The Munificent Prince brought fire's destruction O'er the base people; to the pirates Death was fated: Thief-Compeller, South at Jóm highest flame-glow kindle! Illustrious One, as Hallvardr sang: No Illustrious One nearer Land-Driver, as Thjódólfr sang: The guileless Land-Driver sprinkles as was written before;' he is called so because he drives his host about the lands of other kings, or drives a host out of his own land. LXIV. "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 1 See page 173. 2 That is, in the lands bordering the Baltic. 3 3 3 2 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;3 the fifth, Hilmir; 3 the sixth, Jöfurr;3 the seventh, Tyggi;' the eighth, Skyli3 or Skúli;3 the ninth, Harri3 or Herra.3 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 Óttarr the Swarthy: In his youth stalwart Thengill I pray his line endureth; O'er all men I esteem him. Thus sang Markús: 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. 2 This word means Prince or King; Manna-Thengill= Prince of Men. 3 All of these words are poetic names for a Prince or King. 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 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. Thus sang Markús : 1 See page 197. I bid the hawklike Danish Harri “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-inlaw 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 On the Gray Isle; the broad shields, |