-- With the flame of the wave she was gleaming
All white in the wane of the twilight --
And that one was no hideous blemish.
So highborn, so haughty a lady
-- I should have such a dame to befriend me:
But she trows me uncouth for a trifle,
For a tuft in the hair on my brow!"

Said the maid, "Black are his eyes, sister, and that becomes him
not." Cormac heard her, and said in verse: --

(6)
"Yes, black are the eyes that I bring ye,
O brave in your jewels, and dainty.
But a draggle-tail, dirty-foot slattern
Would dub me ill-favoured and sallow.
Nay, many a maiden has loved me,
Thou may of the glittering armlet:
For I've tricks of the tongue to beguile them
And turn them from handsomer lads."

At this house they spent the night. In the morning when Cormac
rose up, he went to a trough and washed himself; then he went
into the ladies' bower and saw nobody there, but heard folk
talking in the inner room, and he turned and entered. There was
Steingerd, and women with her.

Said the maid to Steingerd, "There comes thy bonny man,
Steingerd."