The History of Egypt. By J. P. Mahaffy. (Methuen and
Co. 6s.) —Professor Mahaffy has had a somewhat thankless task in telling the story of the Ptolemies. There was a certain mediocrity about the dynasty even when it was at its best. The first Ptolemy was a successful soldier, one of the men who really carry a Marshal's baton in their knapsack, for he rose from the ranks. Among his successors there were men of ability; but any absolute eminence attained by them was attained only in crime. And the authorities for the story do not contribute much to its interest. It is only when we get to the last stage and find ourselves in the presence of Caesar that we have material which really repays the labour spent upon it. Professor Mahaffy has done all that the circum- stances of the case admitted, and when there is really something important to relate is equal, as was indeed to be expected, to the occasion. The figure of Cleopatra comes out in his hands more distinct than we remember to have seen before.
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