A favorite weapon of the assassins of character.    Sharp, irresistible by mail or shield,        By guard unparried as by flight unstayed,    O serviceable Rumor, let me wield        Against my enemy no other blade.    His be the terror of a foe unseen,        His the inutile hand upon the hilt,    And mine the deadly tongue, long, slender, keen,        Hinting a rumor of some ancient guilt.    So shall I slay the wretch without a blow,    Spare me to celebrate his overthrow,    And nurse my valor for another foe.                                                           Joel Buxter