THE ROMANCE OF ANCIENT EGYPT.
THE second series of Mr. SEYMER'S attempt to present the world with a picture of the social life and political condition of ancient Egypt, exhibits very little improvement upon the first. Both the plan and execution of the work continue the same. As regards the first point, the author takes an historical fact from HERODO-• TUS, and expands it into a tale by dint of his own invention; the circumstances preserved by ancient writers or discovered by modern research assisting him in adding the accessories. The execution is still undistinguished by any truth, or by such excellence of workmanship as would make us overlook its absence ; whilst the style is of that florid, hyperbolical sort which passes for fine. Yet the author displays throughout a kind of melodramatic vigour, and a fluency of language, that, in an earlier day and on a subject more adapted to romance, might have raised him to the highest distinction.
The subject of the present volume is the invasion and conquest of Egypt by Sabako the Ethiopian King ; who, after enjoying his conquest for fifty years, abandoned it in obedience to the com- mands of an oracle. There are two tales—the first embracing the invasion of the Ethiopians, the second the retreat ; and in the latter story, the impelling motives which come in to add effect to the orders of the oracle are not unartfully conceived.
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