So he began to speak: “Sir,” said the Wildman, “one evening you happened to go to bed with your wife, who is over there. And after you had fallen asleep, a dream came to you in which you saw a sow before you that was fair and well-groomed. And the bristles on its back were so long that they trailed more than a yard behind it. And it had on its head a circle of shining gold. It seemed to you that it had been bred in your household, but you could not recognize it, although it seemed to you that you had seen it before. And after you had wondered at this thing for a time, you saw twelve beautiful, well-groomed wolf cubs come out of your bedroom and go to the sow into the middle of the hall. All twelve lay with it one after the other, and when they had done to it as they wished, they went back into the bedroom. Then you went straight to your barons and asked them what should be done with that sow you had seen behaving in such a way, and the barons answered that it was unworthy and unfaithful, and they condemned it to be burned along with the cubs. Then a great and wonderful fire was set in this courtyard, and the sow and the cubs were burned. Now you have heard the dream just as it came to you in your sleep, and if I am mistaken in anything, say so before your barons.”

And the emperor said that he was not mistaken in even one word.

“My lord emperor,” said the barons, “since he has told you what your dream was, we can believe him as to its meaning, if he will tell you what it is. And this is something we would very much like to hear.”

“Indeed,” said the Wildman, “I will explain it to you so plainly that you will see clearly that I am telling the truth.”

‘Then tell us,” said the emperor, “for I would very much like to hear it.”

“Sir," said the Wildman, “the great sow you saw stands for your wife the empress, who is over there; its bristles that were so long stand for the robe in which she is dressed; and the golden circle it was wearing on its head stands for the great crown with which you had her crowned. And for the sake of your feelings, I would stop talking now and say no more.”

“Indeed,” said the emperor, “you must speak if you wish to fulfill your pledge.”

“Sir,” said the Wildman, “then I’ll tell you. The twelve wolf cubs you saw coming out of your bedroom stand for the twelve maidens who are with your wife. I swear to you that they are not women, but men, every one of them. Have them undressed and you will see whether or not this is true. And you should know that every time you leave the city, your wife has herself served by them in her rooms. Now you have heard the meaning of your dream, and you can find out whether it is true or not.”

When the emperor heard that his wife had broken faith with him, he was so astounded that he could not utter a word for a time. Then, full of wrath, he spoke and said, “We will soon see.” Then he called to Grisandoles, his seneschal, and said, “I want these maidens stripped right now, for I want my barons to see the truth.”

And Grisandoles sprang up and had them strip before the emperor, and they all found that they were formed in every part of their bodies just as other men are.

Vulgate Merlin