Letter 63: Procopius repays a book loan by securing a possible purchase for Athenodorus.

When I received the book, I naturally thanked you, and I congratulated myself for having been fortunate enough to win such people as friends. Let envy not strike me with a rough stone, as Pindar says. I also prayed that Fortune might one day let me repay you with a favor worthy of you. She has quickly given the opportunity, the kind you wanted and the kind I had long been seeking but only now obtained. I have persuaded the man who owns the whole property to sell you the part you need. If you come to me, you will get the possession sooner, persuading in some things and being persuaded in others about the price, as the law of commerce requires. If not, he will come to you when the proper time calls, as he has promised me.

Ἀθηνοδώρωι Δεξάμενος τὸ βιβλίον ὑμῖν μὲν χάριν ὡμολόγουν εἰκότως, ἐμαυτῷ δὲ συνηδόμην εἰ τοιούτους ὄντας ὑμᾶς πρὸς φιλίαν ηὐτύχησα. καὶ μή με βαλέτω λίθῳ τραχεῖ φθόνος, ὡς τῷ Πινδάρῳ δοκεῖ. ηὐχόμην δὲ καὶ τῇ Τύχῃ δύνασθαί μέ ποτε πρέπουσαν ὑμῖν ἀνταποδοῦναι τὴν χάριν. ἡ δὲ ταχέως δίδωσι τὸν καιρόν, οἷον σύ τε ἐβούλου κἀγὼ πάλαι ζητῶν νῦν μόλις ἐτύγχανον· τὸν γὰρ ἔχοντα τὴν καθόλου πέπεικα τοῦτό σοι τὸ μέρος ἀποδόσθαι οὗ καὶ τυγχάνεις δεόμενος. εἰ μὲν οὖν ἔλθοις ὡς ἡμᾶς, θᾶττον ἂν λάβοις τὸ κτῆμα περὶ τῆς τιμῆς τὰ μὲν πείσας τὰ δὲ πεισθείς, ὡς ὁ τῆς ἐμπορίας βούλεται νόμος· εἰ δὲ μή, αὐτὸς ἥξει πρὸς σὲ καιροῦ καλοῦντος, ὡς ἡμῖν ἐπηγγείλατο.