19. Who could enumerate the full tale of his
excellences, or, if he wished to pass by most of them, discover without
difficulty what can be omitted? For each trait, as it occurs to
the mind, seems superior to what has gone before; it takes possession
of me, and I feel more at a loss to know what I ought to pass by, than
other panegyrists are as to what they ought to say. So that the
abundance of material is to some extent a hindrance to me, and my mind
is itself put to the test in its efforts to test his qualities, and its
inability, where all are equal, to find one which surpasses the
rest. So that, just as when we see a pebble falling into still
water, it becomes the centre and starting-point of circle after circle,
each by its continuous agitation breaking up that which lies outside of
it; this is exactly the case with myself. For as soon as one
thing enters my mind, another follows and displaces it; and I am
wearied out in making a choice, as what I have already grasped is ever
retiring in favour of that which follows in its train.