The other competitor which Antony had to contend with was a distinguished Roman general named Lepidus.  Lepidus was an officer of the army, in very high command at the time of Caesar’s death.  He was present in the senate-chamber on the day of the assassination.  He stole secretly away when he saw that the deed was done, and repaired to the camp of the army without the city and immediately assumed the command of the forces.  This gave him great power, and in the course of the contests which subsequently ensued between Antony and Octavius, he took an active part, and held in some measure the balance between them.  At length the contest was finally closed by a coalition of the three rivals.  Finding that they could not either of them gain a decided victory over the others, they combined together, and formed the celebrated triumvirate, which continued afterward for some time to wield the supreme command in the Roman world.  In forming this league of reconciliation, the three rivals held their conference on an island situated in one of the branches of the Po, in the north of Italy.  They manifested extreme jealousy and suspicion of each other in coming to this interview.  Two bridges were built leading to the island, one from each bank of the stream.  The army of Antony was drawn up upon one side of the river, and that of Octavius upon the other.  Lepidus went first to the island by one of the bridges.  After examining the ground carefully, to make himself sure that it contained no ambuscade, he made a signal to the other generals, who then came over, each advancing by his own bridge, and accompanied by three hundred guards, who remained upon the bridge to secure a retreat for their masters in case of treachery.  The conference lasted three days, at the expiration of which time the articles were all agreed upon and signed.

This league being formed, the three confederates turned their united force against the party of the conspirators.  Of this party Brutus and Cassius were still at the head.

The scene of the contests between Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus had been chiefly Italy and the other central countries of Europe.  Brutus and Cassius, on the other hand, had gone across the Adriatic Sea into the East immediately after Caesar’s assassination.  They were now in Asia Minor, and were employed in concentrating their forces, forming alliances with the various Eastern powers, raising troops, bringing over to their side the Roman legions which were stationed in that quarter of the world, seizing magazines, and exacting contributions from all who could be induced to favor their cause.  Among other embassages which they sent, one went to Egypt to demand aid from Cleopatra.  Cleopatra, however, was resolved to join the other side in the contest.  It was natural that she should feel grateful to Caesar for his efforts and sacrifices in her behalf, and that she should be inclined to favor the cause of his friends.  Accordingly, instead of sending troops to aid Brutus and Cassius, as they had desired her to do, she immediately fitted out an expedition to proceed to the coast of Asia, with a view of rendering all the aid in her power to Antony’s cause.