Letter 34: Procopius jokes that the Loves shot Philip into sympathy before revenge could begin.

How much the Loves can do, and how they change things. They prove by deeds that nothing is stronger than they are. They seem to say, "Of all things we hate arrogance most." If someone raises his eyebrow and disregards the words of a lover, they reverse the order: suddenly that solemn man falls in love and speaks humbly. Why am I saying this? You surely know already and are laughing, but I will say it to honor them. Longing for you struck me in a full stream, drew my thought to itself, and left me painfully at a loss, not knowing what to become. I thought there was only one consolation: that you, though absent, might say something and that I might often hear you speaking. When you understood the situation, you underwent something strange - alas - and were lifted toward arrogance. I loved, and you paid no attention at all. I begged, and gained nothing. I put forward kinship, called you brother, reminded you of Zeus of Friendship, and you were silent again. The matter was hopeless. What happened then? I said something to the Loves, wept, and called them to their bows. They obeyed. They shot, and when you were struck you changed. You, who were once arrogant toward me, asked me to become humane, so that you would not suffer from me what I had suffered from you. Dear Loves, I obey. Before taking revenge, I am reconciled. If he plays the young man again ... but I do not think he would dare.

Φιλίππωι ἀδελφῶι Ὢ πόσα δύνανται καὶ μεταβάλλουσιν Ἔρωτες, καὶ βεβαιοῦσι τοῖς ἔργοις ὡς οὐδὲν αὐτῶν ἐκείνων μεῖζον ἰσχύει. ἐοίκασι δὲ λέγειν ὡς "μάλιστα πάντων μισοῦμεν ὑπεροψίαν". κἂν τὴν ὀφρῦν τις ἀνασπάσῃ καὶ παρίδῃ λόγους ἐρῶντος, ἐνήλλαξαν οὗτοι τὴν τάξιν, καὶ ὁ σεμνὸς ἐκεῖνος ἐξαίφνης ἐρᾷ καὶ φθέγγεται ταπεινόν. ἀλλὰ τί μοι βούλεται ταῦτα; ἤδη μὲν πάντως ἐπίστασαι καὶ γελᾷς, ἀλλ' ὅμως τιμῆς ἕνεκα τῆς ἐκείνων εἰρήσεται. ἐμοὶ γὰρ ὁ σὸς πόθος ὅλῳ ῥεύματι προσβαλὼν εἷλκε τὸν λογισμὸν ἐφ' αὑτόν, καὶ δεινῶς ἠπόρουν καὶ οὐκ εἶχον ὅ τι καὶ γένωμαι. μίαν τοίνυν ἐδόκουν εἶναι παραμυθίαν, εἴ τι λέξεις ἀπὼν καὶ φθεγγομένου πολλάκις ἀκούσω. ὡς οὖν ἔγνως τὸ πρᾶγμα, ξένον τι πέπονθας, οἴμοι, καὶ πρὸς ἀλαζονείαν ἐπήρθης. καὶ ἐγὼ μὲν ἤρων, σὺ δὲ παντάπασιν οὐ προσεῖχες. ἐδεόμην, καὶ ἦν μοι πλέον οὐδέν. προὔφερον τὴν συγγένειαν, ἀδελφὸν προσεῖπον, ὑπέμνησα φιλίου Διός, σὺ δὲ καὶ πάλιν ἐσίγας. ἀμήχανον ἦν τὸ πρᾶγμα λοιπόν. τί οὖν καὶ γέγονεν; εἶπόν τι πρὸς τοὺς Ἔρωτας καὶ ἐδάκρυσα, καὶ παρεκάλουν ἐπὶ τὰ τόξα· καὶ πείθονται· καὶ οἱ μὲν ἔβαλλον σὺ δὲ πειραθεὶς μετεβάλου, καὶ ὁ πρὶν ἡμῖν ἀλαζὼν ᾔτεις με γενέσθαι φιλάνθρωπον, ὅπως μὴ τῶν αὐτῶν πειραθῇς παρ' ἡμῶν, ὧνπερ ἡμεῖς παρὰ σοῦ. ἀλλ' ὦ φίλοι Ἔρωτες, ἐγὼ μὲν πείθομαι καὶ πρὶν ἀμύνασθαι διαλλάττομαι. εἰ δέ τι πάλιν νεανιεύσεται ... ἀλλ' οὐκ ἂν οἶμαι τολμήσειε.