He was wild 's a peat-hag, fearsome to look at, fearsome to hear, his face like the day of judgment.

The voice of him was like a solan's and dinnle'd in folks' lugs, and the words of him like coals of fire.
Now there was a lass on the rock, and I think she had little to do, for it was nae place far dacent weemen; but it seems she was bonny, and her and Tam Dale were very well agreed.

It befell that Peden was in the gairden his lane at the praying when Tam and the lass cam by; and what should the lassie do but mock with laughter at the sant's devotions?
He rose and lookit at the twa o' them, and Tam's knees knoitered thegether at the look of him.

But whan he spak, it was mair in sorrow than in anger.

"Poor thing, poor thing!" says he, and it was the lass he lookit at.