attacking the retiring army unawares in flank, he assembled, with great
rapidity, the foremost companies of cavalry already detached from the
main body. Mounting a fresh and powerful horse, which Camillo Monte held
in readiness for him, he signified his intention of dashing through the
dangerous ravine, and dealing a stroke where it was least expected, "Tell
Don John of Austria," he cried to an officer whom he sent back to the
Commander-in-chief, "that Alexander of Parma has plunged into the abyss,
to perish there, or to come-forth again victorious."

The sudden thought was executed with lightning-like celerity. In an
instant the bold rider was already struggling through the dangerous
swamp; in another, his powerful charger had carried him across. Halting
for a few minutes, lance in rest, till his troops had also forced their
passage, gained the level ground unperceived, and sufficiently breathed
their horses, he drew up his little force in a compact column. Then,
with a few words of encouragement, he launched them at the foe. The
violent and entirely unexpected shock was even more successful than the
Prince had anticipated. The hostile cavalry reeled and fell into
hopeless confusion, Egmont in vain striving to rally them to resistance.
That name had lost its magic. Goignies also attempted, without success,
to restore order among the panic-struck ranks. The sudden conception of
Parma, executed as suddenly and in so brilliant a manner, had been
decisive. Assaulted in flank and rear at the same moment, and already in
temporary confusion, the cavalry of the enemy turned their backs and
fled. The centre of the states' army thus left exposed, was now warmly
attacked by Parma. It had, moreover, been already thrown into disorder
by the retreat of its own horse, as they charged through them in rapid
and disgraceful panic. The whole army bloke to pieces at once, and so
great was the trepidation, that the conquered troops had hardly courage
to run away. They were utterly incapable of combat. Not a blow was