To Florus 2.31
If it comes through the parents’ union, openly condemn the marriage your argument condemns, and spare us the work of proving you a Manichaean. But if you do not dare say this, and, defiant of reason, bow to those having intercourse, you produce unheard-of monstrosities of argument. You say that lust is diabolical and, although located in the feelings of those coupling, provides the parents’ pleasure but the newborn children’s guilt. You certainly expose your own madness and shamefulness. But please do not presume so far as to think we are not free to defend newborn children’s innocence while honoring God, when you are permitted—and pleased—to accuse God while clearing the lustful people’s own bodies of what you call lust’s guilt.
Latin
Si per commixtionem parentum, damna nuptias professione, quas argumentatione condemnas; et deme nobis laborem, quo te convicimus esse Manichaeum. Sin autem tu non id audes dicere, ac ratione contumax concumbentibus inclinaris, ut per argumentorum hactenus inaudita portenta, dicas libidinem diabolicam esse, eamque in sensu coeuntium positam, ad voluptatem parentum, ad reatum pertinere nascentium; tuam quidem amentiam et turpitudinem prodis; sed precor ne tibi tantum arroges, ut putes nobis liberum non esse cum honore Dei nascentium innocentiam contueri; cum tibi liceat et libeat, cum accusatione Dei a reatu, quem dicis libidinis, libidinantium membra purgare.