A Faithful Dog

More than seven hundred years ago, the Prince of Wales had a very big and brave dog, Gelert.

One day the Prince wanted to go hunting with his men. He told his dog to stay at home and look after baby son. The baby was in a wooden cradle, which is like a small bed.

When the Prince came back from hunting, Gelert ran out to meet his master. He wagged his tail and jumped up put his paws on the Prince’s chest. Then the Prince saw blood on Gelert’s jaws and head.

“What have you done?” the Prince said. He rushed into his home and looked for his baby son. The cradle was lying on its side on the floor. The clothes were torn and there was blood on them.

“So you have killed my son!” the Prince said angrily. “You unfaithful dog!” He took out sword and killed the dog. Just as Gelert was dying, he managed to bark for a moment. Then the Prince heard a baby call to the dog.

The prince ran out of the house and saw his son lying on the ground unhurt. Near him was a dead wolf. Then the Prince knew that Gelert had defended the baby and killed the wolf.

The Prince ran back into the house but he was too late. Gelert was dead. The prince was very sad indeed. Tears ran down his face when he realized he had killed his faithful friend. The Prince carried the body of his brave dog to the top of the mountain buried him there. After this, the prince never smiled again. Every morning at dawn, he walked up the mountain so that he could stand by the dog’s grave for a few minutes.

If you go to Mount Snowdon in Wales, people will show you where Gelertis buried. There is a sign by his grave. It reminds people of a brave an faithful dog.

Vocabulary:

l   faithful[tiTZiQp](a.)忠實的;忠誠的;忠貞的

l   prince[dqank](n.)王子,親王

l   brave[eqTj](a.)勇敢的,英勇的

l   go hunting(n.)打獵

l   men[m@n](n.)男雇員;男僕

l   wooden[trNgz](a.)木製的;木的

l   cradle[thqTgx](n.)搖籃;策源地,發源地

l   wag[wagged-wagged-wagging][r@v](v.)搖,擺動

l   paw[dO](n.)腳爪;爪子

l   chest[fXUkf](n.)胸,胸膛

l   jaw[gYO](n.)頜;顎;下頜,下巴

l   rushed into倉促從事

l   lie on橫躺在

l   unfaithful[SntiTZiQp](a.)不忠實的

l   took out拿出

l   sword[kcqg](n.)劍,刀

l   just as當某種事情正在進行;正當

l   dying[tgAaaV](a.)垂死的;行將結束的;快熄滅的

l   manage to設法

l   bark[barked-barked-barking][eFqh](v.)厲聲說話;咆哮;厲聲說出

l   a moment一會兒

l   defend[defended-defended-defending][gatiUng](v.)防禦;保衛;保護

l   tears[faq](n.)眼淚;淚珠

l   ran down流下;撞倒;撞沈

l   bury[buried-buried-burying][teUqa](vt.)埋葬,安葬

l   dawn[gOn](n.)黎明,拂曉

l   stand by站在旁邊,旁觀;幫助;與...合力;支持;準備;待命;(無線電)正準備收報(發報);備用