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Title: The Life and Death of Cormac the Skald
Anonymous Icelandic Epic, 1250-1300 A.D., Although Parts
may be Based on a now Lost 12th Century Saga

Author: Unknown

Translator: W.G. Collingwood and J. Stefansson

Release Date: July 3, 2008 [EBook #265]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE AND DEATH OF CORMAC ***

Produced by Doublas B. Killings

LIFE AND DEATH OF CORMAC THE SKALD

By Unknown Author

Originally written in Icelandic sometime between 1250 - 1300 A.D.
although parts may be based on a now lost 12th century saga.

Translation by W.G. Collingwood & J. Stefansson (Ulverston, 1901).

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