I had been chosen for the task because Seleukus had heard from my old teacher, Bion, that I should get a faithful likeness of the original more quickly than any one else.

She may have said more, but I heard nothing; I only saw.

For when the veil no longer hid that face from my gaze, I felt as though the gods had revealed a mystery to me which till now only the immortals had been permitted to know.

Never was my soul so steeped in devotion, never had my heart beat in such solemn uplifting as at that moment.

What I was gazing at and had to represent was a thing neither human nor divine; it was beauty itself--that beauty of which I have often dreamed in blissful rapture.
"And yet--do not misapprehend me--I never thought of bewailing the maiden, or grieving over her early death.