When Benevolio sees Sampson and Gregory begin to fight the servants of the Montagues, he shouts for them to put up their swords and keep the peace; however, when Tybalt enters, he immediately engages in the conflict and threatens Benevolio.
In the opening of Act I, the servants of the the Capulets, Sampson and Gregory, walk along, discussing how much they hate the house of Montague. They talk about what they would like to do to the Montagues, and when they see servants of the house of Montague, Sampson bites his thumb at them in a very insulting gesture. Words are then exchanged, and soon the men draw their swords against each other. Benevolio, nephew of Lord Montague and close friend of Romeo, shouts at Sampson and Gregory to separate from the other servants of the Montagues. He beats down their weapons saying, "Put up your swords. You know not what you do" (1.1.55). Unfortunately, the fiery-tempered Tybalt, a Capulet, has witnessed the exchange, and excitedly runs with his sword drawn, shouting,
What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds?
Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death. (1.1.56-57)
Benvolio tells Tybalt that he is merely trying to keep the peace, urging Tybalt to put up his sword. But the fiery Tybalt professes his hatred for the word "peace," as something that he detests as much as Hell and all the Montagues. As he says these things, he aims his sword at Benvolio, saying, "Have at thee, coward!" (1.1.62). They fight, but some other citizens see them and beat them down with clubs, hoping to restore peace.
Clearly, Tybalt is extremely choleric, with a fiery temper that rages quickly. Benvolio, however, is more sanguine and even-tempered, as he wishes to keep the peace and avoid conflicts. They are, indeed, contrasting characters.
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