CHAPTER TWENTY. 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:--

(63)
"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 s