Beth Gellert

Prince Llewelyn owns a magnificent greyhound named Gellert, who is gentle at home but fierce during the hunt. One day, the Prince blows his horn for a chase, but Gellert does not answer the call. Frustrated by the missing hound, Llewelyn goes off to the hunt alone and has a disappointing day without his faithful companion. When he returns to the castle in a rage, Gellert comes bounding out to greet him. The Prince is horrified to see that Gellert’s lips and fangs are dripping with fresh blood. A terrible suspicion fills Llewelyn’s heart as he rushes toward his baby son’s nursery. Inside the room, he finds signs of a violent struggle and blood everywhere on the overturned cradle. Convinced that his loyal dog has killed his child, Llewelyn draws his sword and strikes Gellert down in a fit of grief and anger. As the greyhound dies with a mournful yell, a tiny cry comes from beneath the cradle. The Prince finds his son completely unharmed, sleeping safely beside the torn body of a huge wolf. He realizes too late that Gellert had stayed behind to protect the baby and defeated the wolf attacker. Overcome with remorse for his hasty judgment, Llewelyn mourns the loss of his brave companion. He builds a large stone cairn over Gellert’s grave near the mountain of Snowdon. The place becomes known as Beth Gellert, a lasting memorial to the dog’s loyalty and sacrifice.