imperfect
system of Ethics.
This I might have done in prose, but I chose verse, and even rhyme, for two reasons. The one will appear obvious; that principles, maxims, or precepts so written, both strike the reader more strongly at first, and are more easily retained by him afterwards: The other may seem odd, but is true, I found I could express them more
shortly
this way than in prose itself; and nothing is more certain, than that much of the
force
as well as
grace
of arguments or instructions, depends on their
conciseness