +happen?" + +He answered that there was no harm done as yet, but that Cormac's coming +pleased him not. + +"I'll mend that," cried Thorvard, "if you dare not. The shame of it +touches us all." + +So this was the next thing,--that Thorvard came to Svinadal, and the +Skiding brothers and Narfi paid a gangrel beggar-man to sing a song in +the hearing of Steingerd, and to say that Cormac had made it,--which was +a lie. They said that Cormac had taught this song to one called Eylaug, +a kinswoman of his; and these were the words:-- + + (63) + "I wish an old witch that I know of, + So wealthy and proud of her havings, + Were turned to a steed in the stable + --Called Steingerd--and I were the rider! + I'd bit her, and bridle, and saddle, + I'd back her and drive her and tame her; + So many she owns for her masters, + But mine she will never become!" + +Then Steingerd grew exceedingly angry, so that she would not so much as +hear Cormac named. When he heard that, he went to see her. Long time +he tried in vain to get speech with her; but at last she gave this +answer,--that she misliked his holding her up to shame,--"And now it is +all over the country-side!" + +Cormac said it was not true; but she answered, "Thou mightest flatly +deny it, if I had not heard it." + +"Who sang it in thy hearing?" asked he. + +She told him who sang it,--"And thou needest not hope for speech with me +if this prove true." + +He rode away to look for the rascal, and when he found him the truth +was forced out at last. Cormac was very angry, and set on Narfi and slew +him. That same onset was meant for Thorvald, but he hid himself in the +shadow and skulked, until men came between then and parted them. Said +Cormac:-- + + (64) + "There, hide in the house like a coward, + And hope not hereafter to scare me + With the scorn of thy brethren the Skidings,-- + I'll set them a weft for their weaving! + I'll rhyme on the swaggering rascals + Till rocks go afloat on the water; + And lucky for you if ye loosen + The line of your fate that I ravel!" + +This went all over the country-side and the feud grew fiercer between +them. The brothers Thorvald and Thorvard used big words, and Cormac was +wroth when he heard them. + + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE. How Thorvard Would Not Fight, But Tried To Get The +Law Of Cormac. + +After this Thorvard sent word from Fliot that he was fain to fight +Cormac, and he fixed time and place, saying that he would now take +revenge for that song of shame and all other slights. + +To this Cormac agreed; and when the day came he went to the spot that +was named, but Thorvard was not there, nor any of his men. Cormac met a +woman from the farm hard by, who greeted him, and they asked each other +for news. + +"What is your errand?" said she; "and why are you waiting here?" + +Then he answered with this song:-- + + (65) + "Too slow for the struggle I find him, + That spender of fire from the ocean, + Who flung me a challenge to fight him + From Fleet in the land of the North. + That half-witted hero should get him + A heart made of clay for his carcase, + Though the mate of the may with the necklace + Is more of a fool than his fere!" + +"Now," said Cormac, "I bid Thorvard anew to the holmgang, if he can +be called in his right mind. Let him be every man's nithing if he come +not!" and then he made this song:-- + + (66) + "The nithing shall silence me never, + Though now for their shame they attack me, + But the wit of the Skald is my weapon, + And the wine of the gods will uphold me. + And this they shall feel in its fulness; + Here my fame has its birth and beginning; + And the stout spears of battle shall see it, + If I 'scape from their hands with my life." + +Then the brothers set on foot a law-suit against him for libel. Cormac's +kinsmen backed him up to answer it, and he would let no terms be made, +saying that they deserved the shame put upon them, and no honour; he was +not unready to meet them, unless they played him false. Thorvard had +not come to the holmgang when he had been challenged, and therefore the +shame had fallen of itself upon him and his, and they must put up with +it. + +So time passed until the Huna-water Thing. Thorvard and Cormac both went +to the meeting, and once they came together. + +"Much enmity we owe thee," said Thorvard, "and in many ways. Now +therefore I challenge thee to the holmgang, here at the Thing." + +Said Cormac, "Wilt thou be fitter than before? Thou hast drawn back time +after time." + +"Nevertheless," said Thorvard, "I will risk it. We can abide thy spite +no longer." + +"Well," said Cormac, "I'll not stand in the way;" and went home to Mel. + + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO. What The Witch Did For Them In Their Fights. + +At Spakonufell (Spae-wife's-fell) lived Thordis the spae-wife, of whom +we have told before, with her husband Thorolf. They were both at the +Thing, and many a man thought her good-will was of much avail. So +Thorvard sought her out, to ask her help against Cormac, and gave her a +fee; and she made him ready for the holmgang according to her craft. + +Now Cormac told his mother what was forward, and she asked if he thought +good would come of it. + +"Why not?" said he. + +"That will not be enough for thee," said Dalla. "Thorvard will never +make bold to fight without witchcraft to help him. I think it wise for +thee to see Thordis the spae-wife, for there is going to be foul play in +this affair." + +"It is little to my mind," said he; and yet went to see Thordis, and +asked her help. + +"Too late ye have come," said she. "No weapon will bite on him now. And +yet I would not refuse thee. Bide here to-night, and seek thy good luck. +Anyway, I can manage so that iron bite thee no more than him." + +So Cormac stayed there for the night; and, awaking, found that some one +was groping round the coverlet at his head. "Who is there?" he asked, +but whoever it was made off, and out at the house-door, and Cormac +after. And then he saw it was Thordis, and she was going to the place +where the fight was to be, carrying a goose under her arm. + +He asked what it all meant, and she set down the goose, saying, "Why +couldn't ye keep quiet?" + +So he lay down again, but held himself awake, for he wanted to know what +she would be doing. Three times she came, and every time he tried to +find out what she was after. The third time, just as he came out, she +had killed two geese and let the blood run into a bowl, and she had +taken up the third goose to kill it. + +"What means this business, foster-mother?" said he. + +"True it will prove, Cormac, that you are a hard one to help," said she. +"I was going to break the spell Thorveig laid on thee and Steingerd. Ye +could have loved one another been happy if I had killed the third goose +and no one seen it." + +"I believe nought of such things," cried he; and this song he made about +it:-- + + (67) + "I gave her an ore at the ayre, + That the arts of my foe should not prosper; + And twice she has taken the knife, + And twice she has offered the offering; + But the blood is the blood of a goose-- + What boots it if two should be slaughtered?-- + Never sacrifice geese for a Skald + Who sings for the glory of Odin!" + +So they went to the holmgang: but Thorvald gave the spae-wife a still +greater fee, and offered the sacrifice of geese; and Cormac said:-- + + (68) + "Trust never another man's mistress! + For I know, on this woman who weareth + The fire of the field of the sea-king + The fiends have been riding to revel. + The witch with her hoarse cry is working + For woe when we go to the holmgang, + And if bale be the end of the battle + The blame, be assured, will be hers." + +"Well," she said, "I can manage so that none shall know thee." Then +Cormac began to upbraid her, saying she did nought but ill, and wanting +to drag her out to the door to look at her eyes in the sunshine. His +brother Thorgils made him leave that:--"What good will it do thee?" said +he. + +Now Steingerd gave out that she had a mind to see the fight; and so she +did. When Cormac saw her he made this song:-- + + (69) + "I have fared to the field of the battle, + O fair one that wearest the wimple! + And twice for thy sake have I striven; + What stays me as now from thy favour? + This twice have I gotten thee glory, + O goddess of ocean! and surely + To my dainty delight, to my darling + I am dearer by far than her mate." + +So then they set to. Cormac's sword bit not at all, and for a long while +they smote strokes one upon the other, but neither sword bit. At last +Cormac smote upon Thorvard's side so great a blow that his ribs gave +way and were broken; he could fight no more, and thereupon they parted. +Cormac looked and saw where a bull was standing, which he slew for a +sacrifice; and being heated, he doffed his helmet from his head, saying +this song:-- + + (70) + "I have fared to the field of the battle, + O fair one that wearest the bracelet! + Even three times for thee have I striven, + And this thou canst never deny me. + But the reed of the fight would not redden, + Though it rang on the shield-bearer's harness; + For the spells of a spae-wife had blunted + My sword that was eager for blood." + +He wiped the sweat from him on the corner of Steingerd's mantle; and +said:-- + + (71) + "So oft, being wounded and weary, + I must wipe my sad brow on thy mantle. + What pangs for thy sake are my portion, + O pine-tree with red gold enwreathed! + Yet beside thee he snugs on the settle + As thou seamest thy broidery,--that rhymester! + And the shame of it whelms me in sorrow, + O Steingerd!--that rascal unslain!" + +And then Cormac prayed Steingerd that she would go with him: but Nay, +she said; she would have her own way about men. So they parted, and both +were ill pleased. + +Thorvard was taken home, and she bound his wounds. Cormac was now always +meeting with Steingerd. Thorvard healed but slowly; and when he could +get on his feet he went to see Thordis, and asked her what was best to +help his healing. + +"A hill there is," answered she, "not far away from here, where elves +have their haunt. Now get you the bull that Cormac killed, and redden +the outer side of the hill with its blood, and make a feast for the +elves with its flesh. Then thou wilt be healed." + +So they sent word to Cormac that they would buy the bull. He answered +that he would sell it, but then he must have the ring that was +Steingerd's. So they brought the ring, took the bull, and did with it as +Thordis bade them do. On which Cormac made a song:-- + + (72) + "When the workers of wounds are returning, + And with them the sacrifice reddened, + Then a lady in raiment of linen, + Who loved me, time was,--she will ask:-- + My ring,--have ye robbed me?--where is it? + --I have wrought them no little displeasure: + For the swain that is swarthy has won it, + The son of old Ogmund, the skald." + +It fell out as he guessed. Steingerd was very angry because they had +sold her ring. + + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE. How Cormac Beat Thorvard Again. + +After that, Thorvard was soon healed, and when he thought he was strong +again, he rode to Mel and challenged Cormac to the holmgang. + +"It takes thee long to tire of it," said Cormac: "but I'll not say thee +nay." + +So they went to the fight, and Thordis met Thorvard now as before, but +Cormac sought no help from her. She blunted Cormac's sword, so that +it would not bite, but yet he struck so great a stroke on Thorvard's +shoulder that the collarbone was broken and his hand was good for +nothing. Being so maimed he could fight no longer, and had to pay +another ring for his ransom. + +Then Thorolf of Spakonufell set upon Cormac and struck at him. He warded +off the blow and sang this song:-- + + (73) + "This reddener of shields, feebly wrathful, + His rusty old sword waved against me, + Who am singer and sacred to Odin! + Go, snuffle, most wretched of men, thou! + A thrust of thy sword is as thewless + As thou, silly stirrer of battle. + What danger to me from thy daring, + Thou doited old witch-woman's carle?" + +Then he killed a bull in sacrifice according to use and wont, saying, +"Ill we brook your overbearing and the witchcraft of Thordis:" and he +made this song:-- + + (74) + "The witch in the wave of the offering + Has wasted the flame of the buckler, + Lest its bite on his back should be deadly + At the bringing together of weapons. + My sword was not sharp for the onset + When I sought the helm-wearer in battle; + But the cur got enough to cry craven, + With a clout that will mind him of me!" + +After that each party went home, and neither was well pleased with these +doings. + + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR. How They All Went Out To Norway. + +Now all the winter long Cormac and Thorgils laid up their ship in +Hrutafiord; but in spring the chapmen were off to sea, and so the +brothers made up their minds for the voyage. When they were ready to +start, Cormac went to see Steingerd: and before they two parted he +kissed her twice, and his kisses were not at all hasty. The Tinker would +not have it; and so friends on both sides came in, and it was settled +that Cormac should pay for this that he had done. + +"How much?" asked he. + +"The two rings that I parted with," said Thorvard. Then Cormac made a +song:-- + + (75) + "Here is gold of the other's well gleaming + In guerdon for this one and that one,-- + Here is treasure of Fafnir the fire-drake + In fee for the kiss of my lady. + Never wearer of ring, never wielder + Of weapon has made such atonement; + Never dearer were deeply-drawn kisses,-- + For the dream of my bliss is betrayed." + +And then, when he started to go aboard his ship he made another song:-- + + (76) + "One song from my heart would I send her + Ere we shall, ere I leave her and lose her, + That dainty one, decked in her jewels + Who dwells in the valley of Swindale. + And each word that I utter shall enter + The ears of that lady of bounty, + Saying--Bright one, my beauty, I love thee, + Ah, better by far than my life!" + +So Cormac went abroad and his brother Thorgils went with him; and when +they came to the king's court they were made welcome. + +Now it is told that Steingerd spoke to Thorvald the Tinker that they +also should abroad together. He answered that it was mere folly, but +nevertheless he could not deny her. So they set off on their voyage: and +as they made their way across the sea, they were attacked by vikings who +fell on them to rob them and to carry away Steingerd. But it so happened +that Cormac heard of it; and he made after them and gave good help, so +that they saved everything that belonged to them, and came safely at +last to the court of the king of Norway. + +One day Cormac was walking in the street, and spied Steingerd sitting +within doors. So he went into the house and sat down beside her, and +they had a talk together which ended in his kissing her four kisses. But +Thorvald was on the watch. He drew his sword, but the women-folk rushed +in to part them, and word was sent to King Harald. He said they were +very troublesome people to keep in order.--"But let me settle this +matter between you," said he; and they agreed. + +Then spake the king:--"One kiss shall be atoned for by this, that Cormac +helped you to get safely to land. The next kiss is Cormac's, because he +saved Steingerd. For the other two he shall pay two ounces of gold." + +Upon which Cormac sang the same song that he had made before:-- + + (77) + "Here is gold of the otter's well gleaming + In guerdon for this one and that one,-- + Here is treasure of Fafnir the fire-drake + In fee for the kiss of my lady. + Never wearer of ring, never wielder + Of weapon has made such atonement; + Never dearer were deeply-drawn kisses-- + And the dream of my bliss is betrayed." + +Another day he was walking in the street and met Steingerd again. He +turned to her and prayed her to walk with him. She would not; whereupon +he laid hand on her, to lead her along. She cried out for help; and as +it happened, the king was standing not far off, and went up to them. +He thought this behaviour most unseemly, and took her away, speaking +sharply to Cormac. King Harald made himself very angry over this affair; +but Cormac was one of his courtiers, and it was not long before he got +into favour again, and then things went fair and softly for the rest of +the winter. + + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE. How They Cruised With The King's Fleet, And +Quarrelled, And Made It Up. + +In the following spring King Harald set forth to the land of Permia with +a great host. Cormac was one of the captains in that warfaring, and in +another ship was Thorvald: the other captains of ships are not named in +our story. + +Now as they were all sailing in close order through a narrow sound, +Cormac swung his steering-oar and hit Thorvald a clout on the ear, so +that he fell from his place at the helm in a swoon; and Cormac's ship +hove to, when she lost her rudder. Steingerd had been sitting beside +Thorvald; she laid hold of the tiller, and ran Cormac down. When he saw +what she was doing, he sang:-- + + (78) + "There is one that is nearer and nigher + To the noblest of dames than her lover: + With the haft of the helm is he smitten + On the hat-block--and fairly amidships! + The false heir of Eystein--he falters-- + He falls in the poop of his galley! + Nay! steer not upon me, O Steingerd, + Though stoutly ye carry the day!" + +So Cormac's ship capsized under him; but his crew were saved without +loss of time, for there were plenty of people round about. Thorvald soon +came round again, and they all went on their way. The king offered +to settle the matter between them; and when they both agreed, he gave +judgment that Thorvald's hurt was atoned for by Cormac's upset. + +In the evening they went ashore; and the king and his men sat down to +supper. Cormac was sitting outside the door of a tent, drinking out of +the same cup with Steingerd. While they were busy at it, a young fellow +for mere sport and mockery stole the brooch out of Cormac's fur cloak, +which he had doffed and laid aside; and when he came to take his cloak +again, the brooch was gone. He sprang up and rushed after the young +fellow, with the spear that he called Vigr (the spear) and shot at him, +but missed. This was the song he made about it:-- + + (79) + "The youngster has pilfered my pin, + As I pledged the gay dame in the beaker; + And now must we brawl for a brooch + Like boys when they wrangle and tussle. + Right well have I shafted my spear, + Though I shot nothing more than the gravel: + But sure, if I missed at my man, + The moss has been prettily slaughtered!" + +After this they went on their way to the land of Permia, and after that +they went home again to Norway. + + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX. How Cormac Saved Steingerd Once More From Pirates; +And How They Parted For Good And All. + +Thorvald the Tinker fitted out his ship for a cruise to Denmark, and +Steingerd sailed with him. A little afterwards the brothers set out on +the same voyage, and late one evening they made the Brenneyjar. + +There they saw Thorvald's ship riding, and found him aboard with part of +his crew; but they had been robbed of all their goods, and Steingerd +had been carried off by Vikings. Now the leader of those Vikings was +Thorstein, the son of that Asmund Ashenside, the old enemy of Ogmund, +the father of Cormac and Thorgils. + +So Thorvald and Cormac met, and Cormac asked how came it that his voyage +had been so unlucky. + +"Things have not turned out for the best, indeed," said he. + +"What is the matter?" asked Cormac. "Is Steingerd missing?" + +"She is gone," said Thorvald, "and all our goods." + +"Why don't you go after her?" asked Cormac. + +"We are not strong enough," said Thorvald. + +"Do you mean to say you can't?" said Cormac. + +"We have not the means to fight Thorstein," said Thorvald. "But if thou +hast, go in and fight for thy own hand." + +"I will," said Cormac. + +So at nightfall the brothers went in a boat and rowed to the Viking +fleet, and boarded Thorstein's ship. Steingerd was in the cabin on the +poop; she had been allotted to one of the Vikings; but most of the crew +were ashore round the cooking-fires. Cormac got the story out of the men +who were cooking, and they told all the brothers wanted to know. They +clambered on board by the ladder; Thorgils dragged the bridegroom out to +the gunwale, and Cormac cut him down then and there. Then he dived into +the sea with Steingerd and swam ashore; but when he was nearing the land +a swarm of eels twisted round his hands and feet, so that he was dragged +under. On which he made this song:-- + + (80) + "They came at me yonder in crowds, + O kemp of the shield-serpents' wrangle! + When I fared on my way through the flood, + That flock of the wights of the water. + And ne'er to the gate of the gods + Had I got me, if there had I perished; + Yet once and again have I won, + Little woman, thy safety in peril!" + +So he swam ashore and brought Steingerd back to her husband. + +Thorvald bade Steingerd to go, at last, along with Cormac, for he had +fairly won her, and manfully. That was what he, too, desired, said +Cormac; but "Nay," said Steingerd, "she would not change knives." + +"Well," said Cormac, "it was plain that this was not to be. Evil +beings," he said, "ill luck, had parted them long ago." And he made this +song:-- + + (81) + "Nay, count not the comfort had brought me, + Fair queen of the ring, thy embrace! + Go, mate with the man of thy choosing, + Scant mirth will he get of thy grace! + Be dearer henceforth to thy dastard, + False dame of the coif, than to me;-- + I have spoken the word; I have sung it;-- + I have said my last farewell to thee." + +And so he bade her begone with her husband. + + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN. The Swan-Songs of Cormac. + +After these things the brothers turned back to Norway, and Thorvald the +Tinker made his way to Iceland. But the brothers went warfaring round +about Ireland, Wales, England and Scotland, and they were reckoned to +be the most famous of men. It was they who first built the castle of +Scarborough; they made raids into Scotland, and achieved many great +feats, and led a mighty host; and in all that host none was like Cormac +in strength and courage. + +Once upon a time, after a battle, Cormac was driving the flying foe +before him while the rest of his host had gone back aboard ship. Out of +the woods there rushed against him one as monstrous big as an idol--a +Scot; and a fierce struggle began. Cormac felt for his sword, but it +had slipped out of the sheath; he was over-matched, for the giant was +possessed; but yet he reached out, caught his sword, and struck the +giant his death-blow. Then the giant cast his hands about Cormac, and +gripped his sides so hard that the ribs cracked, and he fell over, and +the dead giant on top of him, so that he could not stir. Far and wide +his folk were looking for him, but at last they found him and carried +him aboard ship. Then he made this song:-- + + (82) + "When my manhood was matched in embraces + With the might of yon horror, the strangler, + Far other I found it than folding + That fair one ye know in my arms! + On the high-seat of heroes with Odin + From the horn of the gods I were drinking + O'er soon--let me speak it to warriors-- + If Skrymir had failed of his aid." + +Then his wounds were looked to; they found that his ribs were broken on +both sides. He said it was no use trying to heal him, and lay there in +his wounds for a time, while his men grieved that he should have been so +unwary of his life. + +He answered them in song:-- + + (83) + "Of yore never once did I ween it, + When I wielded the cleaver of targets, + That sickness was fated to foil me-- + A fighter so hardy as I. + But I shrink not, for others must share it, + Stout shafts of the spear though they deem them, + --O hard at my heart is the death-pang,-- + Thus hopeless the bravest may die." + +And this song also:-- + + (84) + "He came not with me in the morning, + Thy mate, O thou fairest of women, + When we reddened for booty the broadsword, + So brave to the hand-grip, in Ireland: + When the sword from its scabbard was loosened + And sang round my cheeks in the battle + For the feast of the Fury, and blood-drops + Fell hot on the neb of the raven." + +And then he began to fail. + +This was his last song:-- + + (85) + "There was dew from the wound smitten deeply + That drained from the stroke of the sword-edge; + There was red on the weapon I wielded + In the war with the glorious and gallant: + Yet not where the broadsword,--the blood wand,-- + Was borne by the lords of the falchion, + But low in the straw like a laggard, + O my lady, dishonoured I die!" + +He said that his will was to give Thorgils his brother all he had,--the +goods he owned and the host he led; for he would like best, he said, +that his brother should have the use of them. + +So then Cormac died. Thorgils became captain over the host, and was long +time in viking. + +And so ends the story. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Life and Death of Cormac the Skald, by Unknown + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE AND DEATH OF CORMAC *** + +***** This file should be named 265.txt or 265.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/265/ + +Produced by Doublas B. Killings + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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