To Florus 4.34
It is nevertheless clear that my accuser is rolling in the very mud he recoils from. For he has invented the claim that the punishment of lust was justly imposed, and insists that this justice belongs to the divine sentence. Yet he does not deny that the pronouncement of the sentence is God’s work. He says lust, which he admits is shameful, arose from that sentence. He has therefore brought back into God’s work the very shame he had driven away.
Latin
Constat tamen accusatorem nostrum in eodem, quem aversatur luto volvi. Cum enim confinxerit iuste redditam libidinis poenam, et hanc iustitiam divinae inculcat convenire sententiae, in prolatione autem sententiae opus Dei esse non denegat, ex qua libidinem evenisse dicit, quam erubescendam fatetur; in operam nimirum Dei, illum, quem propulsaverat, reduxit pudorem.
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.