This is the poem Tennyson wrote in 28/29 - he wanted £100 for it, about £6,000 today and was offered half that, which he rejected - come back Dawood all is forgiven?
Now here's a health from o'er the sea,
A word of greeting o'er the foam,
In England's hour of victory,
To those who bring the Ashes home,
Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane know,
What England knows who sent them forth,
How gallantly, come weal or woe,
They played the greatest game on earth.
Their names a mighty book would fill,
And furnish many a powerful rhyme,
Our lordly Hobbs' classic skill,
Mellowed but not subdued by time,
Our giant captain's cheerful grin,
The grin that masks a leader's guile,
Duckworth whose hands hold fast as sin,
Geary who bowls you with a smile.
Stubborn Sutcliffe's Yorkshire bat,
Broad and big as a great barn door,
Hendren quick on his feet as a car,
Hammond's slash for an off side four,
Larwood's swift and terrible ball,
The fasts of Tate with their life and fire,
The corage of Jardine cool and tall,
The craft of White which cannot tire.
Their great achievements and their praise,
Henceforth shall furnish history's page
How for the space of seven long days,
In one stern fight they did engage:
And how, denying even fate,
They fought and turned the game again,
Therefore from those who watch and wait,
A health to Chapman and his men.
