.

Cormac Wins His Bride and Loses Her.
After this, Cormac went to see Steingerd the same as ever: and once when they talked over these doings she said no ill of them: whereupon he made this song:-- (18) "There sat they in hiding to slay me From the sight of my bride and my darling: But weak were the feet of my foemen When we fought on the island of weapons.
And the rush of the mightiest rivers Shall race from the shore to the mountains Or ever I leave thee, my lady, And the love that I feast on to-day!" "Say no such big words about it," answered she; "Many a thing may stand in the road." Upon which he said:-- (19) "O sweet in the sheen of thy raiment, The sight of thy beauty is gladdening! What man that goes marching to battle, What mate wouldst thou choose to be thine ?" And she answered:-- (20) "O giver of gold, O ring-breaker, If the gods and the high fates befriend me, I'd pledge me to Frodi's blithe brother And bind him that he should be mine." Then she told him to make friends with her father and get her in marriage.

So for her sake Cormac gave Thorkel good gifts.

Afterwards many people had their say in the matter; but in the end it came to this,--that he asked for her, and she was pledged to him, and the wedding was fixed: and so all was quiet for a while.
Then they had words.

There was some falling-out about settlements.