Nay, I spared not the jade when I spurred it --
Than to see thee the bride of my foe."

After this Cormac and his men went home. When he told his mother
how things had gone, "Little good," she said, "will thy luck do
us. Ye have slighted a fine offer, and you have no chance
against Bersi, for he is a great fighter and he has good
weapons."

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.

"Whether wilt thou have weapons to meet Whitting?" she asked.
Cormac said he would have an axe both great and keen.

Dalla said he should see Skeggi of Midfiord and ask for the loan
of his sword, Skofnung. So Cormac went to Reykir and told Skeggi
how matters stood, asking him to lend Skofnung. Skeggi said he
had no mind to lend it. Skofnung and Cormac, said he, would
never agree: "It is cold and slow, and thou art hot and hasty."

Cormac rode away and liked it ill. He came home to Mel and told
his mother that Skeggi would not lend the sword. Now Skeggi had
the oversight of Dalla's affairs, and they were great friends; so
she said, "He will lend the sword, though not all at once."

That was not what he wanted, answered Cormac, -- "If he withhold
it not from thee, while he does withhold it from me." Upon which
she answered that he was a thwart lad.