Here the story says that while the emperor sat brooding so at the meal, as you have heard, Merlin knew very well about it, so he came all the way to the gate leading into Rome, and then he cast a spell and took on a wonderful new shape. He became a stag, the biggest and most wonderful that anyone had ever seen; he had one white forefoot and five-branched antlers on his head, the biggest that anyone had ever seen on a stag. Then he struck out running throughout Rome and made as great an uproar as if a thousand men were after him. And when the common folk saw him running all about, there arose from every side such a great hue and cry that no one could have heard God thundering there. And they all ran after him, big and small, with fire and sticks and all kinds of arms, and for a very long time they ran after him through the whole city until they came to the great hall where the emperor was sitting at his meal.

And when the serving men heard the people, they sprang to the windows of the hall, and when they found out what it was, they went outside. And the stag came running at full speed, with the common folk after him, and he came to the great hall and stormed headlong through the main gate. Then he dashed in among the tables and spilled food and wine and meat everywhere, and there began such a great breaking of pots and dishes that it was a wonder!

And when the stag had had enough in that part of the hall, he came right up to the emperor, knelt, and said to him, “Julius Caesar, what are you brooding about? Stop stewing, for it is not worthwhile. You will not find anyone to tell you about your dream until the Wildman vouches for its meaning, and you would be wasting your time to worry about it any more.”

Vulgate Merlin