Reading Notes: Beth Gellert

-a prince had a greyhound he very fond of saying it was a lamb at home, but a lion on the chase
-on one day, the prince blew his horn to call his dogs to hunt
-all came except Gellert
-he went without the dog and when he came back, Gellert came to meet the prince
-the dogs face and and teeth were covered in blood
-fearing the absolute worst, the prince rushed towards is infant sons nursery
-the closer he got, the more blood and disorder
-reaching the nursery, he saw signs of conflict but couldn't find his son
-thinking the dog was a monster, the prince took his sword and thrust it in Gellert
-With Gellert dying yell came a baby's cry
-his son was asleep under the cradle next to a slain great wolf, realizing that Gellert had actually saved his son
-but it was to late to save Gellert
-to honor the greyhound, the prince buried it in front of the castle so passers-by might see the memorial
-the monument was called Beth Gellert, or the Grave of Gellert.

A Greyhound dog. Source: Wikimedia Commons

"Beth Gellert" from Celtic Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs with illustrations by John D. Batten (1892).