The Life and Death of Cormac the Skald [Iceland] | Page 9

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