Final answer:
Benvolio states the fight was started by the servants of both the Montagues and Capulets, and it was already in progress by the time he approached to intervene.option a is correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Benvolio in the excerpt from Act I, Scene I of Romeo and Juliet, the fight was caused by the servants of both houses. This encounter is one among many that ignite the longstanding feud between the Montagues and Capulets, setting the stage for the tragic story of the two star-crossed lovers from these rival families.
In the lines you have provided, Benvolio is explaining to another character how the fight started. Benvolio, a Montague, attempts to break up the initial scuffle involving the servants, but the arrival and provocations of Tybalt, a Capulet, escalate the situation.
Benvolio narrates how Tybalt approached with his sword drawn, ready to engage in combat, and how he swung his sword through the air in defiance. Despite Tybalt's aggressive posture, it is clear that the conflict was already underway when he arrived, involving participants from both the Montague and Capulet households.