Death of Ctibor on Beckov
Above Váhom, on a high rock, stands the old Beckov Castle in the ruins. When midnight approaches, the time of evil spirits, here we hear a desperate cry over the rock; but when morning draws near, we hear a mournful lamentation. That is why even the bright streams of the Váh left worn beards and turned elsewhere so as not to hear the night cry and lamentation. This incessant cry and lament reputation is explained as follows:
In this castle once lived Ctibor, the lord of this neighborhood, resentful and angry. When he fell asleep while hunting, tired, he was awakened by the howling of a hunting dog. He jumped in anger, what could it be that the dog is jumping from the battle?
“Lord,” said the servants humbly, “an old beggar came to beg for a piece of bread, but the lavender, your poisonous greyhound, jumped on it, tore off a piece of his robe, both from his trousers, and a piece of meat from his thigh; the beggar defended himself with a stick, and the dog began to bark.
“Then the angry Ctibor, seized with rage, grabbed the poor old man by the hair, dragged him for a long time, and at last hurled him into the abyss, where he suddenly fell. From there, after midnight, a mournful moan is heard.
Ctibor, tired by the strain, lay down on the rocks overgrown with moss, and fell asleep overcome by sleep. Here, unbeknownst to him, a small but poisonous snake crept up to him, and with his mouth open he climbed into his bowels and began to sting him. — Ctibor, thus awakened, began to glow with pain, to tear himself apart, and to shout, “Where am I? Help! Where are the servants?” And in pain and despair he ran slowly to the abyss, there he weighed himself, fell and broke his bones... And thence he heard a desperate cry until midnight.
That is why even the bright streams of Váh Beckov bypass and flow through quieter regions.
Source: Proceedings of the Slovak Museum Society, vol. 6 — 7, 1901 — 1902