favour generally meant “a love-token” (
“A favour worn, munusculum
amoris indicium.”
Coles's Lat. and Engl.
Dict.
), consisting of a glove to be worn in the hat, a scarf, etc.; but, as Steevens
remarks, “it was anciently the custom to wear gloves in the
hat on three distinct occasions, viz. as the favour of a mistress, the memorial of a
friend, and as a mark to be challenged by an enemy:”
“Rosaline, you have a favour too,”
LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST, v. 2.
30
;
“this favour thou shalt wear,”
LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST, v. 2.
130
;
“a' wears next his heart for a favour,”
LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST, v. 2.
702
;
“give a favour from you,”
ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL, v. 3.
74
;
“wear it as a favour,”
RICHARD II., v. 3. 18
;
“Here, Fluellen; wear thou this favour for me”
HENRY V., iv. 7. 148
; (the glove which Henry pretended he had plucked from the helmet of Alencon),
“given him for a favour,”
HENRY V., iv. 7. 167
;
“the favour of his lady,”
THE TWO NOBLE KINSMEN, iv. 2.
138
;
“By favours several,”
LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST, v. 2.
125
;
“change you favours too,”
LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST, v. 2.
134
;
“the favours most in sight,”
LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST, v. 2.
136
;
“Therefore change favours,”
LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST, v. 2.
292
;
“The ladies did change favours,”
LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST, v. 2.
468
;
“Your favours, the ambassadors of love,”
LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST, v. 2.
766
;
“fairy favours,”
A MIDSUMMER-NIGHT'S DREAM, ii. 1.
12
;
“Seeking sweet favours,”
A MIDSUMMER-NIGHT'S DREAM, iv. 1.
46
;
“let my favours hide thy mangled face,”
1 HENRY IV., v. 4. 96
;
“the painted favours of their ladies,”
THE TWO NOBLE KINSMEN, ii. 2.
11
;
“A thousand favours from a maund she drew,”
A LOVER'S COMPLAINT, 36
(where Steevens strangely failed to see that the words, Of amber, crystal, and of beaded jet, describe the
favours, and not, as he supposed, the maund or basket).