Question

Here were the servants of your adversary

And yours close fighting ere I did approach:

I drew to part them; in the instant came

The fiery Tybalt, with his sword prepar'd,

Which, as he breath'd defiance to my ears,

He swung about his head, and cut the winds,

Who, nothing hurt withal hiss'd him in scorn.

While we were interchanging thrusts and blows,

Came more and more, and fought on part and part,

Till the prince came, who parted either part.

—Romeo and Juliet,
William Shakespeare

According to Benvolio, who is responsible for starting the fight? Check all that apply.

servants of the Montagues
servants of the Capulets
the prince
Tybalt
Montague and Capulet

Answer 1

thoughts?

This passage comes from Act 1 Scene 1. Benvolio is speaking to Montague here (refer to the original text, in the lines right before this passage). Notice how mentions the "servants of your adversary" and "yours" (referring to Montague's servants). So right off the bat, he acknowledges that *both* the Montague and the Capulet servants are responsible for starting the fight.

Looking through the passage, can you find *other* people he mentions as being responsible for the fight?