Julian excerpt in the intermediary document
Marriage 2.10.23
You have certainly defined as evil by nature this desire without which there is no fruitfulness. How, then, is it aroused in old people through a heavenly gift? Now establish, if you can, that something you see God bestow as a gift belongs to the devil’s work.
Latin
Dicit etiam iste multa frustra de Abraham et Sarra, quomodo ex repromissione acceperint filium, et tandem concupiscentiam nominat, non tamen addit carnis quia ipsa pudenda est. In concupiscentia autem nomine aliquando gloriandum est, quia est et concupiscentia spiritus adversus carnem 41, est et concupiscentia sapientiae 42. Ait ergo: "Certe hanc concupiscentiam, sine qua nulla fecunditas est, malam naturaliter definisti; unde ergo per donum caeleste in senibus excitatur? Adstrue iam hoc, si potes, ad opus diaboli pertinere, quod Deum vides conferre pro munere". Ita hoc dicit, quasi concupiscentia carnis illis ante defuerit et hanc eis donaverit Deus, quae procul dubio inerat in corpore mortis huius; sed fecunditas defuit, cuius auctor est Deus, et ipsa donata est quando voluit Deus. Absit autem, ut dicamus, quod nos putavit esse dicturos, Isaac sine concubitus calore generatum.
About this text
Intermediary extracts Augustine answered in Book Two — compiler framing labeled where needed. Latin context is on each section when recovered.
English follows the extracts Augustine answered in On Marriage and Concupiscence II. Compiler framing is labeled where needed.
Witnesses
- Copy-text Augustine, On Marriage and Concupiscence II (Latin · Extracts of Julian)
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.