I have, BTW, always felt that some error in oral transmission has occurred at some stage in the line

"some died — others fell in disgrace"

"Fell" is surely, in the context of battle, synonymous with "died"; to "fall in battle" means to be killed. I think the words must originally have been "fled in disgrace"; 'fleeing from the battle might have been regarded as a disgrace; but I don't think falling would.

Anyone agree?

≈M≈