de montrer de l'esprit a ete plus
forte que mes tres humbles remontrances; et *iis ont mieux aime commettre
dans leur jeu un contre-sens perpetuel, qui flattait leur amour-propre,
que de ne pas paraitre entendre finesse a leur role."[70]

Mlle. Lecouvreur, of the Comedie-Francaise, who played the roles of the
_jeunes amoureuses_, was the source of considerable annoyance to Marivaux.
She would often catch the spirit of these subtle and metaphysical roles in
the first performances, but, encouraged by applause, and to improve, if
possible, upon her manner, would so force the action as to become affected
in the later representations.[71] At the Theatre-Italien, however,
Marivaux found an actress just suited to these roles, Giovanna-Rosa
Benozzi, the famous Silvia.

It was as a result of the presentation of the first _Surprise de l'Amour_
that Marivaux made the acquaintance of the renowned actress.[72] With that
characteristic timidity, which we have already noted, Marivaux had
withheld from the public his name as author. Although Silvia had played
her part well, she felt that there was still lacking a shade of meaning,
which, if she only knew the author, she might grasp. Yielding to the
solicitation of a friend of hers, Marivaux consented to pay her his
respects, but on condition that he might keep his incognito. Upon being
presented to the artist, he congratulated her upon her charming rendition
of the play. Silvia was pleased with his appreciation, but, foreseeing
possibilities in the piece as yet unattained by her, she said: "It is a
charming comedy; but I have a grudge against the author... for not
disclosing himself. We would play it a hundred times better, if he had
merely deigned to read it to us."

Marivaux took the role, and, choosing a few passages, read into them all
of their hidden meaning, with the fluent ease and clearness which had
gained for him the reputation of a fascinating reader. Silvia listened
with ever increasing surprise, and at last exclaimed: "Ah, sir, you are
the author of the piece, or else the devil." He assured her with a smile
that he was not the latter, and their friendship had begun, a friendship
which had in it something akin to that of Racine and la Champmesle, for,
from this time on, Marivaux wrote most of his plays with Silvia in mind;
but here the comparison must end, for no closer relation has ever been
suggested by any of Marivaux's contemporaries, and it is not likely that
so temp