To Florus 4.71
I admit, however, that you thought very hard about what to say. Your talent and your effort are evident. You certainly weighed most skillfully what should be asserted on behalf of inherited sin. No one else could have written more cleverly for natural evil. Indeed, even you could not have accomplished it so elegantly had your old teacher’s inventions not helped your talent.
Latin
Fateor tamen, nimis te cogitasse, quid diceres; et ingenium tuum apparet, et studium; solertissime prorsus quid asserendum esset pro peccati traduce ponderasti; nemo alter callidius scribere potuisset pro naturali malo; quod quidem nec tu ipse tam urbane implere potuisses, nisi ingenium tuum magistri veteris commenta iuvissent.
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.