And the last scene closes with the faithful Bedivere left wondering whether Arthur will “come again,” and whether, “if he come no more,” the three Queens who bore him away be “friends of Arthur, who should help him at his need?” So, Tennyson, like Malory and the romancers, leaves Arthur’s “return” an open question; but Bedivere goes away comforted by what seemed an assurance that “all was well” with Arthur whither he had gone. “Then from the dawn it seem’d there came, but faint As from beyond the limit of the world, Like the last echo born of a great cry, Sounds, as if some fair city were one voice Around a king returning from his wars.” ADDITIONAL NOTES _Note A, p. 9._--The Grail and the Round Table, as originally drawn into Arthurian story, were in all probability survivals of features in old Celtic nature-worship. _Note B, p. 26._--Cavall, it may be noted, is referred to in the Welsh romance _Geraint, Son of Erbin_, as taking part in a stag-hunt under the leadership of Arthur, and is there called “Arthur’s darling dog” (_annwylgi Arthur_). _Note C, p. 94._--Argante--afterwards known as Morgain, or Morgan, _la fée_ or _le fay_--is first heard of, in literature, in the poem called _Vita Merlini_, commonly dated 1148 and ascribed to Geoffrey of Monmouth (see p. 112). She there appears as a maiden, possessed of magic powers, who heals Arthur’s wounds after the battle of Camlan. Although she is usually spoken of by the romancers as being Arthur’s sister, she is also represented as one who hates, and is involved in certain malign schemes against, him. Her place in Arthurian story is one of the many points at which the records and popular legends of “the British King” touch the borders of fairy-land. The fairy element in Arthurian romance is a fascinating, albeit intricate, subject of study, but the scope and purpose of this little book allow only the briefest references to it. Those who are interested in the subject will find a very full, and suggestive, treatment of it in _Studies in the Fairy Mythology of Arthurian Romance_, by Lucy A. Paton (Radcliffe College Monographs, Boston, U.S.A., 1903). _Note D, p. 101._--Chrétien himself, in the opening lines of _Cligés_, states that he had written of “_le roi Marc et Iseut la blonde_.” _Note E, p. 105._--Tristram, or Tristan, is the most accomplished of all the heroes who are associated with Arthur. In the romances he is pre-eminent as hunter, horseman, linguist, musician, harp-player. He is also a liar of infinite resource.