Shakespeare and the Stage / With a Complete List of Theatrical Terms Used by Shakespeare in His Plays and Poems, Arranged in Alphabetical Order, & Explanatory Notes

by Maurice Jonas

MASQUERS.

Enter Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio, with five or six other Masquers, Torchbearers and others.

WITHOUT-BOOK. PROLOGUE. PROMPTER. ENTRANCE.

Nor so without-book prologue faintly spoke

After the prompter, for our entrance.

I, 4, 7.

The prompter was much in evidence in the early days of the theatre. The actor who spoke the prologue (not in the book of the play, but written by another hand at the command of the manager), no doubt, was much in need of that useful functionary.

MASK.

We mean well in going to this mask;

But ’tis no wit to go.