BUCHANAN, George.

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Psalmorum Davidis paraphrasis poëtica Georgii Buchanani Scoti: First Corvinus edition of Buchanan's metrical Latin version of the Psalms. The humanist scholar George Buchanan (1506-1582) translated the psalms into Latin verse while imprisoned for heresy in Portugal. "The best-known work associated with his period of detention was his Latin version of the Psalms which he may have planned earlier as it was a genre which attracted contemporary French writers. Dedicated to Mary, queen of Scots, when published, it is the work which does most to justify Henri Estienne's description of Buchanan as easily the leading poet of his time. His principal characteristics as a poet may be described as mastery of the Latin language and variety of subject matter" (ODNB). The first complete printing of the translation was in 1565-6.

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