Who God doth late and early pray

More of his grace than gifts to lend;

And entertains the harmless day

With a religious book or friend.

Sir Henry Wotton (1568-1639): The Character of a Happy Life.

And telling me, the sovereign'st thing on earth

Was parmaceti for an inward bruise;

And that it was great pity, so it was,

This villanous saltpetre should be digg'd

Out of the bowels of the harmless earth,

Which many a good tall fellow had destroy'd

So cowardly; and but for these vile guns,

He would himself have been a soldier.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): King Henry IV. Part I. Act i. Sc. 3.

An harmless flaming meteor shone for hair,

And fell adown his shoulders with loose care.

Abraham Cowley (1618-1667): Davideis. Book ii. Line 95.

A harmless necessary cat.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): The Merchant of Venice. Act iv. Sc. 1.