Poetry against Slander Ronsardian Fama Faced with Protestant Verbal Violence

The dispute between Ronsard and his reformed adversaries reflected an unprecedented verbal violence. This was the object of an act of royal legislation that expressed the concern of the authorities regarding a freedom of expression with unpredictable consequences. The Discours reveal these socio-legal issues: behind the rejection of the poet-priest from the estat lies an attack on fama. But by transforming slander into poetic material, Ronsard manifests the integrity for which he was reputed, while defending a regulated use of public speech.