Letter 96: Macarius brings Silanus's letter, which makes Procopius feel Silanus present again.

Good Macarius, who enjoys my goodwill because of his zeal and character, brought me your letter. I recognized the letter-forms, greeted the heading as soon as I saw it, and without delay entered into what was written. At once the swan sounded in my ears, and, spreading its wing to the west wind, gave itself wholly to song and became more musical. Now I truly understood that your nightingale was no Attic myth: the girl really came from Athens, became a bird, and preserves Attic song in her melodies. The words create such a form for the letter. Delighted by these things, I breathed deeply and was carried back into memory of old happiness: how we were together by the Nile, how freely Fortune allowed me to enjoy you, how I was pained when deprived of you, and how I rejoice now that I have received this. Through the letter, I already seem to possess you. I thanked the man who gave it to me and said, "How fortunate you are, child of the family." I blamed myself because I had not known he belonged to you. What can I become for him? How could I provide all that I wish? If you measure the favor by eagerness, there is nothing he will not receive from me. Hearing also that you now bear the yoke of marriage, I pray to see children of yours who proclaim their father to everyone who sees them.

Σιλανῶι Ὁ καλὸς Μακάριος σπουδῆς ἕνεκα καὶ τρόπων τῆς ἐμῆς ἀπολαύων εὐ νοίας, ἐπέδωκέ μοι φέρων τὴν ὑμετέραν ἐπιστολήν, ἐγὼ δὲ τοὺς τύπους ἐπιγνοὺς ἅμα τῇ θέᾳ καὶ τὴν ἐπιγραφὴν ἀσπασάμενος, εὐθὺς μελλήσας οὐδὲν τῶν γεγραμμένων εἴσω γεγένημαι, καὶ ὁ μὲν κύκνος εὐθὺς ἐνήχει ταῖς ἀκοαῖς, καὶ ὥσπερ τῷ Ζεφύρῳ τὸ πτερὸν ἀνεὶς ὅλος ἀνέκειτο ταῖς ᾠδαῖς καὶ μουσι κώτερος ἦν, τὴν δὲ σὴν ἀηδόνα νῦν ὄντως ἔγνων ὡς οὐ μῦθος ἦν Ἀττικός, ἀλλ' ἐξ Ἀθηνῶν ὑπῆρχεν ἡ κόρη, καὶ γέγονεν ὄρνις, καὶ τὴν Ἀττικὴν φυλάττει τοῖς μέλεσι· τοιοῦτον αὐτῇ τὸ σχῆμα τῆς ἐπιστολῆς δημιουργοῦσιν οἱ λόγοι. ἐγὼ δὲ τούτοις ἡσθεὶς ἀνέπνευσά τε μέγα καὶ παλαιᾶς εὐδαιμονίας ἀνηγόμην εἰς μνήμην, ὡς συνῆμεν ἀλλήλοις παρὰ τὸν Νεῖλον, ὡς ἀδεῶς ἐμφορεῖσθαί σου παρεῖχεν ἡ τύχη, ὡς στερηθεὶς ἠχθόμην, ὡς χαίρω νῦν κομισάμενος. καὶ γάρ σε διὰ τῆς ἐπιστολῆς ἔχειν ἤδη δοκῶ. καὶ χάριν ὡμο λόγουν τῷ ταύτην ἐμοὶ δεδωκότι, καὶ "ὡς εὐδαίμων" ἔφην "ὦ παῖ τοῦ γένους ὑπάρχεις", καὶ ἐμεμφόμην ὅτι σοι προσήκων ἐλάνθανε. τίς οὖν γένω μαι; πόθεν ἂν δυναίμην αὐτῷ παρέχειν ὁπόσα καὶ βούλομαι; εἰ δὲ μετρήσεις τῇ προθυμίᾳ τὴν χάριν, οὐδέν ἐστιν ὅ τι μὴ λήψεται παρ' ἡμῶν. ἀκούσας δέ σε καὶ γάμου φέρειν ζυγόν, εὐξαίμην σου καὶ παῖδας ἰδεῖν τοῖς ὁρῶσι τὸν πατέρα κηρύττοντας.