Act 3, Scene 1 Summary

Benvolio and Mercutio are in a public place talking about how if they were to encounter a Capulet that they will not be able to escape from a fight. Tybalt enters onto the scene with some other people with him. Tybalt asks Benvolio and Mercutio if he can have a word with one of them. Mercutio does not like Tybalt and makes that clear. Tybalt asks if they are friends with Romeo. Benvolio warns them that if they are going to have words then they had better take it somewhere more secure or keep it civil, because they are in public. Before any more can be exchanged, Romeo arrives on the scene.

Tybalt insults Romeo and Mercutio defends him. Tybalt tries to provoke Romeo into fighting with him, but Romeo does not take the bait and tries to be pleasant with...