another candidate

Works of “foppish speculation” don’t have to be bad, obviously. (Tyco Brahe’s system is fascinating.)

Another philosophical candidate would have to be Nicholas of Cusa’s De beryllo.

The general criterion would be: “What philosophical title could you insert into that same passage from Shiel’s story to good effect?”

Any minor work by Schelling would probably also fit. Or anything by Fechner, or any metaphysical writing by Lotze.