I will be correspondent to command,

And do my spiriting gently.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): The Tempest. Act i. Sc. 2.

So may he rest; his faults lie gently on him!

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): King Henry VIII. Act iv. Sc. 2.

Then gently scan your brother man,

Still gentler sister woman;

Though they may gang a kennin' wrang,

To step aside is human.

Robert Burns (1759-1796): Address to the Unco Guid.

Speak gently! 't is a little thing

Dropp'd in the heart's deep well;

The good, the joy, that it may bring

Eternity shall tell.

G. W. Langford: Speak gently.

Time has touched me gently in his race,

And left no odious furrows in my face.

George Crabbe (1754-1832): Tales of the Hall. Book xvii. The Widow.

Touch us gently, Time!

Let us glide adown thy stream

Gently,—as we sometimes glide

Through a quiet dream.

Bryan W Procter (1787-1874): Touch us gently, Time.

Time has laid his hand

Upon my heart gently, not smiting it,

But as a harper lays his open palm

Upon his harp, to deaden its vibrations.

Henry W Longfellow (1807-1882): The Golden Legend. iv.