The vanity of dogmatizing: or confidence in opinions

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To the Learned Author, of the Eloquent and Ingenious Vanity of DOGMATIZING.

Poets are but Libellers, I implore no Muse;
Parnassian praise is an abuse.
Call up the Spirit of Philosophy:
Your worth's disgraced by Poetry.
Summon Descartes, Plato, Socrates:
Let this great Triad speak your praise.
Other Encomiasts people who write formal praise that attempt, set forth
Their own defects, and not your worth.
As if a Chamber-light should dare essay,
To gloss the beauty of the day.
He that thinks fully to describe it, dreams:
You're only seen by your own beams.
And only Eagle-eyes can bear that light;
Your strength and luster blinds weak sight.
Let pedants quarrel with the light that detects
Their beloved vanities and defects.
And let the Bat, as soon as day's begun,
Commence a suit against the Sun.
Let reprehended Dogmatizers stamp;
And the scorched Moor curse Heaven's lamp:
While nobler souls, that understand what's writ,
Are debtors to your strength and wit.

You have removed the old Antipathy
Between Rhetoric, and Philosophy:
And in your Book have clothed Socratic sense,
In Demosthenian Eloquence eloquence like that of the Greek orator Demosthenes.
You've smoothed the Satyr satire, and the wanton have
Reformed and made Rhetoric grave.
And since your Pen hath thus obliged them
'Tis fit they club to express your worth. both,

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