The Story of Gelert - Or Why Big Dogs are so Often Misunderstood.

Gelert was the favourite hound of Prince Llywelyn the Great of Wales.  He is referred to in the legends as a great grey hound with shaggy fur.  His wife ill, the Prince left his new born son in his cradle and charged Gelert with the task of guarding him whilst he was away hunting.  Gelert settled down next to the cradle in front of the fire and put his great gey head on his paws.  It had been a cold hard winter and Gelert knew the wolves were hungry.  He kept his eyes open as the baby slept on.  Into the great hall crept a huge male wolf.  He had smelt the sleeping baby and felt the warmth of the fire and had come in through the kitchen door which the cook had left ajar as she went outside with scraps for the pigs.  In an instant Gelert was on his feet and as the wolf lept at the cradle, Gelert threw his great shaggy grey body inbetween the wolf and the baby.  The two animals fought a vicious battle, one driven by hunger, the other by loyalty.  Gelerts ears were ripped and his sides torn as he wrestled the wolf to the ground.  The thrashing wolf crashed into the cradle and the Prince's infant son was knocked to the floor, the cradle covering him.  Gelert, thinking only of his need to protect the baby, ripped the wolfs throat open.  The dying animal crawled away behind the giant curtains that covered the huge windows of the castle, leaving a long trail of blood behind it.  Gelert, panting and exhausted, went near to the upturned cradle and listened carefully.  Inside he could hear the baby peacefully sleeping.  He settled down next to him and began to lick his wounds.



        The Prince returned from the hunt and strode into the hall in order to greet his favourite hound and his baby son and saw nothing but chaos - the upturned cradle, blood on Gelerts face and on the ground all around him.  The faithful dog struggled to his feet to meet his master and, thinking that Gelert had killed his baby, the Prince's heart filled with anger and he drew his sword and thrust it into Gelert's heart.  As the dog lay dying at his feet, Llywelyn heard a cry from under the cradle and turned it over to his son smiling up at him, happy and hearty.  It was then that Llywelyn noticed the trail of blood leading to the  curtains and scooping his son up in his arms he followed it to the body of the great wolf that Gelert had killed in order to protect his son.  The Prince ran to his faithful dog only to find the light fading from his eyes.  Gelert died and Prince Llywelyn let out a great howl of grief for the faithful dog who had saved his baby and who he, in his hasty judgement, had killed in a fit of anger.