His view of life is gloomy (_N.H._ ii. 25, 'nec quidquam miserius homine'), and through the _Naturae Historiae_ there runs a monotonous strain of condemnation of the immorality of his day. He is uncertain as to divine providence, but considers the belief in it salutary, and he accepts portents (ii. 92). His tendency is, in the main, Stoic; he was probably acquainted with Paetus Thrasea, who corresponded with Pomponius. VALERIUS FLACCUS. His full name is given in the Vatican MS. as C. Valerius Flaccus Setinus Balbus. It is doubtful (even if the last two names really belong to the poet) whether _Setinus_ means from Setia in Italy or from Setia in Spain. The poet's Latinity gives no evidence on the point. Quintilian is the only Roman writer who refers to him; x. 1, 90, 'Multum in Valerio Flacco nuper amisimus'; which shows that he must have died about A.D. 90. In the beginning of the first Book of the _Argonautica_ (written shortly after A.D. 70), Valerius addresses Vespasian, referring to his exploits in Britain, and to the capture of Jerusalem by Titus; i. 7 _sqq._, 'Tuque o, pelagi cui maior aperti fama, Caledonius postquam tua carbasa vexit oceanus Phrygios prius indignatus Iulos, eripe me populis et habenti nubila terrae, sancte pater, veterumque fave veneranda canenti facta virum. Versam proles tua pandet Idumen (namque potest), Solymo nigrantem pulvere fratrem spargentemque faces et in omni turre furentem.' i. 5 _sqq._ probably shows that Valerius was a quindecimvir sacris faciundis, 'Phoebe, mone, si Cymaeae mihi conscia vatis stat casta cortina domo, si laurea digna fronte viret.' Cf. the allusion in viii. 239 _sqq._ to Cybele's bath, which was under the management of the xv.viri; and to the rites of lustration, iii. 417 _sqq._ There are several allusions to the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79, _e.g._ iv. 507. The _Argonautica_ is in eight Books, the last being incomplete, and the story breaking off shortly before the death of Medea's brother, Absyrtus. Valerius probably meant to write twelve Books, but it is not known how much farther he actually proceeded in his work. There is evidence to show that the last Books would have differed considerably from the story as given by Apollonius Rhodius; _e.g._ the visit to Phaeacia was probably omitted, as Jason was married at Peuce (Book viii.). Apollonius is followed very closely, many passages being translated from him; thus iv. 236 = Apoll. ii. 38; vii. 404 = Apoll. in. 966. Valerius, however, amplifies where Apollonius is brief, and vice versa. Thus Apoll. ii. 948 _sqq._ is dismissed by Valerius v. 110 _sqq._ in a few words. The character painting of Valerius is superior to that of the original, cf. the character of Jason and of Aeetes. So for his artistic work; thus his portraiture of the gradual progress of Medea's love is superior to Apollonius' description, and to Virgil's of Dido. The obligations to Virgil are paramount. (1) Verbal; as i. 55,