Romeo and Juliet

Index:

* Enter Mercutio, Benvolio, Page, and Servants:

On the streets of Verona Benvolio tries to persuade Mercutio that it's best to stay out of the way of the Capulets and a quarrel, but Mercutio jokingly claims that Benvolio is as much of a quarreler as anyone.

* Enter Tybalt, Petruchio, and others:

Tybalt, looking for Romeo, is challenged to a fight by Mercutio, but then Romeo appears.

* Enter Romeo:

Tybalt challenges Romeo to fight. Romeo refuses, but Mercutio steps forward and fights Tybalt. As Romeo is trying to stop the fight, Tybalt gives Mercutio a wound, then runs away. Mercutio dies. Romeo is ashamed of himself for letting Mercutio do the fighting, and when Tybalt returns, Romeo kills him. Benvolio has a hard time getting the dazed Romeo to leave the scene.

* Enter Prince, attended; Montague, Capulet, their Wives, and others:

Benvolio tells the Prince what happened. Lady Capulet wants Romeo's life, but the Prince levies fines and exiles Romeo.

Enter Mercutio, Benvolio, Page, and Servants:

The day is hot, and Benvolio and Mercutio are hanging out on the streets of Verona, but Benvolio is a little nervous. He knows that the Capulets are out "And, if we meet, we shall not scape a brawl; / For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring" (3.1.3-4). Apparently Mercutio doesn't want to believe his buddy is afraid of a fight, so he tries to kid Benvolio into a different frame of mind. He says that Benvolio is like a fellow who goes into a tavern, slaps his sword on the table and says loudly that he hopes he doesn't have to use that sword. This fellow, "by the operation of the second cup draws it on the drawer, when indeed there is no need" (3.1.8-9). The "operation of the second cup" would make this fellow only slightly drunk, but that would be enough to make him draw his sword on the the bartender ("drawer"), who would be the last person in the world to pick a fight.

More amused than convinced, Benvolio asks "Am I like such a...