Julian excerpts
Against Julian 5.5.20
When it comes to sowing children, the members created for this work serve precisely at the will’s direction. Unless impediments arise from weakness or excess, they obey the mind’s command.
This kind of movement belongs among the many things in our body that, through their own order and hidden arrangement, require the will’s consent, not its command.
Like hunger, thirst, and digestion, they require the will’s consent, not its command.
I feel ashamed and am prevented by horror from speaking about such things, but compelled by necessity.
Latin
Cum ventum fuerit ut filii seminentur, ad voluntatis prorsus nutum membra in hoc opus creata famulari; et nisi eorum impedimenta, aut de infirmitate, aut de immoderatione proveniant, servire animi imperio
hoc genus motus in his habendum putasti, quae multa in nostro corpore ordine suo ac dispensatione secreta, voluntatis non imperium, sed consensum requirunt
ad voluntatis prorsus nutum ista
membra famulantur, atque imperio animi serviunt
sicut fames et sitis et digestio, non voluntatis imperium, sed consensum requirunt
verecundari te - dicis - et de rebus loqui talibus horrore prohiberi, sed necessitate compelli
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.