To Florus 4.94
Since this is so unshakable that no argument can overthrow it, choose whichever you prefer and consistently affirm either my statement or yours, so that you impute guilt either to necessity or to will. When I say “whichever you prefer,” I am not advising you as though your opinion were still hidden: you learned through Manichaeus to bring crimes into nature. I give this warning so that the truthfulness of your argument may be put on record.
Latin
Cum ergo hoc ita inconcussum sit, ut nulla queat argumentatione convelli; tu elige utrum mavis, et vel nostram, vel tuam constanter affirma sententiam; ut aut necessitati, aut voluntati imputes culpam. Cum autem dico, utrum mavis, non sic admoneo, quasi tua adhuc lateat opinio, qui crimina naturae per Manichaeum importare didicisti; sed ideo hoc commoneo, ut disputationis tuae veritas denotetur.
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.