The The Life and Death of Cormac the Skald (Kormáks saga) on Ogmund
Life And Death Of Cormac The Skald
attestation: Ogmund, son of the elder Cormac, was a sea-rover in summer and served in King Harald's household in winter, earning wealth and fame.
"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."
attestation: Ogmund fought Asmund Ashenside in the British Isles; despite Asmund's greater numbers, Ogmund won by cutting off Asmund's leg and took three marks of gold as ransom.
"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."
attestation: Ogmund married Helga, daughter of Earl Frodi; after Ogmund later defeated Asmund again in single combat, Asmund's leg was cut off and he paid three marks of gold to live.
"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."
attestation: Ogmund cast his high-seat pillars overboard upon approaching Iceland, following the custom of settling where the pillars washed ashore, which led him to Midfiord.
"When they were near the land, Ogmund cast overboard his high-seat-pillars; and where the high-seat-pillars had already been washed ashore, there they cast anchor, and landed in Midfiord."
attestation: Ogmund's measuring ritual showed diminishing luck three times, signifying that the household's luck would decrease at his chosen settlement.
"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."
attestation: Ogmund settled on the sandhills at Midfiord and married Dalla, daughter of Onund the Seer; their sons were Thorgils and Cormac the skald.
"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."