The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #63901   Message #1042511
Posted By: GUEST,Santa
27-Oct-03 - 09:19 AM
Thread Name: Folklore: What does 'tarried mean?
Subject: RE: Folklore: What does 'tarried mean?
The Owl and The Pussycat

O let us be married
Too long we have tarried
But what shall we do for a ring?

I would take the meaning as being simply delayed, hung around, waited, not been bothered, etc.   I don't think that there's any hint of dalliance.

Of course, we don't know how long they'd been planning this escapade.....