Happy would it have been for Nero if his reign, like that of Edward, could have been cut short before the thick night of many crimes had settled down upon the promise of its dawn.

For the first five years of Nero's reign--the famous _Quinquennium Neronis_--were fondly regarded by the Romans as a period of almost ideal happiness.

In reality, it was Seneca who was ruling in Nero's, name.

Even so excellent an Emperor as Trajan is said to have admitted "that no other prince had nearly equalled the praise of that period." It is indeed probable that those years appeared to shine with an exaggerated splendour from the intense gloom which succeeded them; yet we can see in them abundant circumstances which were quite sufficient to inspire an enthusiasm of hope and joy.

The young Nero was at first modest and docile.