bogs down in a surfeit of characters and 
(ROOT (S (VP (VBZ bogs) (PRT (RP down)) (PP (IN in) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN surfeit)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NNS characters)))))) (CC and)))
(ROOT (S (VP (VBZ ) (PRT (RP )) (PP (IN ) (NP (NP (DT ) (NN )) (PP (IN ) (NP (NNS )))))) (CC )))