To Florus 6.3
Thus one group caters both to pleasure and to fear. Its indulgence travels with the crowds of the arena, circus, or theater, seeking to excuse every disgrace by necessity, which always lightens the blame for what was done, and to avoid the world’s uproar by abandoning its principles. These are the things that win a larger following for the defense of vices. Yet most of that crowd, as I said before, believed that advocates of inherited sin and catholics agreed at least in their account of God.
Latin
Pars igitur et voluptati consulens et pavori, vel arenae, vel circi, vel scenae populis comitata luxuria, ambiens in omnibus flagitiis obtendere necessitatem, qua commissi invidia semper levatur, et fragores saeculi praevaricatione vitare; ea ergo sunt, quae comitatiorem faciunt vitiorum defensionem. Ex quo tamen vulgo pars maxima, ut praefatus sum, Traducianis et Catholicis vel de Deo rationes credidit consonare.
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.