Much less the fourth. In vain, alas! you seek
The ambitious title of apostolic:[171]
God-like descent! 'tis well your blood can be
Proved noble in the third or fourth degree;
}
For all of ancient that you had before, }
I mean what is not borrowed from our store, }
Was error fulminated o'er and o'er; }
Old heresies condemned in ages past,
By care and time recovered from the blast.[172]