Kormáks Saga
Reference: 20
External Link Of A Spiteful Song That Cormac Never Made; And How Angry Steingerd Was
Now Thorvald the Tinker lived in the north-country at Svinadal (Swindale), but his brother Thorvard at Fliot. In the winter Cormac took his way northward to see Steingerd; and coming to Svinadal he dismounted and went into the chamber. She was sitting on the dais, and he took his seat beside her; Thorvald sat on the bench, and Narfi by him.
Then said Narfi to Thorvald, "How canst thou sit down, with Cormac here? It is no time, this, for sitting still!"
But Thorvald answered, "I am content; there is no harm done it seems to me, though they do talk together."
"That is ill," said Narfi.
Not long afterwards Thorvald met his brother Thorvard and told him about Cormac's coming to his house.
"Is it right, think you," said Thorvard, "to sit still while such things happen?"
He answered that there was no harm done as yet, but that Cormac's coming pleased him not.
"I'll mend that," cried Thorvard, "if you dare not. The shame of it touches us all."
So this was the next thing, - that Thorvard came to Svinadal, and the Skiding brothers and Narfi paid a gangrel beggar-man to sing a song in the hearing of Steingerd, and to say that Cormac had made it, - which was a lie. They said that Cormac had taught this song to one called Eylaug, a kinswoman of his; and these were the words:
"I wish an old witch that I know of,
So wealthy and proud of her havings,
Were turned to a steed in the stable
- Called Steingerd - and I were the rider!
I'd bit her, and bridle, and saddle,
I'd back her and drive her and tame her;
So many she owns for her masters,
But mine she will never become!"
Then Steingerd grew exceedingly angry, so that she would not so much as hear Cormac named. When he heard that, he went to see her. Long time he tried in vain to get speech with her; but at last she gave this answer, - that she misliked his holding her up to shame, - "And now it is all over the country-side!"
Cormac said it was not true; but she answered, "Thou mightest flatly deny it, if I had not heard it."
"Who sang it in thy hearing?" asked he.
She told him who sang it, - "And thou needest not hope for speech with me if this prove true."
He rode away to look for the rascal, and when he found him the truth was forced out at last. Cormac was very angry, and set on Narfi and slew him. That same onset was meant for Thorvald, but he hid himself in the shadow and skulked, until men came between then and parted them. Said Cormac:
"There, hide in the house like a coward,
And hope not hereafter to scare me
With the scorn of thy brethren the Skidings, -
I'll set them a weft for their weaving!
I'll rhyme on the swaggering rascals
Till rocks go afloat on the water;
And lucky for you if ye loosen
The line of your fate that I ravel!"
This went all over the country-side and the feud grew fiercer between them. The brothers Thorvald and Thorvard used big words, and Cormac was wroth when he heard them.