The Life and Death of Cormac the Skald [22]
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: --
(75) "Here is gold of the other's well gleaming In guerdon for this one and that one, -- Here is treasure of Fafnir the fire-drake In fee for the kiss of my lady. Never wearer of ring, never wielder Of 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: --
(76) "One song from my heart would I send her Ere we shall, ere I leave her and lose her, That dainty one, decked in her jewels Who dwells in the valley of Swindale. And each word that I utter shall enter The 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: --
(77) "Here is gold of the otter's well gleaming In guerdon for this one and that one, -- Here is treasure of Fafnir the fire-drake In fee for the kiss of my lady. Never wearer of ring, never wielder Of 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 TWENTY-FIVE How They Cruised With The King's Fleet, And Quarrelled, And Made It Up.
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
"How much?" asked he.
"The two rings that I parted with," said Thorvard. Then Cormac made a song: --
(75) "Here is gold of the other's well gleaming In guerdon for this one and that one, -- Here is treasure of Fafnir the fire-drake In fee for the kiss of my lady. Never wearer of ring, never wielder Of 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: --
(76) "One song from my heart would I send her Ere we shall, ere I leave her and lose her, That dainty one, decked in her jewels Who dwells in the valley of Swindale. And each word that I utter shall enter The 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: --
(77) "Here is gold of the otter's well gleaming In guerdon for this one and that one, -- Here is treasure of Fafnir the fire-drake In fee for the kiss of my lady. Never wearer of ring, never wielder Of 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 TWENTY-FIVE How They Cruised With The King's Fleet, And Quarrelled, And Made It Up.
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