y get the keys of this gate from the porter
thereof?"

[Sidenote: _The damsel giveth succor to Sir Ewaine._]

"Sir," said the damsel, "I cannot get those keys but I have another way
than that to set you free. For wit you that though locks and bars be
strong, yet the power of enchantment is still stronger than they." With
this the damsel drew from her bosom a locket that hung there by a chain
of gold, and she opened the locket and she brought forth therefrom a
ring set with a clear red stone like to a pure ruby--bright--shining and
very brilliant. And she said, "See you this ring?" and Sir Ewaine said,
"Yea." "Well, Messire," said she, "this is a very wonderful ring, for it
hath had many potent spells set upon it by the magician Merlin, who gave
it in days gone by to my father, King Magnus of Leograns. So my father
gave it to me and it is the most precious thing of all my possessions.
For the property of this ring is of such a sort that if you turn the
stone inward upon your hand so as to hide it within your palm, then you
shall become invisible; and if you turn the stone out upon your hand
again, then you shall become visible as you were before. Take this ring,
Sir Ewaine, and when you have made yourself invisible by means of it,
then you shall escape from your enemies. After you have so escaped, come
you to the garden of this castle and I will be there. Do you come and
lay your hand upon my shoulder, and then I will know you are there.
After that I will then conduct you to a certain apartment where you
shall be privily lodged until this present danger hath passed."

Therewith speaking, the damsel gave the ring to Sir Ewaine and he took
it, giving her thanks beyond measure for her kindness to him. And
immediately he set the ring upon his finger and turned the stone inward
so as to hide it in his palm. Then lo! as soon as he had done that he
became immediately invisible to the eyes.

Then the damsel Elose fled away from that place, lest those who would
come to slay Sir Ewaine should find her there talking to him.

So, shortly after she had gone, there came a great party of armed men
with intent to slay Sir Ewaine, and some of these were armed and all
bore swords and guisarms. These came to the gate and flung it open, and
rushed into the space between it and the portcullis with a great tumult,
for they expected to find Sir Ewaine there and to slay him. But lo! he
was gone and they beheld nothing there but the half of