41 Favel is the hero of Gervais du Bus’s Roman de Fauvel (1310–14). In this story Fauvel is an anthropomorphic horse, the ultimate hypocrite, and one who turns everyone else into hypocrites too. The expression ‘curry favour’ comes from him. Another example of Favel as insincerity is found in William Langland, Piers Plowman (written about 1367–70), II, 22–3: ‘To-morewe worth the marriage made of Mede and of Fals; / Favel, with fair speche, had forgid them togidere.’ ‘Tomorrow would be the marriage of Reward and Deceit, / Favel with fair speech, had given them to one another.’