Chapter Hardouin to Harness of H by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Harmless as a Dove (Matt. x. 16.)

Harmonia's Necklace An unlucky possession, something that brings evil to all who possess it. Harmonia was the daughter of Mars and Venus. On the day of her marriage with King Cadmos, she received a necklace which proved fatal to all who possessed it.
    The collar given by Alphesibea (or Arsinoë) to her husband Alcmæon was a like fatal gift. So were the collar and veil of Eriphyle, wife of Amphiaraos, and the Trojan horse. (See Fatal Gifts.)

Harmonia's Robe On the marriage of Harmonia, Vulcan, to avenge the infidelity of her mother, made the bride a present of a robe dyed in all sorts of crimes, which infused wickedness and impiety into all her offspring. Both Harmonia and Cadmos, after having suffered many misfortunes, and seen their children a sorrow to them, were changed into serpents. (Pausanias, 9, 10.) (See Nessus.)
    Medea, in a fit of jealousy, sent Creusa a wedding robe, which burnt her to death. (Euripides: Medea.)

Harness To die in harness. To continue in one's work or occupation till death. The allusion is to soldiers in armour or harness.

"At least we'll die with harness on our back."
Shakespeare: Macbeth, v. 5.