The Life and Death of Cormac the Skald Part 3

(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 b.u.mps 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 sh.o.r.e, 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 sh.o.r.e 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 G.o.ddess 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.