The The Life and Death of Cormac the Skald (Kormáks saga) on Holmgang Bersi

Life And Death Of Cormac The Skald

• attestation: Holmgang Bersi lived in Saurbae; he was rich, a good fellow, a fighter, and a holmgang champion; his first wife Finna the Fair had died, leaving a son Asmund.

  "Bersi lived in the land of Saurbae, a rich man and a good fellow: he was well to the fore, a fighter, and a champion at the holmgang. He had been married to Finna the Fair: but she was dead: Asmund was their son, young in years and early ripe."

• attestation: Bersi's sister Helga kept his household after Finna the Fair died; she was unmarried but a fine and ambitious woman.

  "Helga was the sister of Bersi: she was unmarried, but a fine woman and a pushing one, and she kept house for Bersi after Finna died."

• attestation: Bersi rode north with eighteen men for the wedding; Vigi the warlock, Bersi's kinsman and skilled in knowing men's affairs, went with them and used his powers to prevent Narfi from alerting Cormac.

  "There was a man named Vigi lived at Holm, a big man and strong of his hands, a warlock, and Bersi's kinsman. He went with them, and they thought he would be a good helper."

• attestation: The wedding of Bersi and Steingerd was held quickly to prevent news spreading; it was against Steingerd's will, and she tried to send Narfi to warn Cormac but Vigi intercepted him twice.

  "When they came to Thorkel's, they set about the wedding at once, so that no news of it might get out through the countryside: but all this was sore against Steingerd's will."

• attestation: At Muli, Bersi offered his sister Helga to Cormac in marriage as an alternative to taking Steingerd back; Cormac refused the offer after Thordis the spae-wife at Spakonufell discouraged it.

  ""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."

• attestation: Bersi owned the sword Whitting, a sharp sword with a life-stone, which he had carried in many frays.

  "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."

• attestation: Bersi offered to substitute simple sword-play for the formal holmgang, saying Cormac was young and the holmgang required craft, but Cormac insisted on the holmgang.

  "Bersi spoke and said, "Thou, Cormac, hast challenged me to the holmgang; instead of that, I offer thee to fight in simple sword-play. Thou art a young man and little tried; the holmgang needs craft and cunning, but sword-play, man to man, is an easy game." Cormac answered, "I should fight no better even so. I will run the risk, and stand on equal footing with thee, every way.""

• attestation: On the road from Ellidi, Steinar and Cormac encountered Bersi; Bersi offered to heal Cormac's wound, which Cormac refused, declaring himself Bersi's lifelong foe.

  ""Wilt thou let me heal thee?" said Bersi; "though from me thou didst get it: and then it will be soon over." Cormac said nay, for he meant to be his lifelong foe."

• attestation: When Thord asked Bersi for amends over the wrestling injury, Bersi dismissed him harshly; this caused a coolness between them through the winter.

  "Said Bersi, "Thou art far too greedy of getting, nowadays. This kind of thing will end in losing thee thy good name. Thou wilt never want while anything is to be got here." Thord went home, and there was a coolness between them while that winter lasted."

• attestation: Bersi rode to the Thor's-ness Thing for the spring assembly and took Thord's boat from the shore without permission when he found Thord had already left without him.

  "So Bersi set out and came to Muli, but when he got there Thord was gone. "Well," said he, "Thord has broken old use and wont in awaiting me no longer.""

• attestation: Bersi sat in Olaf Peacock of Hjardarholt's tent at the Thing; a big man in a bearskin coat blocked his usual seat and refused to give his name, which turned out to be Steinar, who challenged Bersi to a fight.

  "He found no seat. He used to sit next Thord, but that place was filled. In it there sat a big and strong-looking man, with a bear-skin coat, and a hood that shaded his face."

• attestation: Bersi used Thorveig's iron-bound target (the shield she had gifted him) at the fight with Steinar after his own two shields were cut up.

  "So Bersi went to the trysting-place with a shield-bearer who is not named in the story, and with the round target that once had belonged to Thorveig."

• attestation: Bersi composed a verse (36) to Steinar before the fight, declaring he was long practiced in battle and unflinching in the holmgang.

  ""They that waken the storm of the spear-points-- For slaughter and strife they are famous-- To the island they bid me for battle, Nor bitter I think it nor woeful; For long in that craft am I learned""

• attestation: Bersi struck down Steinar and had the sword-point at Steinar's breast when Thord dragged Steinar away out of reach, taking revenge for the mauling of his sons.

  "But Bersi leapt up, slashed at him, and clove his shield. The sword-point was at Steinar's breast when Thord rushed forth and dragged him away, out of reach. "There!" cried Thord to Bersi, "I have paid thee for the mauling of my sons.""

• attestation: Bersi was wounded at the fight with Steinar and lay long recovering; he composed verses lamenting Thord's betrayal and expecting death.

  "So Bersi was carried to the tent, and his wound was dressed. After a while, Thord came in; and when Bersi saw him he said: "When the wolf of the war-god was howling Erstwhile in the north, thou didst aid me""

• attestation: Bersi composed three verses (38-40) after the fight lamenting Thord's treachery in failing to hold his shield, expecting death, and proclaiming he remained unafraid despite enemies.

  ""But now wilt thou never, O warrior, At need in the storm-cloud of Odin Give me help in the tempest of targes --Untrusty, unfaithful art thou.""

• attestation: In the holmgang at Orrestholm, Bersi killed Thorkel Toothgnasher with Whitting after Thorkel refused a third shield and objected to the length of Bersi's sword; Bersi then sang that this was his thirtieth kill.

  "Said Thorkel, "The sword ye have, Bersi, is longer than lawful." "That shall not be," cried Bersi; and took up his other sword, Whitting, two-handed, and smote Thorkel his deathblow. Then sang he: "I have smitten Toothgnasher and slain him""

• attestation: After killing Thorkel Toothgnasher, Bersi claimed to have killed thirty men in total, and boasted no mightier man lived among lords of the sea.

  ""I have smitten Toothgnasher and slain him, And I smile at the pride of his boasting. One more to my thirty I muster""

• attestation: After the settlement with Vali, Bersi built a strong stone wall around his homestead and lived there in peace for many winters.

  "Bersi afterwards had a strong stone wall built around his homestead, and sat there for many winters in peace."

• attestation: Bersi rode fully armed to Thambardal, rescued Steinvor, then killed Thorarin and three of his sons—Alf, Loft, and Skofti—in a narrow gap through which the road ran.

  "He came to Thambardal when the day was far spent and the women were coming out of the bower. Steinvor saw him and turning to meet him told of her unhappiness. "Make ready to go with me," said he; and that he did."

• attestation: Bersi killed Thorarin with his sword Whitting after Thorarin rushed out with a carving-knife; then at a narrow gap he killed Alf with a spear and Loft and Skofti in quick succession.

  "Bersi was aware of it, and drew Whitting, and struck him his death-blow. Then he leapt on horseback and set Steinvor on his knee and took his spears"

• attestation: Bersi returned home before dawn and reported killing Thorarin and his three sons (Alf, Loft, Skofti) in verse to Odd; no blood-money was paid for Thorarin and his sons.

  ""Thorarin the Strong, 'neath the slayer Lay slain by the might of my weapon. And loss of their lives men abided When Loft fell, and Alf fell, and Skofti. They were four, yonder kinsmen, and fated-- They were fey--and I met them, alone!""

• attestation: As Bersi aged he asked Olaf Peacock for a foster-child to ensure a loyal friend; Olaf gave him Halldor, whom Steinvor nursed.

  "So he went to see Olaf, and asked for a child to foster. Olaf took it with thanks, and Bersi carried Halldor home with him and got Steinvor to be nurse."

• attestation: Bersi, now aging and weakened, plotted with Steinvor to pick a false quarrel over a milk-kettle; after Steinvor reported mistreatment to Vali, Bersi and twelve-year-old Halldor ambushed Vali and killed him.

  ""Pick a quarrel," said he, "with Thordis about the milk-kettle, and do thou hold on to it until you whelm it over between you. Then I will come in and take her part and give thee nought but bad words. Then go to Vali and tell him how ill we treat thee.""