In act one of Romeo and Juliet the when Tybalt meets Benvolio he thinks he is a coward. Benvolio thinks that because when he comes across Tybalt on the street he is fighting with servant which to Benvolio makes him a cowards. Benvolio is Romeo's cousin and Lord Montague's nephew who plays a role of unsuccessful peacemaker in the play.Tybalt on the other hand is from the Capulet family and Juliet's cousin who serves as the main antagonist in the play as Romeo's rival.
Tybalt thinks that Benvolio is fighting in the street with the servants. That is the reason why Tybalt thinks that Benvolio is stupid and almost seems like a coward even though it is the first time he is meeting Benvolio.
