To Florus 4.41
God made the lust of human beings just as he made that of animals. In animals he left the impulses unrestrained, but in rational human beings God established a limit. The prudence and decency God gave provide desire with a covering. Therefore God blames neither its proper measure nor its kind, but its excess. That excess arises from the unruliness of free will and accuses not nature’s condition but what the agent deserves.
Latin
Libidinem ut pecorum, ita hominum fecit Deus; sed in pecoribus incoercitos dimisit affectus, in homine autem rationabili modum Deus instituit. Amictum ei prudentia et honestas comparat, quam dedit Deus. Igitur non modum, non genus; sed excessum eius culpat Deus, qui de insolentia liberae voluntatis exoriens, haud statum naturae, sed meritum agentis accusat.
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.