Title: The Life and Death of Cormac the Skald
Translator: W. G. Collingwood
Jón Stefánsson
Release date: July 3, 2008 [eBook #265]
Most recently updated: January 28, 2021
Language: English
Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/265
Credits: Produced by Doublas B. Killings and David Widger
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE. Cormac's Fore-Elders.
CHAPTER TWO. How Cormac Was Born and Bred.
CHAPTER THREE. How Cormac Fell In Love.
CHAPTER FOUR. How Cormac Liked Black-Puddings.
CHAPTER FIVE. They Waylay Cormac: And The Witch Curses Him.
CHAPTER SIX. Cormac Wins His Bride and Loses Her.
CHAPTER SEVEN. How Steingerd Was Married To Somebody Else.
CHAPTER EIGHT. How Cormac Chased Bersi And His Bride.
CHAPTER NINE. Of Another Witch, And Two Magic Swords.
CHAPTER TEN. The Fight On Leidarholm.
CHAPTER ELEVEN. The Songs That Were Made About The Fight.
CHAPTER TWELVE. Bersi's Bad Luck At The Thor's-Ness Thing.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN. Steingerd Leaves Bersi.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN. The Bane Of Thorkel Toothgnasher.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN. The Rescue Of Steinvor Slim-ankles.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN. How Vali Fell Before An Old Man And A Boy.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. How Steingerd Was Married Again.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. Cormac's Voyage To Norway.
CHAPTER NINETEEN. How Cormac Fought In Ireland, And Went Home
CHAPTER TWENTY. Of A Spiteful Song That Cormac Never Made
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE. How Thorvard Would Not Fight
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO. What The Witch Did For Them In Their Fights.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE. How Cormac Beat Thorvard Again.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR. How They All Went Out To Norway.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE. How They Cruised With The King's Fleet
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX. How Cormac Saved Steingerd Once More From Pirates
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN. The Swan-Songs of Cormac.
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.
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.
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:—
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:—
And then he made another song:—
Said Tosti, “She is fairly staring at thee!”—And he answered:—
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:—
Said the maid, “Black are his eyes, sister, and that becomes him not.” Cormac heard her, and said in verse:—
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:—
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:—
Then Tosti came in, and called Cormac out to some work or other; but he said:—
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:—
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.
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:—
To which he answered:—
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:—
And he made another song about:—
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:—
And when he could find Steingerd nowhere, he made this song:—
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:—
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:—
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!”
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:—
“Say no such big words about it,” answered she; “Many a thing may stand in the road.”
Upon which he said:—
And she answered:—
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.
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:—
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.
“What now, brother?” asked Thorgils.
He answered:—
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:—
Bersi got hastily to horse, and rode homewards; and when Cormac saw that he must be left behind, he made this song:—
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.
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:—