To Florus 5.3
The defender of natural evil attacks my books’ labor devoted to these matters. With what strength and how consistent an answer he does so, I have taught more than sufficiently in the preceding volumes’ discussion. I do not doubt that reading them makes this plain to every discerning person—the sort of person I have testified in this preface is rare: truth’s enemy strives only to make sport of simpler people’s ears, and thinks he has escaped if he merely appears to have answered somehow.
Latin
His ita negotiis librorum meorum operam destinatam, mali naturalis assertor oppugnat; quibus sane viribus, et quam consequenti responsione, satis superque praecedentium voluminum disputatione perdocui. Quorum lectione non dubito prudenti cuique constare (quem rarum esse hac praefatione testatus sum), nihil studere aliud veritatis inimicum, quam ut simpliciorum ludificentur aures et evasisse, si utcumque se respondisse videatur.
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.