To Florus 1.35
What is at issue, then, is the relationship of Creator and creature, that is, of God and the human being. The one judges; the other is judged. Let us therefore examine the nature of justice and of guilt. Justice, as learned people commonly define it and as we can understand it, is a virtue, the greatest of all virtues, if the Stoics will allow one to be ranked above another. It carefully performs its task of restoring to each what belongs to that person, without deceit or favoritism.
Latin
Creatoris his igitur et creaturae ratio vertitur, id est Dei et hominis; iudicat ille, iudicatur iste; itaque iustitiae et culpae quae sit natura, videatur. Iustitia est, et ut ab eruditis definiri solet, et ut nos intellegere possumus, virtus (si per Stoicos liceat alteri alteram praeferre) virtutum omnium maxima, fungens diligenter officio ad restituendum sua unicuique sine fraude, sine gratia.
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.