To Florus 1.44
What then? I will indeed yield to you. At this point I will give up everyone whose support I could use and be content with a definition which, as evidence of a good nature, escaped from your honorable mouth after you left the secret company of the Manichaeans. In the book entitled either On Two Souls or Against Two Souls, you say: “Wait; let us first define sin. Sin is the will to commit or retain something justice forbids and from which one is free to abstain. In fact, if one is not free, it cannot even be called will; but I preferred a rougher definition to a more exacting one” (Augustine, On Two Souls 15).
Latin
Quid ergo? Acquiescam prorsus tibi, faciamque in hoc loco iacturam omnium, quorum adminiculo uti possem, contentusque ero definitione, quae ad indicium bonae naturae post Manichaeorum secretum de ore tuae honestatis effugit. In eo igitur libro cui titulus est, vel De duabus animabus, vel Contra duas animas, ita loqueris: Exspecta, sine prius peccatum definiamus. Peccatum est voluntas admittendi vel retinendi quod iustitia vetat, et unde liberum est abstinere. Quamquam si liberum non est, nec voluntas dici potest; sed malui grossius, quam scrupulosius definire [n40] .
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.