Moral Letters to Lucilius Section 5

Denique nihil illi iam liberi est; spopondit. Minus autem turpe est creditori quam spei bonae decoquere. Ad illud aes alienum solvendum opus est negotianti navigatione prospera, agrum colenti ubertate eius, quam colit, terrae, caeli favore; ille quod debet, sola potest voluntate persolvi.

Enfin ton ami n’est plus libre ; il s’est obligé, et l’on doit moins rougir de manquer à un prêteur qu’à une promesse de vertu. Pour solder sa dette d’argent il faut au commerçant une traversée heureuse, à l’agriculteur la fécondité du sol qu’il cultive, la faveur du ciel : l’autre engagement s’acquitte par la seule volonté.

Finally, he has no longer any freedom in the matter; he has pledged his word. And it is less disgraceful to compound with a creditor than to compound with a promising future. To pay his debt of money, the business man must have a prosperous voyage, the farmer must have fruitful fields and kindly weather; but the debt which your friend owes can be completely paid by mere goodwill.