To Florus 4.65
“But he,” you say, “was unwilling to name the desire of the flesh. He is silent because he is ashamed; and with a remarkable shamelessness of shame, if one may say so, he is ashamed to name what he is not ashamed to praise” (Augustine, On Marriage and Concupiscence 2.7.17). So you are displeased that we know, according to the apostle, that our less respectable parts must be covered with the decency they require (1 Corinthians 12:23). In this, our judgment follows the Creator’s: what he placed in a private part of the body, we likewise cover with a modest screen.
Latin
Sed iste, inquis, noluit nominare concupiscentiam carnis; tacet quia pudet, ac mira, si dici potest, pudoris impudentia nominare pudet, quod laudare non pudet [n99] . Displicet igitur tibi, quia novimus verecundiora nostra, secundum Apostolum, necessaria honestate velanda [n100] ; quia in hoc consilium sequitur Conditoris, ut quod ille in secreta corporis parte constituit, nos totidem verecundo operiamus obtectu.
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.