After that Caesar and Pompey, and Macrinus and Albinus and Marcius, Roman nobles and builders of the new city of Florence, had returned to Rome, their labours being completed, the city began to increase and multiply both in Romans and Fiesolans who had settled as its inhabitants, and in a short time it became a fine city for those times; for the emperors and senate of Rome advanced it to the best of their power, much like another little Rome. Its citizens, being in prosperous state, determined to build in the said city a marvellous temple in honour of the god Mars, by reason of the victory which the Romans had had over the city of Fiesole; and they sent to the senate of Rome to send them the best and most skilful masters that were in Rome, and this was done. And they caused to be brought white and black marbles and columns from many distant places by sea, and then by the Arno; they brought stone and columns from Fiesole, and founded and built the said temple in the place anciently called Camarti, and where the Fiesolans held their market. Very noble and beautiful they built it with eight sides, and when it had been built with great diligence, they dedicated it to the god Mars, who was the god of the Romans, and they had his effigy carved in marble in the likeness of an armed cavalier on horseback; they placed him on a marble pillar in the midst of that temple, and held him in great reverence, and adored him as their god so long as paganism continued in Florence. And we find that the said temple was begun during the reign of Octavianus Augustus, and that it was built under the ascendant of such a constellation that it will continue almost to eternity; and this we find written in a certain place engraved within the space of the said temple. Sec. 43.--_Tells how the province of Tuscany lies._ Sec. 44.--_Concerning the might and lordship possessed by the province of Tuscany before Rome came into power._ Sec. 45.--_These are the bishoprics of the cities of Tuscany._ Sec. 46.--_Of the city of Perugia._ Sec. 47.--_Of the city of Arezzo._ Sec. 48.--_Of the city of Pisa._ Sec. 49.--_Of the city of Lucca._ Sec. 50.--_Of the city of Luni._ [Sidenote: Par. xvi. 73.] [Sidenote: Purg. xiii. 152.] [Sidenote: Vita Nuova Sec. 2. Convivio ii. 15.]