We are told that, as he was crossing the Alps and passing by a barbarian village which had very few inhabitants and was a sorry sight, his companions asked with mirth and laughter, ‘Can it be that here too there are ambitious strifes for office, struggles for primacy, and mutual jealousies of powerful men?’ Whereupon Caesar said to them in all seriousness, ‘I would rather be first here than second at Rome’.

• 100% combed and ringspun cotton
• 30 singles thread weight
• Side-seamed