Hungarian Rhythm, Humanist Poetry

Abstract Psalterium Davidis by Miklós Bogáti Fazakas is the first complete rhymed Hungarian translation of the Book of Psalms. It has been studied mainly from the aspect of congregational singing and antitrinitarian theology. Although its melodies and metres are also related to the popular register of vernacular poetry, the metrical variety makes it akin to humanist psalm translations. The paper demonstrates this humanist layer through the translation of Psalm 66 that paraphrases George Buchanan’s humanist Latin translation. Buchanan shaped the sacred text using the metres and language of secular ode poetry. Comparative and metrical analysis shows that Bogáti kept the humanist allusions (in a very subtle form) adopting the metre, thus the humanist and popular layers of the text enter into dialogue. Bogáti turned the secularised poetic imagery back into religious context, and used it for a historical interpretation of the psalm, reinforcing the antitrinitarian position of his own Hungarian-speaking audience.