Why might not this carefully-attended and richly-adorned queen be the beautiful and fatal "serpent of old Nile"-- the fascinating Cleopatra herself?
The features are fine and delicate in spite of the horrible hue of the skin, and though it revolts the mind at first, one can even fancy that mass of horror might, in life, have been beautiful.

This valuable specimen was brought from Egypt by M.Edouard de Montule, a zealous and enterprising young traveller, too early snatched from science and the world at the age of thirty-six.
A gentleman, drawing in the museum, who had arrived after us, hearing our questions to our guide, very politely stepped forward and offered to show us the objects of interest which he saw we might otherwise miss.

He led us at once to the enamel we so much desired to see, and we had ample time to contemplate one of the most remarkable curiosities of art which perhaps exists anywhere.
Geoffrey le Bel, surnamed Plantagenet, the second husband of the haughty Empress Matilda, who considered her dignity compromised in being obliged to marry a simple Count of Anjou, was, nevertheless, the handsomest man of his day, and apparently one of the most distinguished _dandies_.
Jean, the monk of Marmontier, in his description of the fetes given by the count at Rouen, speaks of the splendid habiliments of this prince--of his _Spanish barb_, his helmet, his buckler, his lance of _Poitou steel_, and his celebrated sword taken from the treasury of his father, and renowned as the work of "the great _Galannus_, the most expert of armourers." Even in this very guise does Geoffrey appear.
He holds the sword, considered as magical, unsheathed in his right hand; his shield or target covers his shoulders, and descends in a point to his feet.

It is charged azure, with four rampant golden leopards; only the half of the shield appears, consequently all its blazonry is not visible.

He wears a sort of Phrygian cap ornamented with a golden leopard; he has a dalmatic robe, and a capacious mantle edged with ermine, his scarf and waistband are of the same form, and all are of rich colours--red, green, and purple--such as appear in stained glass.
It is painted with great detail, and the features are very distinct; they convey very little idea of beauty, but have sufficient character to indicate likeness.