Translations. - The Metaphysician. (From Schiller.)

“How far the world lies under me! Scarce can I see the men below there crawling! How high it bears me up, my lofty calling! How near the heavenly canopy!” Thus, from tower-roof where he doth clamber, Calls out the slater; and with him the small big man, Jack Metaphysicus, down in his writing-chamber! Tell me, thou little great big man,— The tower, whence thou so grandly all things hast inspected, Of what is it?—Whereon is it erected? How cam’st thou up thyself? Its heights so smooth and bare— How serve they thee but thence into the vale to stare?