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 woman 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 . At the head of the landing rows of courtiers were collected in magnificent attire , who stared at the queer old figure , and called to her , and explained to her , with every kind of sign , that it was strictly forbidden to mount those steps . But their stern words and forbidding gestures made no impression whatever on the old woman , and she resolutely continued to climb the stairs , bent on carrying out her son 's orders .
Upon this some of the courtiers seized her by the arms , and held her back by sheer force , XXXXX which she set up such a yell that the King himself heard it , and stepped out on to the balcony to see what was the matter .
If So at by for from in of on without