The ring formerly belonged to King Solomon , the wisest of kings , during whose reign the wisest men lived . But it is not known whether this ring was ever made by mortal hands : it is supposed that an angel gave it to the wise King . ' When the youth heard all this he determined to try and get possession of the ring , though he did not quite believe in all its wonderful gifts . He wished the maiden would let him have it in his hand , but he did not quite like to ask her to do so , and after a while she put it back into the box . A few days after they were again speaking of the magic ring , and the youth said , ' I do not think it possible that the ring can have all the power you say it has . ' Then the maiden opened the box and took the ring out , and it glittered as she held it like the clearest sunbeam . She put it on the middle finger of her left hand , and told the youth to take a knife and try as hard as he could to cut her with it , for he would not be able to hurt her . He was unwilling at first , but the maiden insisted . Then he tried , at first only in play , and then seriously , to strike her with the knife , but an invisible wall of iron seemed to be between them , and the maiden stood before him laughing and unhurt . Then she put the ring on her third finger , and in an instant she had vanished from his eyes . Presently she was beside him again laughing , and holding the ring between her fingers . ` Do let me try , ' said the youth , ` whether I can do these wonderful things . ' The maiden , suspecting no treachery , gave him the magic ring . The youth pretended to have forgotten what to do , and asked what finger he must put the ring on so that no sharp weapon could hurt him ? ' ` Oh , the middle finger of your left hand , ' the maiden answered , laughing . She took the knife and tried to strike the youth , and he even tried to cut himself with it , but found it impossible . Then he asked the maiden to show him how to split stones and rocks with the help of the ring . So she led him into a courtyard where stood a great boulder-stone . ` Now , ' she said , ` put the ring upon the thumb of your left hand , and you will see how strong that hand has become . The youth did so , and found to his astonishment that with a single blow of his fist the stone flew into a thousand pieces .
Then the youth bethought him that he who does not use his luck when he has it is a fool , and XXXXX this was a chance which once lost might never return .
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