Hálfdan the Old sacrifices for a three-hundred-year name; his twice-nine sons all become princely titles (Þengill, Ræsir, Gramr, Gylfi…) and ancestors of the great royal lines: Hildingar, Niflungar, Öðlingar, Ynglingar, Döglingar, Bragningar, Buðlungar (Atli, Brynhildr), Lofðungar (Sigurðr's grandfather Eylimi), Siklingar, and the Skjöldungar, Völsungar and Skilfingar. Twenty-two verse examples.

Konungr er nefndr Hálfdan gamli, er allra konunga var ágætastr. Hann gerði blót mikit at miðjum vetri ok blótaði til þess, at hann skyldi lifa í konungdómi sínum þrjú hundruð vetra. En hann fekk þau andsvör, at hann myndi lifa ekki meir en einn mikinn mannsaldr, en þat myndi þó vera þrjú hundruð vetra, er engi myndi vera í ætt hans kona eða ótiginn maðr. Hann var hermaðr mikill ok fór víða um Austrvegu. Þar drap hann í einvígi þann konung, er Sigtryggr hét. Þá fekk hann þeirar konu, er kölluð er Alvig in spaka, dóttir Emundar konungs ór Hólmgarði. Þau áttu sonu átján ok váru níu senn bornir. Þeir hétu svá: Einn var Þengill, er kallaðr var Manna-Þengill, annarr Ræsir, þriði Gramr, fjórði Gylfi, fimmti Hilmir, sétti Jöfurr, sjaundi Tyggi, átti Skyli eða Skúli, níundi Harri eða Herra. Þessir níu bræðr urðu svá ágætir í hernaði, at í öllum fræðum síðan eru nöfn þeira haldin fyrir tignarnöfn, svá sem konungs nafn eða jarls. Þeir áttu engi börn ok fellu allir í orrostum. Svá kvað Óttarr svarti:

A king is named Hálfdan the Old, who was the most excellent of all kings. He made a great sacrifice at midwinter and sacrificed that he might live in his kingdom three hundred winters. But he got this answer, that he would live no more than one long lifetime, but that this would still be three hundred winters, in that there would be no woman or low-born man in his line. He was a great warrior and travelled widely in the Eastern regions. There he killed in single combat the king named Sigtryggr. Then he married the woman called Alvig the Wise, daughter of King Emundr of Hólmgarðr. They had eighteen sons, and nine were born at once. They were named thus: One was Þengill, called Manna-Þengill, the second Ræsir, the third Gramr, the fourth Gylfi, the fifth Hilmir, the sixth Jöfurr, the seventh Tyggi, the eighth Skyli or Skúli, the ninth Harri or Herra. These nine brothers became so excellent in warfare that in all lore since their names are held as titles of rank, like the name of king or jarl. They had no children and all fell in battles. Thus spoke Óttarr svarti:

Svá kvað Markús:

Thus spoke Markús:

Svá kvað Egill:

Thus spoke Egill:

Svá kvað Eyvindr:

Thus spoke Eyvindr:

Svá kvað Glúmr Geirason:

Thus spoke Glúmr Geirason:

Svá kvað Óttarr svarti:

Thus spoke Óttarr svarti:

Sem Stúfr kvað:

As Stúfr spoke:

Svá kvað Hallfreðr:

Thus spoke Hallfreðr:

Svá kvað Markús:

Thus spoke Markús:

Enn áttu þau Hálfdan aðra níu sonu, er svá heita; Hildir, er Hildingar eru frá komnir, annarr Nefir, er Niflungar eru frá komnir, þriði Auði, er Öðlingar eru frá komnir, fjórði Yngvi, er Ynglingar eru frá komnir, fimmti Dagr, er Döglingar eru frá komnir, sétti Bragi, er Bragningar eru frá komnir. Þat er ætt Hálfdanar ins milda. Sjaundi Buðli, er Buðlungar eru frá komnir. Af Buðlungaætt kom Atli ok Brynhildr. Átti er Lofði. Hann var herkonungr mikill. Honum fylgði þat lið, er Lofðar váru kallaðir. Hans ættmenn eru kallaðir Lofðungar. Þaðan er kominn Eylimi, móðurfaðir Sigurðar Fáfnisbana. Níundi Sigarr, þaðan eru komnir Siklingar. Þat er ætt Siggeirs, er var mágr Völsungs, ok ætt Sigars, er hengði Hagbarð. Af Hildinga ætt var kominn Haraldr inn granrauði, móðurfaðir Hálfdanar svarta. Af Niflunga ætt var Gjúki, af Öðlinga ætt var Kjárr, af Ylfinga ætt var Eiríkr inn málspaki.

Hálfdan and [Alvig] also had another nine sons, named thus: Hildir, from whom the Hildingar are descended; the second Nefir, from whom the Niflungar are descended; the third Auði, from whom the Öðlingar are descended; the fourth Yngvi, from whom the Ynglingar are descended; the fifth Dagr, from whom the Döglingar are descended; the sixth Bragi, from whom the Bragningar are descended. That is the line of Hálfdan the Generous. The seventh Buðli, from whom the Buðlungar are descended. From the Buðlung line came Atli and Brynhildr. The eighth is Lofði. He was a great war-king. That force followed him that was called Lofðar. His kinsmen are called Lofðungar. Thence is descended Eylimi, mother's-father of Sigurðr Fáfnisbani. The ninth Sigarr, thence are descended the Siklingar. That is the line of Siggeirr, who was Völsungr's kinsman-by-marriage, and the line of Sigarr, who hanged Hagbarðr. From the Hilding line was descended Haraldr the Red-whiskered, mother's-father of Hálfdan the Black. From the Niflung line was Gjúki, from the Öðling line was Kjárr, from the Ylfing line was Eiríkr the Eloquent.

Þessar eru ok konunga ættir ágætar: frá Yngva, er Ynglingar eru frá komnir, frá Skildi í Danmörk, er Skjöldungar eru frá komnir, frá Völsungi á Fraklandi, þeir heita Völsungar. Skelfir hét einn herkonungr, ok er hans ætt kölluð Skilfinga ætt. Sú kynslóð er í Austrvegum. Þessar ættir, er nú eru nefndar, hafa menn sett svá í skáldskap, at halda öll þessi fyrir tignarnöfn. Svá sem Einarr kvað:

These too are famous royal lines: from Yngvi, from whom the Ynglingar are descended; from Skjöldr in Denmark, from whom the Skjöldungar are descended; from Völsungr in Frakland, they are called Völsungar. Skelfir was the name of one war-king, and his line is called the Skilfing line. That kindred is in the Eastern regions. These lines, now named, men have so set in poetry that all these are held as titles of rank. As Einarr spoke:

Sem Grani kvað:

As Grani spoke:

Sem Gamli kvað Gnævaðarskáld:

As Gamli gnævaðarskáld spoke:

Sem Jórunn kvað:

As Jórunn spoke:

Svá kvað Einarr:

Thus spoke Einarr:

Svá kvað Arnórr:

Thus spoke Arnórr:

Sem Þjóðólfr kvað:

As Þjóðólfr spoke:

Lofða konungi fylgði þat lið, er Lofðar heita. Sem Arnórr kvað:

That force followed the Lofði-king that is called Lofðar. As Arnórr spoke:

Völsungr, sem kvað Þorkell hamarskáld:

Völsungr, as Þorkell hamarskáld spoke:

Ynglingr, sem kvað Óttarr svarti:

Ynglingr, as Óttarr svarti spoke:

Yngvi, þat er ok konungs heiti, sem Markús kvað:

Yngvi, that too is a king's name, as Markús spoke:

Skilfingr, sem Valgarðr kvað:

Skilfingr, as Valgarðr spoke:

Sínjór, sem Sighvatr kvað ok fyrr var ritat:

Sínjór, as Sighvatr spoke and was written before:

Skaldic quotations

Óttarr svarti (Þengill)

Þengill var þegar ungr þreksgörr vígörr. Haldask bið ek hans aldr, hann tel ek yfirmann.

Þengill was, while young, made strong and battle-eager. I pray his life endure; I count him a chief man.

Markús (Ræsir)

Ræsir lét af roðnum hausi Rínar sól á marfjöll skína.

Ræsir made the Rhine's sun [gold] shine on the sea-mountains [waves] from the reddened skull.

Egill (Gramr)

Gramr hefir gerðihömrum grundar upp of hrundit.

Gramr has thrust up [the ship] from the enclosing crags of the ground.

Eyvindr (Gylfi)

Lék við ljóðmögu, skyldi land verja, gylfi inn glaðværi, stóð und gullhjalmi.

The glad Gylfi played with his warriors, [as] he was to defend the land, [and] stood under a golden helm.

Glúmr Geirason (Hilmir)

Hilmir rauð und hjalmi beina laut á Gautum.

The Hilmir reddened the hollow of the bone [sword] under his helm upon the Gautar.

Óttarr svarti (Jöfurr)

Jöfurr heyri upphaf, ofrask mun konungs lof, háttu nemi hann rétt hróðrs mín, bragar síns.

Let the Jöfurr hear the beginning; the king's praise will be raised; let him rightly learn the metres of my poem's praise.

Stúfr (Tyggi)

Tíreggjaðr hjó tyggi tveim höndum lið beima, reifr gekk herr und hlífar, hizig suðr fyr Nizi.

The glory-eager Tyggi hewed the host of men with two hands; glad the host went under shields, there south before the Niz.

Hallfreðr (Skyli)

Skiliðr em ek við skylja, skaldmöld hefir því valdit. Vætta virða dróttins vil er mest ok dul flestum.

I am parted from the Skyli [king]; the sword-age has caused it. I most long for the lord of men, and doubt is greatest for most.

Markús (Harri)

Harra kveð ek at hróðrgörð dýrri hauklundaðan Dana grundar.

I call the hawk-minded Harri of the Danes' land [king] to a precious praise-work.

Einarr (Hildingar)

Frá ek við holm at heyja hildingar fram gingu, lind varð græn, inn grána geirþing, í tvau springa.

I heard that the Hildingar [princes] went forth to hold the spear-assembly [battle] at the island; the linden [shield] sprang in two.

Grani (Döglingr)

Döglingr fekk at drekka danskt blóð ara jóði.

The Döglingr [prince] gave the eagle's brood Danish blood to drink.

Gamli gnævaðarskáld (Öðlingr)

Öðlingr drap sér ungum ungr naglfara á tungu innan borðs ok orða aflgerð meðalkafla.

The young Öðlingr [prince] slew [a foe] on the tongue of Naglfari [sword] inboard, with the strength-work of the hilt-mid [sword].

Jórunn (Bragningr)

Bragningr réð í blóði, beið herr konungs reiði, hús lutu oft fyr eisum, óþjóðar slög rjóða.

The Bragningr [prince] ruled in blood; the host awaited the king's wrath; houses often bowed before the fires [of war] — he reddens the weapons of the wicked.

Einarr (buðlungr)

Beit buðlungs hjörr, blóð fell á dörr. [Raufsk Hildar ský við Hvítabý.]

The buðlungr's [prince's] sword bit, blood fell on spears. Hildr's cloud [the shield] was torn at Hvítabýr.

Arnórr jarlaskáld (Siklingar)

Siklinga venr snekkjur sjálútar konr úti. Hann litar herskip innan, hrafns góð er þat, blóði.

The kin of the Siklingar [prince] keeps his sea-washed war-ships out; he colours the warships within with blood — that is good for the raven.

Þjóðólfr (Siklingr/Lofðungr)

Svá lauk siklings ævi snjalls, at vér ’rom allir, lofðungr beið inn leyfði lífs grand, í stað vöndum.

So ended the life of the valiant Siklingr [prince], that we all ...; the praised Lofðungr [prince] met life's bane in the appointed place.

Arnórr jarlaskáld (Skjöldungr)

Skjöldungr mun þér annarr aldri æðri, gramr, und sólu fæðask.

No other Skjöldungr [prince] more excellent than you, O prince, will ever be born under the sun.

Þorkell hamarskáld (Völsungr)

Mér réð senda of svalan ægi Völsunga niðr vápn gullbúit.

The descendant of the Völsungar sent me, over the cool sea, a gold-adorned weapon.

Óttarr svarti (Ynglingr)

Engi varð á jörðu ógnbráðr, áðr þér náði, austr sá er eyjum vestan Ynglingr und sik þryngvi.

There was no battle-swift Ynglingr on earth, before you reached [power], who from the west pressed the eastern isles under himself.

Markús (Yngvi)

Eiríks lof verðr öld at heyra, engi maðr veit fremra þengil, Yngvi helt við orðstír langan jöfra sess, í veröld þessi.

The people come to hear Eiríkr's praise; no man knows a foremost prince; the Yngvi [prince] held the seat of princes with long fame in this world.

Valgarðr (Skilfingr)

Skilfingr helt, þar er skulfu skeiðr, fyr lönd in breiðu, eydd varð, suðr, of síðir Sikiley, liði miklu.

The Skilfingr [prince] held, where the war-ships shook, before the broad lands, south; Sicily was at last laid waste, with a great host.

Sighvatr (sínjór)

Lát auman nú njóta Nóregs ok gef stórum.

Let the wretched now enjoy Norway, and give greatly.