’Twas base and poor, unworthy of a peasant,
To forge a scroll so villainous and loose,
And mark it with a noble lady’s name.
Here we have an example of relative emphasis; for, if the thought were expressed at full, it would stand thus:—Unworthy not only of a gentleman, but of a peasant.
’Twas base and poor, unworthy of a man,
To forge a scroll so villainous and loose,
And mark it with a noble lady’s name.
Here we have an example of absolute emphasis; for, if the thought were expressed at full, it would stand thus:—Unworthy a being composed of such perfections as constitute a man.” Mr. Knowles adds: “I apprehend that, notwithstanding all that has been written on the subject, the true definition of emphasis remains still to be discovered.”
[5] Single emphasis, is when there is one pair of words opposed to each other in a sentence; Double emphasis, when there are two pairs; and Treble, when there are three.