The Story of Gelert

Once upon a time, there lived in North Wales a handsome Prince called Llewelyn. He had fallen in love with a beautiful girl called Rhiannon, and they had a beautiful baby boy they called Dafydd. Dafydd was their pride and joy: a bonny child with golden hair and blue eyes. And in their castle, they had many servants and nurses to help them care for the little prince. But Dafydd loved above all things the beautiful dog they called Gelert. Gelert was always by the little Prince Dafydd, and watched over him and kept him safe when it seemed he might fall, and guided him safely back indoors if it seemed the boy would wander too far from the castle.
And Dafydd loved his parents, and admired his father. He would pretend to be Llewelyn going out to hunt, his dogs at his side; and the sound of the little boy's laughter was precious to everyone.
Llewelyn was a good Prince, but he also enjoyed his recreation. He liked to ride out and hunt for the wild boar which threatened the herds of his people and also made a good meal at a feast.
He went with Rhiannon and took his household, including little Prince Dafydd, to Diganwy Castle for a hunt. The whole company rode out in search of boar, while Dafydd was left alone in the castle with his elderly nurse and Gelert, his faithful hound.
The hunting went well, and after many hours, the party came home, bearing wild boar on poles ready for s feast. As Llewlelyn and Rhiannon neared the castle, Gelert came bounding out joyfully to meet them.
But Llewelyn peered down at the dog.
'It seems,' he said, 'as though Gelert also has been hunting. There is blood around his jaws.'
A chill of concern went through Rhiannon. 'Dafydd!' she cried. Dismounting hurriedly, she ran into the castle, Llewellyn close behind, searching for their son.
He was nowhere to be found; not him, and not the nurse.
Llewellyn was angry. 'The dog has become wild and killed my son!' he cried. He lifted his spear and drove it through the dog's heart.
At that moment, they heard a cry. Pushing through the crowd of his servants, Llewelyn found his son and the nurse huddling under a large bench in the kitchen. Nearby, its throat ripped out, lay the body of a wolf.
'The wolf attacked,' the nurse sobbed. 'But Gelert sprang and killed the wolf, and saved our lives!'
Llewelyn took his son in his arms, and went slowly back to the body of the dying dog. He knelt beside the dog, his hand on its head, and sobbed out his grief and sorrow. The dog gazed gently at the man, and licked his hand, and died
Llewelyn insisted that the dog be buried with great honour, and marked his grave with a special stone. The place where the dog lies is called 'Bedd Gelert', (Gelert's Grave) and his story lives on to this day.
It is said that Llewelyn never again permitted himself to smile, and that he raised his son Dafydd never to act in haste, but to find out first all the facts of a situation before making a decision. And Dafydd grew in wisdom, and was a mighty Prince, but he never forgot that he owed his life to the faithful hound, Gelert.

*****
This tale is known in many versions around the world, and according to George Borrows in the wonderful account of his journey through Wales last century, was adapted for local use by the proprietor of the Royal Goat Hotel at Bedd Gelert at a time when business was poor. The story of the dog's grave attracted many visitors, many of whom would stay at the Royal Goat, or at least have a meal there ... and it is said that to this day, whenever somebody spends money at the Royal Goat, the ghostly laughter of the wealthy landlord can be heard echoing down the hallway. Certainly Burrows' photo hangs in the lobby of the hotel ... but as for the story of the loyal hound Gelert ... well, perhaps it is not factual, but it is certainly a tale full of cautionary truth.