Chapter XI.—Clement Has Heard All This Before.

While Appion was allegorizing in this way, I became plunged in thought, and seemed not to be following what he was saying.  So he interrupted his discourse, and said to me, “If you do not follow what I am saying, why should I speak at all?”  And I answered, “Do not suppose that I do not understand what you say.  I understand it thoroughly; and that the more that this is not the first time I have heard it.  And that you may know that I am not ignorant of these things, I shall epitomize what you have said, and supply in their order, as I have heard them from others, the allegorical interpretations of those stories you have omitted.”  And Appion said:  “Do so.”