Bókastaðir

Chapter 21

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:

"Too slow for the struggle I find him,That spender of fire from the ocean,Who flung me a challenge to fight himFrom Fleet in the land of the North.That half-witted hero should get himA heart made of clay for his carcase,Though the mate of the may with the necklaceIs 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:

"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 22

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:

"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 SkaldWho 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:

"Trust never another man's mistress!For I know, on this woman who wearethThe fire of the field of the sea-kingThe fiends have been riding to revel.The witch with her hoarse cry is workingFor woe when we go to the holmgang,And if bale be the end of the battleThe 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:

"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 surelyTo my dainty delight, to my darlingI 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:

"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 bluntedMy sword that was eager for blood."

He wiped the sweat from him on the corner of Steingerd's mantle; and said:

"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 settleAs 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:

"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 23

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:

"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 thewlessAs 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:

"The witch in the wave of the offeringHas wasted the flame of the buckler,Lest its bite on his back should be deadlyAt the bringing together of weapons.My sword was not sharp for the onsetWhen 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 24

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:

"Here is gold of the other's well gleamingIn guerdon for this one and that one, -Here is treasure of Fafnir the fire-drakeIn fee for the kiss of my lady.Never wearer of ring, never wielderOf 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:

"One song from my heart would I send herEre we shall, ere I leave her and lose her,That dainty one, decked in her jewelsWho dwells in the valley of Swindale.And each word that I utter shall enterThe 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:

"Here is gold of the otter's well gleamingIn guerdon for this one and that one, -Here is treasure of Fafnir the fire-drakeIn fee for the kiss of my lady.Never wearer of ring, never wielderOf 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 25

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:

"There is one that is nearer and nigherTo the noblest of dames than her lover:With the haft of the helm is he smittenOn 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:

"The youngster has pilfered my pin,As I pledged the gay dame in the beaker;And now must we brawl for a broochLike 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.