I am one of those who look upon the creations of our great poets as deserving illustration almost as much as actual history; and I am always distressed when I meet with passages representing events with respect to which I cannot make up my mind as to what the author meant, or intended his readers to believe. Two of these occur to me at this moment, and I shall be much obliged by any of your correspondents giving, in your pages, brief replies to my queries, or referring me to any published works where I may find their solution.
1. What did Coleridge mean to represent or imply in his tale of Christabel? Who or what was Geraldine? What did Christabel see in her, at times, so unutterably horrible? What is meant by "the ladye strange" making Christabel carry her over the sill of the portal? &c., &c.
2. What does Byron mean us to infer that Lara saw in his hall that midnight, when he so alarmed his household with
"A sound, a voice, a shriek, a fearful call,
A long loud shriek—and silence."?
The poet, it is true, seems to refuse, purposely, to let his readers into the truth, telling them:—
"Whate'er his frenzy dream'd or eye beheld,
If yet remember'd, ne'er to be reaveal'd,
Rests at his heart."