The Prose Edda 2.64

"There was a king named Hálfdan the Old, who was most famous of all kings. He made a great sacrificial feast at mid-winter, and sacrificed to this end, that he might live three hundred years in his kingdom; but he received these answers: he should not live more than the full life of a man, but for three hundred years there should be no woman and no man in his line who was not of great repute. He was a great warrior, and went on forays far and wide in the Eastern Regions: there he slew in single combat the king who was called Sigtryggr. Then he took in marriage that woman named Alvig the Wise, daughter of King Eymundr of Hólmgardr: they had eighteen sons, nine born at one birth. These were their names: the first, Thengill, who was called Manna-Thengill; 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 famous in foraying that, in all records since, their names are used as titles of rank, even as the name of King or that of Earl. They had no children, and all fell in battle. Thus sang Ottarr the Swarthy:

In his youth stalwart Thengill Was swift and staunch in battle: I pray his line endureth; O'er all men I esteem him.

Thus sang Markus:

The Ræsir let the Rhine's Sun shimmer From the reddened Skull's ship on the Sea-Fells.

Thus sang Egill:

The Gramr the hood hath lifted From the hair-fenced brows of the Singer.

Thus sang Eyvindr:

He played with the land-folk Who should have defended; Gylfi the gladsome Stood 'neath the gold helmet.

Thus sang Glúmr Geirason:

Hilmir beneath the helmet Reddened the sword hone-hollowed.

Thus sang Óttarr the Swarthy:

Let Jöfurr hear the beginning Of his laud: all the king's praises Shall be maintained, and justly Let him mark my praise-song's measures.

As Stúfr sang:

The glory-ardent Tyggi South before Niz with two hands Beat down the band of heroes: Glad beneath their shields the host went.

Thus sang Hallfredr:

From Skyli I am parted: This age of swords hath caused it. 'T is greatest of all self-mockings To hope that the king's guard cometh.

Thus sang Markús:

I bid the hawklike Danish Harri Hark to my cunning web of praises.

"Hálfdan and his wife had nine other sons also; these were Hildir, from whom the Hildings are come; Nefir, from whom the Niflungs sprang; Audi, from whom the Ödlungs are come; Yngvi, from whom the Ynglings are descended; Dagr, from whom come the Döglings; Bragi, from whom the Bragnings are sprung (that is the race of Hálfdan the Munificent); Budli, from whom the Budlungs are come (from the house of the Budlungs Atli and Brynhildr descended); the eighth was Lofdi, who was a great war-king (that host who were called Lofdar followed him; his kindred are called Lofdungs, whence sprang Eylimi, Sigurdr Fáfnisbani's mother's sire); the ninth, Sigarr, whence come the Siklings: that is the house of Siggeirr, who was son-in-law of Völsungr,—and the house of Sigarr, who hanged Hagbardr. From the race of Hildings sprang Haraldr the Red-Bearded, mother's father of Hálfdan the Swarthy. Of the Niflung's house was Gjúki; of the house of Ödlings, Kjárr; of the house of the Ylfings was Eiríkr the Wise in Speech. These also are illustrious royal houses: from Yngvi, the Ynglings are descended; from Skjöldr in Denmark, the Skjöldungs are come; from Völsungr in the land of Franks, those who are called Völsungs. One war-king was named Skelfir; and his house is called the House of Skilfings: his kindred is in the Eastern Region.

"These houses which were named but now have been used in skaldship for titles of rank. Even as Einarr sang:

I learned that the Hildings sallied To hold the Spear-Assembly On the Gray Isle; the broad shields, Green lindens, burst in sunder.

As Grani sang:

The Dögling to eagle's kindred For drink gave Danish blood.

As Gamli Gnævadar-Skald sang:

Not long since, the young Ödling With ship's deck and with sword-blade Joined battle, waging fiercely Of points the bitter tempest.

As Jórunn sang:

The Bragning bade the weapons Be dyed in blood of vile folk; The people endured his anger: Houses bowed before red embers.

Thus sang Einarr:

The Budlung's blade sheared, Blood on darts was smeared; The storm-cloud of Hildr At Whitby spilled.

Thus sang Arnorr:

The Kin of Siklings inureth To the waves the ships sea-tossing; With blood he dyes the warships Within: 't is the weal of ravens.

As Thjódólfr sang:

Thus the doughty Sikling ended His life; in dire straits were we: The glorious Lofdung waited Bravely surcease of living.

The folk who were called Lofdar followed King Lofdi.

As Arnórr sang:

Chief, another Skjöldung higher Than thou shall ne'er be born 'neath sun's light.

Völsung, as Thorkell Hamar-Skald sang:

The Kin of Völsungs Gave counsel to send me The gold-decked weapon O'er the cool waters.

Yngling, as Ottarr the Swarthy sang:

In the East no mighty Yngling To earth fell, ere o'ertook thee He who subjected to him The Sea-isles from the westward.

Yngvi: that too is a king's title, as Markús sang:

The age shall hear the praise of Eiríkr: None in the world a prince hath known of Lordlier; thou holdest, Yngvi, The Seat of Kings with long-kept glory.

Skilfing, as Valgardr sang:

The Skilfing kept a great host Southward in the broad lands, Where the swift ships shivered: Sicily soon was desolated.

Signor, as Sigvatr sang:

O Norway’s gracious Signor, Let the poor enjoy; give greatly.