Sarah – with an “h” is the traditional spelling and its origin is Hebrew meaning princess. However Coleridge speaks of a Sara without an “h” perhaps he left off the “h” by mere accident but I highly doubt this is the case. So then why would he stray from the biblical spelling?
In the opening of the ballad, Effusion XXIII: To the Nightingale, Coleridge addresses the “sister of love- lorn poets Philomel”! Philomel comes from the name Philomela the princess of Athens. Long story short - both Philomela and her sister were turned into birds specifically Philomela into a nightingale – hence the nightingale being called Philomel.
This background information is rather important since Coleridge does hear the call of the Nightingale which in turn inspires his “phantasies”. Perhaps he believes the bird pictured to the above to be the call of the ancient princess. Although Sara is the best belov’d of human kind, Coleridge wants to go back into nature and listen to the sweet melancholy song of the Nightingale. This may explain why the “h” is left off in the spelling of Sarah – because she is not as alluring as the Nightingale and not a true princess like the soul of Philomela. As we find out in the end of the ballad however, Sara is a real woman who will soon take Coleridge's last name but the superstition still remains - Sara with out an "h" has a more wild and superstitious appeal connecting to the world of fantasies drawing Coleridge to her.
Interesting. But this is just his wife's name, and he spelled it this way all the time, so... perhaps not an especially convincing argument in this case?
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