To Florus 1.10
He also praises a powerful man for throwing the weight of his high position against our petitions and preventing us from obtaining a time or place for discussion. We had cried out for nothing except judges to be appointed in so great a matter, so that actions known to have been secured by misrepresentation might be corrected rather than punished after investigation. Whether the man to whom the book is addressed actually acted as wickedly as this praise declares is for him to consider. My own little work, in which I mentioned his name honorably, made plain how much better I thought of him. That book may perhaps contain falsehoods about its patron. But it faithfully reveals what its author wants: a struggle waged by savage force and blind abuse of power against reason, against faith, and against every form of holiness in conduct and doctrine.
Latin
Laudat etiam potentem hominem, quod nostris petitionibus, qui nihil aliud quam dari tanto negotio iudices vociferabamur, ut ea quae subreptionibus acta constabat, emendarentur potius, quam punirentur examine, mole suae dignitatis obstiterit, nec disceptationi tempus aut locum permiserit impetrare. Quod utrum ille ad quem scribitur, tam nequiter fecerit, quam testatur ista laudatio, ipse viderit. Nos tamen in quantum de eo melius aestimaverimus, nominis illius commemoratio opusculo meo honorifice inserta patefecit. Verum liber ille de patrono suo falsa fortasse contineat. Porro fideliter quid scriptor eius cupiat ostendit; videlicet, ut contra rationem, contra fidem, contra omnem morum et dogmatum sanctitatem, vi fera et caeca impotentia dimicetur.
About this text
Julian’s six preserved books to Florus, quoted section by section in Augustine’s unfinished reply. Augustine’s refutations are omitted. Latin of Julian’s words is on each section.
Julian’s own books do not survive as a separate manuscript. English follows his words as Augustine quotes them in the Unfinished Work Against Julian. Augustine’s replies are omitted. We do not restore a Julian text independent of Augustine.
Witnesses
- Copy-text Augustine, Unfinished Work Against Julian (Latin · Julian’s words as quoted, Books 1–6)
- Checked print Augustinus.it Latin of the Unfinished Work (Latin · Same work)
- Checked print Migne PL 45 (Latin · Hard cases)
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Latin on each section (or the Latin source witness link) for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.