1801.
[213:1] First published, together with Kubla Khan and The Pains of Sleep, 1816: included in 1828, 1829, and 1834. Three MSS. of Christabel have passed through my hands. The earliest, which belonged to Wordsworth, is partly in Coleridge's handwriting and partly in that of Mary Hutchinson (Mrs. Wordsworth). The probable date of this MS., now in the possession of the poet's grandson, Mr. Gordon Wordsworth, is April-October, 1800. Later in the same year, or perhaps in 1801, Coleridge made a copy of the First Part (or Book), the Conclusion to the First Book, and the Second Book, and presented it to Mrs. Wordsworth's sister, Sarah Hutchinson. A facsimile of the MS., now in the possession of Miss Edith Coleridge, was issued in collotype in the edition of Christabel published in 1907, under the auspices of the Royal Society of Literature. In 1801, or at some subsequent period (possibly not till 1815), Miss Hutchinson transcribed Coleridge's MS. The water-mark of the paper is 1801. Her transcript, now in the possession of Mr. A. H. Hallam Murray, was sent to Lord Byron in October, 1815. It is possible that this transcription was the 'copy' for the First Edition published in 1816; but, if so, Coleridge altered the text whilst the poem was passing through the press.
The existence of two other MSS. rests on the authority of John Payne Collier (see Seven Lectures on Shakespeare and Milton. By S. T. Coleridge, 1856, pp. xxxix-xliii).
The first, which remained in his possession for many years, was a copy in the handwriting of Sarah Stoddart (afterwards Mrs. Hazlitt). J. P. Collier notes certain differences between this MS., which he calls the 'Salisbury Copy', and the text of the First Edition. He goes on to say that before Christabel was published Coleridge lent him an MS. in his own handwriting, and he gives two or three readings from the second MS. which differ from the text of the 'Salisbury Copy' and from the texts of those MSS. which have been placed in my hands.
The copy of the First Edition of Christabel presented to William Stewart Rose's valet, David Hinves, on November 11, 1816, which Coleridge had already corrected, is now in the possession of Mr. John Murray. The emendations and additions inscribed on the margin of this volume were included in the collected edition of Coleridge's Poetical Works, published by William Pickering in 1828. The editions of 1829 and 1834 closely followed the edition of 1828, but in 1834 there was in one particular instance (Part I, lines 6-10) a reversion to the text of the First Edition. The MS. of the 'Conclusion of Part II' forms part of a letter to Southey dated May 6, 1801. (Letters of S. T. C., 1895, i. 355.) The following abbreviations have been employed to note the MSS. and transcriptions of Christabel:—
1. The Wordsworth MS., partly in Coleridge's (lines 1-295), and partly in Mary Hutchinson's (lines 295-655) handwriting = MS. W.
2. The Salisbury MS., copied by Sarah Stoddart = S. T. C. (a).
3. The MS. lent by Coleridge to Payne Collier = S. T. C. (b).
4. Autograph MS. in possession of Miss Edith Coleridge (reproduced in facsimile in 1907) = S. T. C. (c).
5. Transcription made by Sarah Hutchinson = S. H.
6. Corrections made by Coleridge in the Copy of the First Edition presented to David Hinves = H. 1816.
[215:1] Sir Walter Scott and Lord Byron.
[215:2] The 'Latin hexameters', 'in the lame and limping metre of a barbarous Latin poet', ran thus:
It is interesting to note that Coleridge translated these lines in November, 1801, long before the 'celebrated poets' in question had made, or seemed to make, it desirable to 'preclude a charge of plagiarism'.
Preface] Prefixed to the three issues of 1816, and to 1828, 1829, 1834.
The year one thousand seven hundred and ninety seven 1816, 1828, 1829.
The year one thousand eight hundred 1816, 1828, 1829.
after 'Cumberland'] Since the latter date, my poetic powers have been, till very lately, in a state of suspended animation. But as, in my very first conception of the tale, I had the whole present to my mind, with the wholeness, no less than the liveliness of a vision; I trust that I shall be able to embody in verse the three parts yet to come, in the course of the present year. It is probable, &c. 1816, 1828, 1829: om. 1834.
doggrel 1816, 1828, 1829.
Part I] Book the First MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H.: Part the First 1828, 1829.
Tu-u-whoo! Tu-u-whoo! MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H.
She makes MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H., First Edition: Maketh H. 1816, 1828, 1829.
moonshine or shower MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H., First Edition: by shine or shower H. 1816.
Between 28-9
The breezes they were whispering low S. T. C. (a): The breezes they were still also MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H., First Edition.
But the moss and misletoe MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H.
kneels] knelt MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H.
sprang] leaps MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H., First Edition.
can] could H. 1816.
om. MS. W.
up] out MS. W., S. H.
Jesu Maria MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H.
om. MS. S. T. C.
[In the Hinves copy (Nov., 1816), ll. 60-5 are inserted in the margin and the two lines 'Her neck . . . her hair' are erased. This addition was included in 1828, 1829, 1834, &c.]
scarce can] cannot H. 1816.
Said Christabel] Alas! but say H. 1816.
[Lines 82, 83, 84-1/2 are erased in H. 1816. Lines 81-4, 89, 90, which Scott prefixed as a motto to Chapter XI of The Black Dwarf (1818), run thus:—
The motto to Chapter XXIV of The Betrothed (1825) is slightly different:—
once] twice MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H.
For I have lain in fits, I wis MS. W., S. T. C. (a), S. T. C. (c), S. H., First Edition. [Text, which follows S. T. C. (b), H. 1816, was first adopted in 1828.]
comrades] comrade MS. W.
He] They MS. W.
[Text, which follows H. 1816, was first adopted in 1828.]
[So, too, First Edition, with the sole variant, 'And may not well awakened be'.]
[In H. 1816 ll. 112-22 of the text are inserted in Coleridge's handwriting. Line 113 reads: 'yet were not fast'. Line 122 reads: 'share your bed with me'. In 1828, ll. 117-22 were added to the text, and 'Her gracious stars' (l. 114) was substituted for 'Her lucky stars'.]
And Christabel she sweetly cried MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H.
Praise we] O praise MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H.
Outside] Beside MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H.
Lay fast] Was stretch'd H. 1816. [Not in S. T. C.'s handwriting.]
om. S. T. C. (a).
And nothing else she saw thereby MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H.
niche] nitch all MSS. and First Edition.
Added in 1828.
With stifled breath, as still as death H. 1816. [Not in S. T. C.'s handwriting.]
cordial] spicy MS. W., S. T. C. (a), S. T. C. (c), S. H.
Between 193-4
[The omission was made in the First Edition.]
And faintly said I'm better now MS. W., S. T. C. (a): I am better now S. T. C. (c), S. H.
far] fair MS. W.
Between 252-3 Are lean and old and foul of hue. MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H.
And she is to sleep with Christabel. MS. W.: And she is to sleep by Christabel. S. T. C. (c), S. H., First Edition: And must she sleep by Christabel. H. 1816 [not in S. T. C.'s handwriting]: And she is alone with Christabel. H. 1816 erased [not in S. T. C.'s handwriting]: And must she sleep with Christabel. H. 1816 erased [not in S. T. C.'s handwriting].
om. MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H., First Edition: included in H. 1816. [Not in S. T. C.'s handwriting.] First published in 1828.
Between 254 and 263
low] sad MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H.
this] my MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H.
The mark of my shame, the seal of my sorrow. MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H.
And didst bring her home with thee, with love and with charity. MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H.
To shield her, and shelter her, and shelter far from the damp air. MS. W.
The Conclusion to Part I] The Conclusion of Book the First MS. W.: The Conclusion to Book the First S. T. C. (c), S. H.
Here in MS. W. the handwriting changes. 'Dreaming' was written by S. T. C., 'yet' by Mary Hutchinson.
is] is H. 1816.
who] that MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H., H. 1816.
Tairn or Tarn (derived by Lye from the Icelandic Tiorn, stagnum, palus) is rendered in our dictionaries as synonymous with Mere or Lake; but it is properly a large Pool or Reservoir in the Mountains, commonly the Feeder of some Mere in the valleys. Tarn Watling and Blellum Tarn, though on lower ground than other Tarns, are yet not exceptions, for both are on elevations, and Blellum Tarn feeds the Wynander Mere. Note to S. T. C. (c).
A query is attached to this line H. 1816.
Part II] Book the Second MS. W.: Christabel Book the Second S. T. C. (c), S. H.
Wyndermere] Wyn'dermere MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H., First Edition.
sinful] simple MS. W.
A query is attached to this line H. 1816.
the] their MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H.
Borodale] Borrowdale MS. W., S. H., First Edition, 1828, 1829: Borrodale S. T. C. (c).
The air is still through many a cloud MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H.
the] her MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H.
silken] simple MS. W.
thus] so MS. Letter to Poole, Feb. 1813.
They] And MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H.
But] And MS. W.
tourney] Tournay MS. W., S. T. C. (c), First Edition.
The vision foul of fear and pain MS. W., S. T. C. (a), S. T. C. (c), S. H.: The vision of fear, the touch of pain S. T. C. (b).
The pang, the sight was passed away S. T. C. (a): The pang, the sight, had passed away MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H.
om. MS. W.
beautiful] beauteous MS. W.
take] fetch MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H.
Many a summer's suns have shone MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H.
seems] seem'd MS. W., S. T. C. (c).
vowed] swore MS. W.
loiter] wander MS. W.
Jesu, Maria] Jesu Maria MS. W.
Shuddered aloud with hissing sound MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H.
on] o'er MS. W.
And] But MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H., First Edition.
her Father's Feet MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H., First Edition, 1828.
the] that MS. W.
but] not MS. W.
wronged] insulted MS. W., S. T. C. (c), S. H., First Edition, 1828, 1829.
The Conclusion to Part II] Not in any of the MSS. or in S. H. For the first manuscript version see Letter to Southey, May 6, 1801. (Letters of S. T. C., 1895, i. 355.)
'finds' and 'seeks' are italicized in the letters.
In H. 1816 there is a direction (not in S. T. C.'s handwriting) to print line 664 as two lines.
In words of wrong and bitterness. Letter, 1801.
1797.
[236:1] First published in the Annual Anthology for 1800: included in Sibylline Leaves, 1817, 1828, 1829, and 1834. A MS. is extant dated Sept. 14, 1797.