The Life and Death of Cormac the Skald [Iceland] | Page 3

A.D.
although parts may be based on a now lost 12th century saga.
Author unknown.
Translation by W.G. Collingwood & J. Stefansson (Ulverston, 1901).

This electronic text edited, proofed, and prepared by
Doublas B.
Killings ([email protected]
), March 1995.
Project Gutenberg's Etext of Life and Death of Cormac the Skald
CHAPTER ONE
Cormac's Fore-Elders.
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.
CHAPTER TWO
How Cormac Was Born and Bred.
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 highseat -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.
CHAPTER THREE
How Cormac Fell In Love.
There was a man named Thorkel lived