202 



V KUTEBRATA. 



beautiful engraving, in allusion to the ancient reputation of the greyhound, pictures one of these 

 creatures watching ;it night by the grave «>(" his friend. Probably this was a different variety 

 from the modern one. A touching memorial of one of the ancient breed exists in the well- 

 known ballad of Gelert, from which we give .'in extract : 



THE CJHEYHOUND. 



" ' Twas only at Llewellyn's board 

 The faithful Gelert fed, 

 He watch' d, he served, he cheer'd his lord, 

 And sentinel' d his bed. 



In sooth he was a peerless hound, 



The gift of royal John ; 

 lint now no Gelert could be found, 



And all the chase rode on. 



And now as over rocks and dells 



The gallant chidings rise, 

 All Snowdon's craggy chaos yells 



With many mingled cries. 



That day Llewellyn little loved 



The chase of hart or hare ; 

 And -rant and small the 1 ty proved, 



For Gelert was not there. 



Ohpleased Llewellyn homeward hied ; 



When near the portal 

 III- truant < telert he espied, 



Bounding hi> lord to greet. 



lint when he gain'd the castle door, 

 A ghast the chieftain stood ; 



The hound was Min-ar'd with -.routs of gore- 

 Ill- lips and fangs ran blood. 



Llewellyn gazed with wild surprise: 



Unused such looks to meet, 

 Hi- favorite check'd his joyful guise, 



1 crOUch'd and liek'd his feet. 



Onward in haste Llewellyn pass'd, 

 And on went Gelert too ; 



And -till where'er hi- eye- he cast, 



Fresh blood-gouts shock'd his view. 



O'erturn'd his infant's bed he found. 

 The blood-stain'd covert rent ; 



And all around the walls and ground, 

 With recent blood besprent. 



He call'd his child — no voice replied- - 



He search'd with terror wild : 

 Blood! blood! he found on every side, 



But nowhere found the child. 



' Hellhound ! by thee my child's devo. r'd !' 



The frantic father cried ; 

 And to the hilt his vengeful sword 



He plunged in Gelert's side. 



His suppliant, as to earth he fell, 



No pity could impart ; 

 But still his Gelert's dyiiiLr yell 



Pass'd heavy o'er his heart. 



Aroused by Gelert's dying yell, 

 Some slumberer wakou'd nigh : 



What words the parent's joy can tell 

 To hear his infant cry ! 



Conceal'd beneath a mangled heap 

 His hurried search had miss'd, 



All glowing from his rosy sleep, 

 His cherub boy he kiss'd. 



Nor scratch had lie, nor harm, nor dread. 



But the same couch beneath 

 Lay a great wolf, all torn and dead, 



Tremendous still in death. 



Ah, what was then Llewellyn's pain ! 



For now the truth was clear : 

 The gallant hound the wolf had slain, 



To save Llewellvn's heir." 



