Well, I was finally able to work a bit on a painting I made of our beautiful Irish Wolfhound, Oakley, that we lost last year at Christmas due to a rapid bone cancer. She seemed totally fine and was galavanting around the farm with us one day and eight days later we were sending her back to God. She was in our lives for eight wonderful years. I worked a bit on the original acrylic painting in Photoshop.
I found this story that most people with Irish Wolfhounds in their lives have heard. I found it on http://www.irishwolfhounds.org/gelert.htm There is more information on this amazing and loyal breed there. Here's the quite possibly true story.
The Story of Gelert
Llewellyn, prince of Wales, is said to have loved the chase above all else but always took with him his Irish wolf- dog, Gelert. The prince had many hounds, but Gelert was his favourite and was always there for the morning hunt. However, one day Gelert did not turn up and eventually Llewellyn went off with his followers and the hounds but could not enjoy his day and in the end hurried back home to find out what had happened to Gelert. He was met by Gelert, giving his usual greeting, but Llewellyn was horrified to find that Gelert was covered in blood. Hurrying into the castle, he went to see his infant son but found the cradle overturned and empty, with no sign of the child, but with blood everywhere.
Concluding that Gelert must have killed and eaten the baby, Llewellyn drew his sword and plunged it into the hound. The stricken Gelert gave a long-drawn out howl as he died and this cry was followed by a child's wail. Llewellyn searched for the source of this sound and found his child under a pile of bedding from the cradle, completely unharmed, and close by was the body of a gaunt wolf, which had obviously been slain by Gelert after a bloody battle.
Horrified at what he had done, and stricken by remorse, Llewellyn had the body of Gelert buried with due pomp and the place was afterwards known as Bedd Gelert (the grave of Gelert), as was the town that grew up near to it.
Gelert's grave
It was said that Prince John (later King John) of England had made a gift of a hound to Llewellyn in 1210 and that this was Gelert. The Hon. W.R. Spencer wrote a poem about him, the first part of which is thus:
The flower of all his raceSo true, so brave - a lamb at home, A lion in the chase.'Twas only at Llewellyn's board the faithful Gelert fed;He watched, he served, he cheered his lordAnd sentinelled his bed.In sooth he was a peerless hound,The gift of Royal John.0
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It rained a soft sprinkle here today. I caught a picture of another of God's gorgeous sunsets and a double rainbow promise from Him.
1 comment:
I think that I have heard this story before. But it was long ago and far way. Thank you for sharing it.
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