Take as much gold , silver , and precious stones as you choose . ' ' I thank you , mighty King , for your gracious offer , ' answered Martin , ' ` but I do not covet either gold , silver , or precious stones ; yet if you will grant me a favour , give me , I beg , the ring from off the little finger of your royal hand . Every time my eye falls on it I shall think of your gracious Majesty , and when I marry I shall present it to my bride . ' So the King took the ring from his finger and gave it to Martin , saying : ` Take it , good youth ; but with it I make one condition -- you are never to confide to anyone that this is a magic ring . If you do , you will straightway bring misfortune on yourself . ' Martin took the ring , and , having thanked the King , he set out on the same road by which he had come down into the Under-world . When he had regained the upper air he started for his old home , and having found his mother still living in the old house where he had left her , they settled down together very happily . So uneventful was their life that it almost seemed as if it would go on in this way always , without let or hindrance . But one day it suddenly came into his mind that he would like to get married , and , moreover , that he would choose a very grand wife -- a King 's daughter , in short . But as he did not trust himself as a wooer , he determined to send his old mother on the mission . ` You must go to the King , ' he said to her , ` and demand the hand of his lovely daughter in marriage for me . ' ` What are you thinking of , my son ? ' answered the old woman , aghast at the idea . ` Why can not you marry someone in your own rank ? That would be far more fitting than to send a poor old woman like me a-wooing to the King 's Court for the hand of a Princess . Why , it is as much as our heads are worth . Neither my life nor yours would be worth anything if I went on such a fool 's errand . ' ` Never fear , little mother , ' answered Martin . ` Trust me ; all will be well . But see that you do not come back without an answer of some kind . '
And so , obedient to her son 's behest , the old XXXXX hobbled off to the palace , and , without being hindered , reached the courtyard , and began to mount the flight of steps leading to the royal presence chamber .
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