Mercutio,another short-tempered young man,took up Tybalt's challenge. He drew out his sword,and the two began fighting. Romeo tried to keep them apart. But somehow Tybalt's sword went under Romeo's arm. The blade stuck Mercutio with a fatal blow.
Now Romeo was aroused,too. He felt he had to do something to avenge his friend's death. He pulled out his sword,and he and Tybalt got into a furious battle. In the end,Romeo was victorious. Tybalt lay dead on the blood-stained street.
Almost at once Romeo began to feel guilty about the terrible thing he had just done. He couldn't believe it. Had he actually killed his new bride's cousin? What a reckless thing to do!