Then they rushed adown from the ramparts, and swift to the ships they fled, The hungry crowd, for the booty, as leaves by the wind are sped. With flesh they were not o'erweighted, so wasted and thin were they, Nor they strutted with well-filled belly, but bending they went their way. 350 The queen's marshal he sware the shipmen, by the doom of the hempen cord, Safe conduct for life and lading, none should touch that which lay aboard. Then he bade them to lead these merchants straightway into the town, And Parzival for their lading the double he paid them down, And gladly the merchants took it, for princely they deemed such pay; 355 And the Burgers these welcome viands to their fires did they bear straightway. Now fain would I there take service, no man of them all drank beer, Wine and food had they there in plenty--Then he did as you now shall hear, Parzival, the gallant hero, for first in portions small, With his own right hand he shared out the viands among them all, 360 Yea, even unto the nobles; so long had they lacked for bread, He feared it had wrought them evil if perchance they were over-fed. But to each one he gave his portion, and his counsel they deemed it right, And more should they win ere nightfall from the hand of this gallant knight.