{ Beneath the walls, they measure out the space;

{ Then sacred altars rear, on sods of grass,

{ Where, with religious rites, their common gods they place.

In purest white, the priests their heads attire,

And living waters bear, and holy fire;

And, o'er their linen hoods and shaded hair,

Long twisted wreaths of sacred vervain wear.

In order issuing from the town, appears

The Latin legion, armed with pointed spears;

And from the fields, advancing on a line,