I have been defeated in battle before. I have been outmaneouvred, outflanked, outgunned. I have charged into the valley of death, willingly throwing myself at the cannons on a point of honour. I have surrendered the town and the castle to avoid paying the price of a protracted siege. I have broken line, heedless screaming Saxon, chasing fleeing Normans, only to find myself facing the full might of their reformed front and fallen with an arrow in my eye.
I have never, until today, watched the enemy retreat, and held my line, only to look about and see that my troops, spooked by incipient victory, are in full unglorious rout.