Letter 50: Procopius says he already seeks words of thanks before Strategius's case is finished.

It was fitting, then, that I should confidently ask a favor from you and that you should give it eagerly. Both parts suit us: mine is to say what is needed, yours to carry the word into action. Strategius has reported to me that your eagerness toward him was so great that, as far as you are concerned, the case has reached its end and I have won. But let this happen in deeds as well. I trust so much in the end I expect through you that, even before the end, I am already looking for the words by which I will acknowledge the favor.

Σοσιανῷ Ἔπρεπεν ἄρα κἀμὲ θαρροῦντα χάριν αἰτεῖν παρὰ σοῦ, καὶ σὲ προθύμως διδόναι, ἀμφοτέροις ἁρμόττον, ἐμοὶ μὲν λέγειν ὅτου δέοι, σοὶ δὲ πρὸς ἔργον τὸν λόγον ἐκφέρειν. Στρατήγιος γὰρ ἀπήγγειλέ μοι τοσαύτην ὑμῶν γεγενῆσθαι τὴν εἰς αὐτὸν προθυμίαν, ὥστε τἀπὶ σοὶ καὶ πέρας ἔσχεν ἡ δίκη καὶ νενικήκαμεν. ἀλλ' ὅπως καὶ τοῖς ἔργοις γένοιτο ταῦτα· τοσοῦτον γὰρ θαρρῶ διὰ σοῦ τὸ πέρας ἐλπίζων, ὥστε καὶ πρὸ τοῦ τέλους ἤδη λόγους ζητῶ δι' ὧν ὁμολογήσω τὴν χάριν.