Letter 67: Procopius recommends poor Stephen, who has turned to diaconal dress for survival.

I do not think it has escaped your notice how far Stephen has fallen into poverty, or that Fortune has almost taken one of his eyes from him and left him unable even to hold in his hands the hope of making a living. So, devising a treatment for his need, he has changed into the dress of deacons. This clever device is in danger of helping him not at all unless he receives the assistance from you that I am convinced is available to everyone who seeks it. If you ask, I think one of the bishops among you will agree either to have him serve or at least to have him fed. You know that even when he receives no help, he never stops talking. If he obtains some favor, where will he not proclaim the kindness? I think he will spend his inborn chatter on remembering the favor.

Νηφαλίωι Εἰς ὅσον ἥκει τῆς ἀπορίας ὁ Στέφανος, οὐδ' ὑμᾶς οἶμαι λανθάνειν, καὶ ὅτι μηδ' ἐν ταῖς χερσὶ δύναται ποιεῖσθαι τὴν ἐλπίδα τοῦ βίου μικροῦ δεῖν καὶ τὸν ὀφθαλμὸν ὑπὸ τῆς Τύχης ἀφῃρημένος. ὅθεν θεραπείαν τινὰ πρὸς τὴν ἔνδειαν σοφιζόμενος εἰς διακόνων ἐνήλλακται σχῆμα. κινδυνεύει δὲ μηδὲν αὐτὸν ὀνῆσαι τὸ σόφισμα, πλὴν εἰ μὴ τῆς ἐπικουρίας τύχοι τῆς παρὰ σοῦ, ἣν καὶ πᾶσι προκεῖσθαι πείθομαι τοῖς βουλομένοις τυχεῖν· ὑμῶν γὰρ αἰτούντων ἐπινεύσει τις οἶμαι τῶν παρ' ὑμῖν ἐπισκόπων ἢ λειτουργοῦντα τοῦτον ἕξειν ἢ καὶ μόνον τρεφόμενον. ἴστε δὲ ὡς καὶ μηδὲν ὠφελούμενος οὐ παύεται φλυαροῦν· εἰ δὲ τύχοι τινὸς εὐεργεσίας, ποῦ τοῦτον οὐκ εἰκὸς ἀνακηρῦξαι τὴν χάριν; ἀναλώσει γάρ, οἶμαι, τὴν ἔμφυτον φλυαρίαν εἰς τὸ μεμνῆσθαι τῆς χάριτος.