Vituperations in Chaucer's Poetry
J. A. Burrow
IN CHAUCER'S HOUSE OF FAME, Aeolus has two trumpets called ‘Laude’ and ‘Sklaunder’ with which he broadcasts the judgements of Fame to world. One is golden sweet-smelling, other black foul. The names these instruments correspond a pair antonyms common in classical medieval Latin: laus vituperatio. comes down through French from Latin word itself, laus, laudem; but vituperatio was yet be adopted English, Chaucer had content ‘slander’. Although, then as now, this normally referred reports that were false, Chaucer's poem does not restrict its range way; for goddess Fame, her arbitrary fashion, gets blow Sklaunder much those who deserve it do not.1 Recalling House his Arte English Poesie (1589), George Puttenham demurred at use word, describing poets ‘in deede trumpetters all praise also slaunder (not slaunder, well deserved reproach)’.2
Essays in Criticism