[The following takes place after the Romans take the Volsci town of Corioli following a ferocious siege. Marcius Coriolanus, due to his heroism and quick thinking on the battlefield, receives a lion’s share of credit for the victory.]
And then he [the consul Cominius] required him [Coriolanus] to choose a tenth part of the all the treasure and horses and captives that had fallen into their hands, before any division should be made to others; besides which, he made him the special present of a horse with trappings and ornaments, in honour of his actions. The whole army applauded; Marcius, however, stepped forth, and declaring his thankful acceptance of the horse, and his gratification at the praises of his general, said, that all other things, which he could only regard rather as mercenary advantages than any significations of honour, he must waive, and should be content with the ordinary proportion of such rewards.
“I have only,” said he, “one special grace to beg, and this I hope you will not deny me. There was a certain hospitable friend of mine among the Volscians, a man of probity and virtue, who is become a prisoner, and from former wealth and freedom is now reduced to servitude. Among his many misfortunes let my intercession redeem him from the one of being sold as a common slave.”
Such a refusal and such a request on the part of Marcius were followed with yet louder acclamations; and he had many more admirers of this generous superiority in avarice, than of the bravery he had shown in battle. The very persons who conceived some envy and despite to see him so specially honoured, could not be acknowledge, that one who so nobly could refuse reward, was beyond others worthy to receive it; and were more charmed with that virtue which made him despise advantage, than with any of those former actions that have gained him his title to it.
It is the higher accomplishment to use money well than to use arms; but not to need it is more noble than to use it.
tl;dr:
Marcius leads the Romans to victory in the siege, the consul is so grateful that he orders ten percent of all the spoils to go to him, along with a fine horse. Marcius says he’ll take the horse, but insists he gets the same cut as all the regular soldiers. He only asks that a friend of his, who was among the enemy and was taken prisoner, be released from inevitable slavery. Then Plutarch (the author) goes on to praise his superior virtue, which is both super Roman and very, very awesome.
Source:
Plutarch, John Dryden, and Arthur Hugh Clough. "Coriolanus." Plutarch's Lives. New York: Modern Library, 2001. 297-98. Print.
Further Reading:
Beautiful, thank you for this.