Enigmatic Variations No.1390 – Bolder by Jaques

“In clue order, the first letters of the answers give part of a quotation (in ODQ). Solvers must fit the answers jigsaw-style into the grid, although some are too short for the available space and must be entered with initial blank cells. Where answers begin with the same letter, their clues are presented in conventional order. Having entered the answers, solvers must take the BOLDER choice from the quotation, adapting one entry and completing the
remainder. Finally, solvers must show suitable confidence with their choice by altering three other letters in the grid. Apart from one, which is thematic, all entries in the final grid are real words. Numbers in brackets refer to answer lengths.”

The first letters of the answers give the capitalised part of this quote from Tam O’Shanter:

Inspiring bold JOHN BARLEYCORN!
WHAT DANGERS THOU CANST MAKE US SCORN!
Wi’ tippeny, we fear nae evil;
Wi usquabae, we’ll face the devil!

The entry in the first column, TAM is to be filled with USQUABAE, giving TUSQUABAEAM (the one thematic non-word), which I have illustrated below by having a ruddy Tam filled with amber bead. NAE EVIL is then to be adjusted such that TAM ‘faces’ THE DEVIL.

Notation
(xxx) = definition
[xxx] = (anagram/homophone/container/etc.) indicator
XXX* = anagram
< = reversal
LEE (LED) = adjusted entry

Please post a comment if the explanations are not clear.