Caesar, however, was disposed to make the case of his own wife an exception to the ordinary rule.

He saw in the occasion an opportunity to give a new impulse to the popular cause, and to make further progress in gaining the popular favor.

The experiment was successful in this instance too.
The people were pleased at the apparent affection which his action evinced; and as Cornelia was the daughter of Cinna, he had opportunity, under pretext of praising the birth and parentage of the deceased, to laud the men whom Sylla's party had outlawed and destroyed.

In a word, the patrician party saw with anxiety and dread that Caesar was rapidly consolidating and organizing, and bringing back to its pristine strength and vigor, a party whose restoration to power would of course involve their own political, and perhaps personal ruin.
[Sidenote: Caesar in office.] [Sidenote: Shows and entertainments.] Caesar began soon to receive appointments to public office, and thus rapidly increased his influence and power.

Public officers and candidates for office were accustomed in those days to expend great sums of money in shows and spectacles to amuse the people.