The Life and Death of Cormac the Skald [Iceland] | Page 4

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 sheepgathering:
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,
0. 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,
0. 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
0. 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
0. 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