[34] i.e. the sick body of Italy which has to be purified after the polluting presence of Alaric. With “rore pio spargens” cf. Verg. Aen. vi. 230, and for the throwing over the head of the purificatory instrument see Verg. Ec. viii. 102.

[98]

sulphure caeruleo nigroque bitumine fumat, 325

circum membra rotat doctus purganda sacerdos

rore pio spargens, et dira fugantibus herbis

numina purificumque Iovem Triviamque precatus

trans caput aversis manibus iaculatur in Austrum

secum rapturas cantata piacula taedas. 330

Acrior interea visendi principis ardor

accendit cum plebe patres et saepe negatum