The notes in an 1885 edition say "As printed the [hear/Mariner] rhyme is defective. In the original edition the spelling is Marinere wherever the word occurs."

The notes in an 1885 edition say "As printed the [hear/Mariner] rhyme is defective. In the original edition the spelling is Marinere wherever the word occurs."[0] An archaism I suppose, like eftsoons etc. And about How loudly his sweet voice he rears! He loves to talk with marineres That come from a far countree. it says "In the early editions this is always spelt, as here, with an added e ; when the poem was revised the e was dropped, except in this place, where it is retained on account of the rhyme." And the -ear sound is better for rhyming! e.g. Alas! (thought I, and my heart beat loud) How fast she nears and nears! Are those her sails that glance in the Sun, Like restless gossameres? Also, re the there/are/prayer rhyme What loud uproar bursts from that door! The wedding-guests are there: But in the garden-bower the bride And bride-maids singing are: And hark the little vesper bell, Which biddeth me to prayer! "A great many English-speaking people incorrectly pronounce 'are' like 'air,' and [this rhyme], viewed in connection with the one before us, [Sometimes all little birds that are, How they seemed to fill the sea and air] would seem to indicate that this was Coleridge's pronunciation." Finally, "The pronunciation of [Coleridge] is indicated by Coleridge himself in the following couplet : Could you stand upon Skiddaw, you would not from its whole ridge See a man who so loves you as your fond S. T. Coleridge." [0] https://archive.org/stream/coleridgesancient00cole/coleridgesancient00cole_djvu.txt https://archive.org/stream/coleridgesancient00cole/coleridge...