To Florus 3.205
Mani calls nature evil for no other reason than that he considers it deserving of evil, and thinks punishments should be inflicted on it. You also affirm evil exists in human nature, and no different evil from Mani’s: fleshly desire, which you publicly proclaim was poured in by the devil. You say nature is so deserving of evil that you persist in sentencing it to eternal torments. Without doubt, then, you pronounce it utterly evil and condemned in exactly the same way as Mani.
Latin
Si ergo et Manichaeus non ob aliud dicit malam naturam, quam quod eam mali meriti arbitratur, cui putat inferenda supplicia, et tu naturae humanae malum inesse confirmas nec aliud malum quam quod Manichaeus, id est concupiscentiam carnis, quam a diabolo contionaris infusam; eamque sic mali meriti esse dicis, ut aeternis eam persistas adiudicare tormentis, non aliter sine dubio quam Manichaeus pessimam illam damnatamque pronuntias.
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.