O could I flow like thee, and make thy stream My great example, as it is my theme! Though deep, yet clear, though gentle, yet not dull, Strong without rage, without o'erflowing full.

-Denham, SirJohn
  Of the Thames. Cooper's Hill, l.189^92.

The gentle and respectful ways of saying 'To hell with you'are being abandoned.

-Fergusson, Robert
Recalled on her death,16 Sep1993.

Far may be sought Erst that ye can find So courteous, so kind, As Merry Margaret, This midsummer flower, Gentle as falcon Or hawk of the tower.

-Skelton,John
  The Garland of Laurel,'To Mistress Margaret Hussey'.

The gentle mind by gentle deeds is known. For a man by nothing is so well bewrayed, As by his manners.

-Spenser, Edmund
  The Faerie Queen, bk.6, canto 3, stanza1.

Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

-Thomas, Dylan Marlais
  'Do Not Go Gentle IntoThat Good Night'.

   They flee from me, that sometime did me seek, With naked foot, stalking in my chamber. I have seen them gentle, tame, and meek, That now are wild, and do not remember That sometime they put themselves in danger To take bread at my hand; and now they range, Busily seeking with a continual change.

-Wyatt, SirThomas (the Elder)
  'They Flee from Me'.