I don't remember posting that comment, and I must have done so by mistake. Obviously it has nothing to do with the question.
Please back up all data before proceeding.
Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it:
~/Library/Safari
Right-click or control-click the line and select
Services ▹ Open
from the contextual menu.* A folder named "Safari" should open. Quit Safari if it's running. One or more files in the open folder should have a name beginning as follows:
History.db-wal
Move those files, and only those, to the Trash, leaving the window open. Relaunch the application and test. If there's no change, quit again and move any other files with a name beginning in "History" from the Safari folder to the Trash. The browser history will be empty. If possible, restore the file named "History.db" from a backup that predates the problem.
*If you don't see the contextual menu item, copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C. In the Finder, select
Go ▹ Go to Folder...
from the menu bar and paste into the box that opens by pressing command-V. You may not see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return.