To Florus 5.40
Since this great point was so plain, what persuaded you to believe that the violence of ancient nothing was the cause of an evil will? Certainly it was so that we could understand that you believe everything made from nothing guilty and enslave the whole world to the devil. Since it has become clear to me that your ancient doctrinal agreement remains, I now answer you and Mani together. You ask me, who deny that evil has a nature, to answer if I can: where could the evil will itself arise in the first human being? I reply that you do not understand what you are saying. For will is nothing other than a movement of the mind under no compulsion.
Latin
Cum ergo hoc tam magnum apertum esset, quid illud fuit, quod tibi persuasit, ut crederes antiqui nihili violentiam causam malae voluntatis fuisse? Profecto ut intellegeremus nos, omnia te, quae sunt facta de nihilo, rea credere, et universum mundum diabolo mancipare. Quoniam igitur mihi claruit antiquam inter vos dogmatum manere concordiam, hinc iam tibi pariter et Manichaeo respondeo. Quaeritis certe, ut qui nego mali esse naturam, si possum respondeam, unde ipsa mala voluntas in homine primo potuit exoriri. At ego refero non vos intellegere quid dicatis. Voluntas enim nihil est aliud, quam motus animi, cogente nullo.
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.