His comrades, emulating his spirit of self-sacrifice, rushed over his bleeding body, and forced their way through the gate thus opened into the line.

The whole unwieldy mass was thrown into confusion.
The steel-clad warriors, exhausted before the battle commenced, and encumbered with their heavy armor, could but feebly resist their nimble assailants, who outnumbering them and over-powering them, cut them down in fearful havoc.

It soon became a general slaughter, and not less than two thousand of the followers of Leopold were stretched lifeless upon the ground.

Many were taken prisoners, and a few, mounting their horses, effected an escape among the wild glens of the Alps.
In this awful hour Leopold developed magnanimity and heroism worthy of his name.

Before the battle commenced, his friends urged him to take care of his own person.
"God forbid," said he, "that I should endeavor to save my own life and leave you to die! I will share your fate, and, with you, will either conquer or perish." When all was in confusion, and his followers were falling like autumn leaves around him, he was urged to put spurs to his horse, and, accompanied by his body-guard, to escape.
"I would rather die honorably," said Leopold, "than live with dishonor." Just at this moment his standard-bearer was struck down by a rush of the confederates.