Direct quotation
Against Julian 3.13.27
Sexual desire’s origin is therefore rightly defined as lying in the fire of life. Once this has been established, bodily desire must be attributed to the one through whom bodily life came into being.
So this appetite is not blameworthy in its general kind, its particular form, or its proper measure, but in its excess. Its kind and form belong to the Creator’s work; its measure to the choice of honorable conduct; its excess to the fault of the will.
Latin
Merito igitur - inquis - concupiscentiae origo definitur in igne vitali, quo collecto necesse est ut ei reputetur concupiscentia carnalis, per quem constitit vita carnalis
Huius itaque appetitus non in genere suo, non in specie, non in modo culpa est, sed in excessu: quia genus eius et species ad conditoris operam pertinent, modus eius ad arbitrium honestatis, excessus ad vitium voluntatis
About this text
Earlier four-book work to Turbantius, surviving as excerpts arranged by Augustine’s witness. Latin source text is on each section when recovered.
English follows Julian’s words as Augustine excerpts them in Against Julian. This is not a recovered complete To Turbantius.
Witnesses
- Copy-text Augustine, Against Julian (Latin · Excerpts arranged by Augustine’s books)
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.