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"By'r la'kin"
Language
Act 3,
Scene 1
Lines 8-14

An explanation of the phrase “By’r la’kin” in Act 3, Scene 1 of myShakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Bottom

There are things in this comedy of Pyramus and
Thisbe that will never please. First, Pyramus must draw
a sword to kill himself, which the ladies cannot abide.
How answer you that?

Snout

By'r la'kin, a parlous fear.

Starveling

I believe we must leave the killing out when
all is done.

“By'r la'kin” (by your ladykin) is a mild oath. Ladykin refers to a small lady, in this case the Virgin Mary. Snout is swearing by the Virgin Mary that what Bottom has said is true — that it would be dangerous to frighten the ladies in their audience.