To Florus 3.56
You do not think the reproductive seed of all people is polluted by the guilt of an act of will; yet you claim this justice has no force in the case of Adam’s crime alone, and his is the one sin charged to everyone. I do not know how to respond first. Should I laugh, as your extraordinary absurdities demand? But the destruction of the many people you deceive calls for pity and tears. Should I therefore be overcome by earnest grief? Yet your monstrous arguments provoke laughter even in a sorrowful mind.
Latin
Nec te hoc putare, quia reatu voluntatis semina omnium hominum polluantur, sed tamen hanc iustitiam in Adae solius crimine non valere, ipsius unum esse peccatum, quod omnibus imputetur. Ad quod ego quid prius facere debeam nescio: rideamne, quod ineptiae exigunt singulares? Sed multorum perditio, quos decipitis, miserationem expectat et lacrimas. Serio ergo maerore conficiar? Sed argumentorum tuorum prodigia incutiunt, quamvis maesto animo, cachinnum.
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.