Tybalt, kinsman of Capulet, is angry at being thrown out of Capulet's feast, he roams the streets with his 'gang' looking for revenge. He encounters Benvolio and Mercutio, "By my head, here come the Capulets." "By my heel, I care not." Tybalt would have a 'word' with one of them, but Mercutio, who scorns Tybalt for a fop and a dilettante, responds with the above quote, and follows that with more taunting, "Come King of Cats, I would have one of your nine lives!" They fight.