When I read St. Augustine's Confessions, one thing I remember (and was surprised by) is that many of the husbands at that place and time beat their wives. And the wives were surprised that St. Monica's husband didn't beat her because he had a bad temper. And she would tell them that if they didn't want to be beaten by their husbands they should not contradict him or argue with him, especially if he had been drinking. If she would be submissive to him then he would probably not beat her. I don't recall St. Augustine giving a condemnation or an approval of corporal punishment in general, though it may have been there and I just don't remember.