To Florus 5.5
But let us now approach the case. In both my earlier work and the present one, it has become clear that natural sexual desire, without which the union of the sexes cannot occur, was instituted by God, the creator of both human beings and animals (compare Augustine, Marriage and Desire 2.25). Even by my opponent’s admission, this is so decisive that natural sin cannot possibly be maintained without blaming that desire—bodily sexual desire—and slandering sexual union.
Latin
Sed iam aggrediamur ad causam. Claruit tam priore quam praesenti opere, concupiscentiam naturalem, sine qua sexuum non potest esse commixtio, a Deo, qui est et hominum et pecudum conditor [n13] , institutam. Quod tantum valet, confessione quoque adversarii mei, ut sine eius vituperatione, id est, carna lis concupiscentiae, et sine infamatione commixtionis, asseri penitus non possit naturale peccatum.
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.