Romeo and Juliet, Act III, Scene 1

Romeo and Juliet
Act III, Scene 1

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Shakespeare
for Scholars: Shakespeare
for Everyone Else:

A public place.
Enter MERCUTIO, BENVOLIO,
Page, and Servants
BENVOLIO
I pray thee, good Mercutio, let's retire:
The day is hot, the Capulets abroad,
And, if we meet, we shall not 'scape a brawl;
For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring.

According to the play, this scene takes place in a “public place.” Thus, it is safe to assume that we are not in Mr. Shakespeare’s boudoir. More likely, it is somewhere in downtown Verona, in the midst of the bustling, thriving metropolis. It is the same day, and it is perhaps some 15 minutes or so after the wedding. Our two friends, Benvolio and Mercutio are “hanging around” again, there being very little else to do in Verona in the 1300s.
Benvolio is worried that they should leave. He thinks their presence might cause another fight.

MERCUTIO
Thou art like one of those fellows that when he
enters the confines of a tavern claps me his sword
upon the table and says 'God send me no need of
thee!' and by the operation of the second cup draws
it on the drawer, when indeed there is no need.

BENVOLIO
Am I like such a fellow?

MERCUTIO
Come, come, thou art as hot a Jack in thy mood as
any in Italy, and as soon moved to be moody, and as
soon moody to be moved.

BENVOLIO
And what to?

Mercutio disagrees.
Mercutio accuses Benvolio of having a bad temper, and of fighting with anyone for any reason. He claims Benvolio would walk into a tavern and start a fight with anyone just because he felt like it.

MERCUTIO
Nay, an there were two such, we should have none
shortly, for one would kill the other. Thou! why,
thou wilt quarrel with a man that hath a hair more,
or a hair less, in his beard, than thou hast: thou
wilt quarrel with a man for cracking nuts, having no
other reason but because thou hast hazel eyes: what
eye but such an eye would spy out such a quarrel?
Thy head is as fun of quarrels as an egg is full of
meat, and yet thy head hath been beaten as addle as
an egg for quarrelling: thou hast quarrelled with a
man for coughing in the street, because he hath
wakened thy dog that hath lain asleep in the sun:
didst thou not fall out with a tailor for wearing
his new doublet before Easter? with another, for
tying his new shoes with old riband? and yet thou
wilt tutor me from quarrelling!

BENVOLIO
An I were so apt to quarrel as thou art, any man
should buy the fee-simple of my life
for an hour and a quarter.

MERCUTIO
The fee-simple! O simple!

BENVOLIO
By my head, here come the Capulets.

MERCUTIO
By my heel, I care not.

Mercutio also says that Benvolio has fought with people for having "a hair more, or a hair less" in their beards than he has. And, of course, how many of us have been guilty of exactly the same thing.

Enter TYBALT and others
TYBALT
(Speaking to his friends.)
Follow me close, for I will speak to them.

(Speaking to Mercutio and Benvolio.)
Gentlemen, good den: a word with one of you.

MERCUTIO
And but one word with one of us? couple it with
something; make it a word and a blow.

TYBALT
You shall find me apt enough to that, sir, an you
will give me occasion.

MERCUTIO
Could you not take some occasion without giving?

Tybalt arrives. This, of course, is the angry young man who “hates peace” and has sent a challenge to Romeo. Tybalt is hot, and he is looking for Romeo.

TYBALT
Mercutio, thou consort'st with Romeo,--

MERCUTIO
Consort! what, dost thou make us minstrels? an
thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but
discords: here's my fiddlestick; here's that shall
make you dance. 'Zounds, consort!

BENVOLIO
We talk here in the public haunt of men:
Either withdraw unto some private place,
And reason coldly of your grievances,
Or else depart; here all eyes gaze on us.

MERCUTIO
Men's eyes were made to look, and let them gaze;
I will not budge for no man's pleasure, I.

If you "consort" with someone, you hang with them.
However, the word also has a second meaning. If you "consort" with someone, you play in a band with them. You are musicians, or "minstrels."

Enter ROMEO
TYBALT
Well, peace be with you, sir: here comes my man.

MERCUTIO
But I'll be hanged, sir, if he wear your livery:
Marry, go before to field, he'll be your follower;
Your worship in that sense may call him 'man.'

Mercutio and Tybalt have some bitter words, but they are interrupted when Romeo arrives, coming directly from his wedding. (Now remember, kiddies, Romeo has not been at home since this play began, and he therefore has no idea that Tybalt has sent him this challenge.)

TYBALT
Romeo, the hate I bear thee can afford
No better term than this,--thou art a villain.

ROMEO
Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee
Doth much excuse the appertaining rage
To such a greeting: villain am I none;
Therefore farewell; I see thou know'st me not.

Tybalt publicly insults Romeo: “Thou art a villain” (line 60).

Romeo tries to talk his way out of this rather tense situation. He reminds Tybalt that he is not a “villain,” and he tries to walk away.

TYBALT
Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries
That thou hast done me; therefore turn and draw.

ROMEO
I do protest, I never injured thee,
But love thee better than thou canst devise,
Till thou shalt know the reason of my love:
And so, good Capulet,--which name I tender
As dearly as my own,--be satisfied.

Tybalt, though, will not let it rest. He calls Romeo “Boy,” and says that this does not “excuse the injuries that thou has done me,” (lines 65-66). Romeo tries again to avoid conflict. Again, he tries to walk away.

MERCUTIO
O calm, dishonourable, vile submission!
Alla stoccata carries it away.

Draws

Mercutio cannot believe his ears. Romeo? Backing down? He decides to defend his friend, and he draws his sword. The two begin to fight.

MERCUTIO
Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk?

TYBALT
What wouldst thou have with me?

MERCUTIO
Good king of cats, nothing but one of your nine
lives; that I mean to make bold withal, and as you
shall use me hereafter, drybeat the rest of the
eight. Will you pluck your sword out of his pitcher
by the ears? make haste, lest mine be about your
ears ere it be out.

The name "Tybalt" was apparently the name for a cat. Mercutio is making fun of this. One would hope that Tybalt has a sense of humor, of course.

TYBALT
I am for you.
Drawing
ROMEO
Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up.

MERCUTIO
Come, sir, your passado.
They fight

The phrase, "I am for you" was apparently a typical challenge, especially in fencing. It basically mneans that "I am the one who is skilled enough to stab you to pieces, you little snit."

The term "passado" is also a fencing term, and it means, um... uh... actually, I haven't the foggiest what it means.

ROMEO
Draw, Benvolio; beat down their weapons.
Gentlemen, for shame, forbear this outrage!
Tybalt, Mercutio, the prince expressly hath
Forbidden bandying in Verona streets:
Hold, Tybalt! good Mercutio! At some point, Romeo tries to break up the fight.

Romeo reminds them that the Prince expressly forbid any "bandying" in the streets. Bandying? There is nothing more disgusting than seeing two people bandying. In public, yet. Ugh.

TYBALT, under ROMEO's arm
stabs MERCUTIO, and flies
with his followers

Romeo's friend Mercutio is somehow stabbed under Romeo’s arm. Tybalt runs away, or “flies,” as the text so aptly puts it.

MERCUTIO
I am hurt.
A plague o' both your houses! I am sped.
Is he gone, and hath nothing?

BENVOLIO
What, art thou hurt?

MERCUTIO
Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch; marry, 'tis enough.
Where is my page? Go, villain, fetch a surgeon.

Exit Page
ROMEO
Courage, man; the hurt cannot be much.

Mercutio has been stabbed and makes some rather grim (and rather bad) jokes about his wound.

He claims the wound is nothing but a "scratch." He does, however, send someone for a doctor.

MERCUTIO
No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a
church-door; but 'tis enough,'twill serve: ask for
me to-morrow, and you shall find me a
grave man. I am peppered, I warrant, for
this world. A plague o' both your houses!
'Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a
cat, to scratch a man to death! A braggart, a
rogue, a villain, that fights by the book of
arithmetic!
(To Romeo)
Why the devil came you between us? I
was hurt under your arm.

ROMEO
I thought all for the best.

MERCUTIO
Help me into some house, Benvolio,
Or I shall faint. A plague o' both your houses!
They have made worms' meat of me: I have it,
And soundly too: your houses!

Exeunt MERCUTIO and BENVOLIO
ROMEO
This gentleman, the prince's near ally,
My very friend, hath got his mortal hurt
In my behalf; my reputation stain'd
With Tybalt's slander,--Tybalt, that an hour
Hath been my kinsman! O sweet Juliet,
Thy beauty hath made me effeminate
And in my temper soften'd valour's steel!

Mercutio says his injury is “not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church door... ...but ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a ‘grave’ man” (lines 96-98). He also comments on the feud: “A plague on both your houses!”

Re-enter BENVOLIO
BENVOLIO
O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio's dead!
That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds,
Which too untimely here did scorn the earth.

ROMEO
This day's black fate on more days doth depend;
This but begins the woe, others must end.

BENVOLIO
Here comes the furious Tybalt back again.

ROMEO
Alive, in triumph! and Mercutio slain!
Away to heaven, respective lenity,
And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now!

Benvolio, who is always just full of important information, returns at this moment. He tells Romeo that Mercutio dies of his wound.

Re-enter TYBALT
ROMEO
Now, Tybalt, take the villain back again,
That late thou gavest me; for Mercutio's soul
Is but a little way above our heads,
Staying for thine to keep him company:
Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him.

TYBALT
Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here,
Shalt with him hence.

ROMEO
This shall determine that.

Tybalt comes back to the scene of the crime.

Romeo tells him that Mercutio's soul is hovering above their heads, waiting, and that one of them is going to keep him company. Romeo assumes, of course, that Mercutio is heading for a desirable place. Hmmm....

They fight;

Romeo, feeling a bit guilty over his friend’s death, begins to fight Tybalt.

TYBALT falls

Despite the fact that Tybalt had a bit of a “breather,” Romeo somehow gets the better of him, and Romeo stabs Tybalt. Tybalt dies.

BENVOLIO
Romeo, away, be gone!
The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain.
Stand not amazed: the prince will doom thee death,
If thou art taken: hence, be gone, away!

ROMEO
O, I am fortune's fool!

BENVOLIO
Why dost thou stay?
Exit ROMEO

Benvolio realizes the enormity of the situation, and decides that this might be a good time for the young lover to make a hasty exit. Romeo agrees, and he runs away, leaving a couple of corpses behind...

Enter Citizens, &c
First Citizen
Which way ran he that kill'd Mercutio?
Tybalt, that murderer, which way ran he?

BENVOLIO
There lies that Tybalt.

A bunch of citizens arrive.
As a matter of fact, a whole "&ct." of citizens arrive.

First Citizen
Up, sir, go with me;
I charge thee in the Prince's name, obey.

Enter Prince, attended;
MONTAGUE, CAPULET,
their Wives, and others
PRINCE
Where are the vile beginners of this fray?

BENVOLIO
O noble prince, I can discover all
The unlucky manage of this fatal brawl:
There lies the man, slain by young Romeo,
That slew thy kinsman, brave Mercutio.

The well-meaning First Citizen tries to arrest the guilty party: "Up sir! Come with me." The guilty party, of course, does not respond. The guilty party is dead, at the moment.

More people arrive, including (curiously) The Prince, Montague, Capulet, Lady Montague, Lady Capulet, and others from far and wide.
Word travels fast in fair Verona.

LADY CAPULET
Tybalt, my cousin! O my brother's child!
O prince! O cousin! husband! O, the blood is spilt
O my dear kinsman! Prince, as thou art true,
For blood of ours, shed blood of Montague.
O cousin, cousin!

PRINCE
Benvolio, who began this bloody fray?

Juliet’s momma, seeing her dead nephew lying there in a pool of blood, demands that the Prince shed some of the Montagues’ blood, in revenge. The Prince asks Benvolio who started it.

BENVOLIO
Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeo's hand did slay;
Romeo that spoke him fair, bade him bethink
How nice the quarrel was, and urged withal
Your high displeasure: all this uttered
With gentle breath, calm look, knees
humbly bow'd,
Could not take truce with the unruly spleen
Of Tybalt deaf to peace, but that he tilts
With piercing steel at bold Mercutio's breast,
Who all as hot, turns deadly point to point,
And, with a martial scorn, with one hand beats
Cold death aside, and with the other sends
It back to Tybalt, whose dexterity,
Retorts it: Romeo he cries aloud,
'Hold, friends! friends, part!' and, swifter than
his tongue,
His agile arm beats down their fatal points,
And 'twixt them rushes; underneath whose arm
An envious thrust from Tybalt hit the life
Of stout Mercutio, and then Tybalt fled;
But by and by comes back to Romeo,
Who had but newly entertain'd revenge,
And to 't they go like lightning, for, ere I
Could draw to part them, was stout Tybalt slain.
And, as he fell, did Romeo turn and fly.
This is the truth, or let Benvolio die.

Benvolio explains, and seems to give a fairly straightforward version of the events. It is also a very long-winded version of the events.

Benvolio explains how Tybalt started it, how Romeo tried to stop it, and how Mercutio was murdered. He also explains how Romeo then lost his temper and fought Tybalt.

LADY CAPULET
He is a kinsman to the Montague;
Affection makes him false; he speaks not true:
Some twenty of them fought in this black strife,
And all those twenty could but kill one life.
I beg for justice, which thou, prince, must give;
Romeo slew Tybalt, Romeo must not live.

Lady Capulet does not believe his tale. She claims Benvolio is biased: “He is a kinsman to the Montague; Affection makes him false!” (lines 179-180). She wants Romeo’s death.

PRINCE
Romeo slew him, he slew Mercutio;
Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe?

MONTAGUE
Not Romeo, prince, he was Mercutio's friend;
His fault concludes but what the law should end,
The life of Tybalt.

The Prince is caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place.
As Montague reminds him, Romeo's "crime" was exactly the same as the punishment which the Prince had promised, way back in Act I, Scene 1. Anyone guilty of fighting was supposed to die. Tybalt fought. So, now Tybalt has died.

PRINCE
And for that offence
Immediately we do exile him hence:
I have an interest in your hate's proceeding,
My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding;
But I'll amerce you with so strong a fine
That you shall all repent the loss of mine:
I will be deaf to pleading and excuses;
Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses:
Therefore use none: let Romeo hence in haste,
Else, when he's found, that hour is his last.
The Prince considers the matter, and finally pronounces his punishment: Romeo is exiled. He is officially banished, or thrown out of the city. Then, the Prince seems to realize that this might not be harsh enough to appease the Capulet crowd, so he declares that Romeo should “hence in haste... else, when he is found, that hour is his last” (lines 198-199).

Bear hence this body and attend our will:
Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill.

Exeunt Upon this cheery thought, the scene comes to an end.

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Shakespeare for Scholars:	Shakespeare for Everyone Else:
A public place. Enter MERCUTIO, BENVOLIO, Page, and Servants BENVOLIO I pray thee, good Mercutio, let's retire: The day is hot, the Capulets abroad, And, if we meet, we shall not 'scape a brawl; For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring.	According to the play, this scene takes place in a “public place.” Thus, it is safe to assume that we are not in Mr. Shakespeare’s boudoir. More likely, it is somewhere in downtown Verona, in the midst of the bustling, thriving metropolis. It is the same day, and it is perhaps some 15 minutes or so after the wedding. Our two friends, Benvolio and Mercutio are “hanging around” again, there being very little else to do in Verona in the 1300s. Benvolio is worried that they should leave. He thinks their presence might cause another fight.
MERCUTIO Thou art like one of those fellows that when he enters the confines of a tavern claps me his sword upon the table and says 'God send me no need of thee!' and by the operation of the second cup draws it on the drawer, when indeed there is no need. BENVOLIO Am I like such a fellow? MERCUTIO Come, come, thou art as hot a Jack in thy mood as any in Italy, and as soon moved to be moody, and as soon moody to be moved. BENVOLIO And what to?	Mercutio disagrees. Mercutio accuses Benvolio of having a bad temper, and of fighting with anyone for any reason. He claims Benvolio would walk into a tavern and start a fight with anyone just because he felt like it.
MERCUTIO Nay, an there were two such, we should have none shortly, for one would kill the other. Thou! why, thou wilt quarrel with a man that hath a hair more, or a hair less, in his beard, than thou hast: thou wilt quarrel with a man for cracking nuts, having no other reason but because thou hast hazel eyes: what eye but such an eye would spy out such a quarrel? Thy head is as fun of quarrels as an egg is full of meat, and yet thy head hath been beaten as addle as an egg for quarrelling: thou hast quarrelled with a man for coughing in the street, because he hath wakened thy dog that hath lain asleep in the sun: didst thou not fall out with a tailor for wearing his new doublet before Easter? with another, for tying his new shoes with old riband? and yet thou wilt tutor me from quarrelling! BENVOLIO An I were so apt to quarrel as thou art, any man should buy the fee-simple of my life for an hour and a quarter. MERCUTIO The fee-simple! O simple! BENVOLIO By my head, here come the Capulets. MERCUTIO By my heel, I care not.	Mercutio also says that Benvolio has fought with people for having "a hair more, or a hair less" in their beards than he has. And, of course, how many of us have been guilty of exactly the same thing.
Enter TYBALT and others TYBALT (Speaking to his friends.) Follow me close, for I will speak to them. (Speaking to Mercutio and Benvolio.) Gentlemen, good den: a word with one of you. MERCUTIO And but one word with one of us? couple it with something; make it a word and a blow. TYBALT You shall find me apt enough to that, sir, an you will give me occasion. MERCUTIO Could you not take some occasion without giving?	Tybalt arrives. This, of course, is the angry young man who “hates peace” and has sent a challenge to Romeo. Tybalt is hot, and he is looking for Romeo.
TYBALT Mercutio, thou consort'st with Romeo,-- MERCUTIO Consort! what, dost thou make us minstrels? an thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but discords: here's my fiddlestick; here's that shall make you dance. 'Zounds, consort! BENVOLIO We talk here in the public haunt of men: Either withdraw unto some private place, And reason coldly of your grievances, Or else depart; here all eyes gaze on us. MERCUTIO Men's eyes were made to look, and let them gaze; I will not budge for no man's pleasure, I.	If you "consort" with someone, you hang with them. However, the word also has a second meaning. If you "consort" with someone, you play in a band with them. You are musicians, or "minstrels."
Enter ROMEO TYBALT Well, peace be with you, sir: here comes my man. MERCUTIO But I'll be hanged, sir, if he wear your livery: Marry, go before to field, he'll be your follower; Your worship in that sense may call him 'man.'	Mercutio and Tybalt have some bitter words, but they are interrupted when Romeo arrives, coming directly from his wedding. (Now remember, kiddies, Romeo has not been at home since this play began, and he therefore has no idea that Tybalt has sent him this challenge.)
TYBALT Romeo, the hate I bear thee can afford No better term than this,--thou art a villain. ROMEO Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee Doth much excuse the appertaining rage To such a greeting: villain am I none; Therefore farewell; I see thou know'st me not.	Tybalt publicly insults Romeo: “Thou art a villain” (line 60). Romeo tries to talk his way out of this rather tense situation. He reminds Tybalt that he is not a “villain,” and he tries to walk away.
TYBALT Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries That thou hast done me; therefore turn and draw. ROMEO I do protest, I never injured thee, But love thee better than thou canst devise, Till thou shalt know the reason of my love: And so, good Capulet,--which name I tender As dearly as my own,--be satisfied.	Tybalt, though, will not let it rest. He calls Romeo “Boy,” and says that this does not “excuse the injuries that thou has done me,” (lines 65-66). Romeo tries again to avoid conflict. Again, he tries to walk away.
MERCUTIO O calm, dishonourable, vile submission! Alla stoccata carries it away. Draws	Mercutio cannot believe his ears. Romeo? Backing down? He decides to defend his friend, and he draws his sword. The two begin to fight.
MERCUTIO Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk? TYBALT What wouldst thou have with me? MERCUTIO Good king of cats, nothing but one of your nine lives; that I mean to make bold withal, and as you shall use me hereafter, drybeat the rest of the eight. Will you pluck your sword out of his pitcher by the ears? make haste, lest mine be about your ears ere it be out.	The name "Tybalt" was apparently the name for a cat. Mercutio is making fun of this. One would hope that Tybalt has a sense of humor, of course.
TYBALT I am for you. Drawing ROMEO Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up. MERCUTIO Come, sir, your passado. They fight	The phrase, "I am for you" was apparently a typical challenge, especially in fencing. It basically mneans that "I am the one who is skilled enough to stab you to pieces, you little snit." The term "passado" is also a fencing term, and it means, um... uh... actually, I haven't the foggiest what it means.
ROMEO Draw, Benvolio; beat down their weapons. Gentlemen, for shame, forbear this outrage! Tybalt, Mercutio, the prince expressly hath Forbidden bandying in Verona streets: Hold, Tybalt! good Mercutio!	At some point, Romeo tries to break up the fight. Romeo reminds them that the Prince expressly forbid any "bandying" in the streets. Bandying? There is nothing more disgusting than seeing two people bandying. In public, yet. Ugh.
TYBALT, under ROMEO's arm stabs MERCUTIO, and flies with his followers	Romeo's friend Mercutio is somehow stabbed under Romeo’s arm. Tybalt runs away, or “flies,” as the text so aptly puts it.
MERCUTIO I am hurt. A plague o' both your houses! I am sped. Is he gone, and hath nothing? BENVOLIO What, art thou hurt? MERCUTIO Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch; marry, 'tis enough. Where is my page? Go, villain, fetch a surgeon. Exit Page ROMEO Courage, man; the hurt cannot be much.	Mercutio has been stabbed and makes some rather grim (and rather bad) jokes about his wound. He claims the wound is nothing but a "scratch." He does, however, send someone for a doctor.
MERCUTIO No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church-door; but 'tis enough,'twill serve: ask for me to-morrow, and you shall find me a grave man. I am peppered, I warrant, for this world. A plague o' both your houses! 'Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a cat, to scratch a man to death! A braggart, a rogue, a villain, that fights by the book of arithmetic! (To Romeo) Why the devil came you between us? I was hurt under your arm. ROMEO I thought all for the best. MERCUTIO Help me into some house, Benvolio, Or I shall faint. A plague o' both your houses! They have made worms' meat of me: I have it, And soundly too: your houses! Exeunt MERCUTIO and BENVOLIO ROMEO This gentleman, the prince's near ally, My very friend, hath got his mortal hurt In my behalf; my reputation stain'd With Tybalt's slander,--Tybalt, that an hour Hath been my kinsman! O sweet Juliet, Thy beauty hath made me effeminate And in my temper soften'd valour's steel!	Mercutio says his injury is “not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church door... ...but ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a ‘grave’ man” (lines 96-98). He also comments on the feud: “A plague on both your houses!”
Re-enter BENVOLIO BENVOLIO O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio's dead! That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds, Which too untimely here did scorn the earth. ROMEO This day's black fate on more days doth depend; This but begins the woe, others must end. BENVOLIO Here comes the furious Tybalt back again. ROMEO Alive, in triumph! and Mercutio slain! Away to heaven, respective lenity, And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now!	Benvolio, who is always just full of important information, returns at this moment. He tells Romeo that Mercutio dies of his wound.
Re-enter TYBALT ROMEO Now, Tybalt, take the villain back again, That late thou gavest me; for Mercutio's soul Is but a little way above our heads, Staying for thine to keep him company: Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him. TYBALT Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here, Shalt with him hence. ROMEO This shall determine that.	Tybalt comes back to the scene of the crime. Romeo tells him that Mercutio's soul is hovering above their heads, waiting, and that one of them is going to keep him company. Romeo assumes, of course, that Mercutio is heading for a desirable place. Hmmm....
They fight;	Romeo, feeling a bit guilty over his friend’s death, begins to fight Tybalt.
TYBALT falls	Despite the fact that Tybalt had a bit of a “breather,” Romeo somehow gets the better of him, and Romeo stabs Tybalt. Tybalt dies.
BENVOLIO Romeo, away, be gone! The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain. Stand not amazed: the prince will doom thee death, If thou art taken: hence, be gone, away! ROMEO O, I am fortune's fool! BENVOLIO Why dost thou stay? Exit ROMEO	Benvolio realizes the enormity of the situation, and decides that this might be a good time for the young lover to make a hasty exit. Romeo agrees, and he runs away, leaving a couple of corpses behind...

Enter Citizens, &c First Citizen Which way ran he that kill'd Mercutio? Tybalt, that murderer, which way ran he? BENVOLIO There lies that Tybalt.	A bunch of citizens arrive. As a matter of fact, a whole "&ct." of citizens arrive.
First Citizen Up, sir, go with me; I charge thee in the Prince's name, obey. Enter Prince, attended; MONTAGUE, CAPULET, their Wives, and others PRINCE Where are the vile beginners of this fray? BENVOLIO O noble prince, I can discover all The unlucky manage of this fatal brawl: There lies the man, slain by young Romeo, That slew thy kinsman, brave Mercutio.	The well-meaning First Citizen tries to arrest the guilty party: "Up sir! Come with me." The guilty party, of course, does not respond. The guilty party is dead, at the moment. More people arrive, including (curiously) The Prince, Montague, Capulet, Lady Montague, Lady Capulet, and others from far and wide. Word travels fast in fair Verona.
LADY CAPULET Tybalt, my cousin! O my brother's child! O prince! O cousin! husband! O, the blood is spilt O my dear kinsman! Prince, as thou art true, For blood of ours, shed blood of Montague. O cousin, cousin! PRINCE Benvolio, who began this bloody fray?	Juliet’s momma, seeing her dead nephew lying there in a pool of blood, demands that the Prince shed some of the Montagues’ blood, in revenge. The Prince asks Benvolio who started it.

BENVOLIO Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeo's hand did slay; Romeo that spoke him fair, bade him bethink How nice the quarrel was, and urged withal Your high displeasure: all this uttered With gentle breath, calm look, knees humbly bow'd, Could not take truce with the unruly spleen Of Tybalt deaf to peace, but that he tilts With piercing steel at bold Mercutio's breast, Who all as hot, turns deadly point to point, And, with a martial scorn, with one hand beats Cold death aside, and with the other sends It back to Tybalt, whose dexterity, Retorts it: Romeo he cries aloud, 'Hold, friends! friends, part!' and, swifter than his tongue, His agile arm beats down their fatal points, And 'twixt them rushes; underneath whose arm An envious thrust from Tybalt hit the life Of stout Mercutio, and then Tybalt fled; But by and by comes back to Romeo, Who had but newly entertain'd revenge, And to 't they go like lightning, for, ere I Could draw to part them, was stout Tybalt slain. And, as he fell, did Romeo turn and fly. This is the truth, or let Benvolio die.	Benvolio explains, and seems to give a fairly straightforward version of the events. It is also a very long-winded version of the events. Benvolio explains how Tybalt started it, how Romeo tried to stop it, and how Mercutio was murdered. He also explains how Romeo then lost his temper and fought Tybalt.
LADY CAPULET He is a kinsman to the Montague; Affection makes him false; he speaks not true: Some twenty of them fought in this black strife, And all those twenty could but kill one life. I beg for justice, which thou, prince, must give; Romeo slew Tybalt, Romeo must not live.	Lady Capulet does not believe his tale. She claims Benvolio is biased: “He is a kinsman to the Montague; Affection makes him false!” (lines 179-180). She wants Romeo’s death.
PRINCE Romeo slew him, he slew Mercutio; Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe? MONTAGUE Not Romeo, prince, he was Mercutio's friend; His fault concludes but what the law should end, The life of Tybalt.	The Prince is caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place. As Montague reminds him, Romeo's "crime" was exactly the same as the punishment which the Prince had promised, way back in Act I, Scene 1. Anyone guilty of fighting was supposed to die. Tybalt fought. So, now Tybalt has died.
PRINCE And for that offence Immediately we do exile him hence: I have an interest in your hate's proceeding, My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding; But I'll amerce you with so strong a fine That you shall all repent the loss of mine: I will be deaf to pleading and excuses; Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses: Therefore use none: let Romeo hence in haste, Else, when he's found, that hour is his last.	The Prince considers the matter, and finally pronounces his punishment: Romeo is exiled. He is officially banished, or thrown out of the city. Then, the Prince seems to realize that this might not be harsh enough to appease the Capulet crowd, so he declares that Romeo should “hence in haste... else, when he is found, that hour is his last” (lines 198-199).
Bear hence this body and attend our will: Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill. Exeunt	Upon this cheery thought, the scene comes to an end.