[1453.] Sometimes, however, in old Latin, a second negation is used merely to emphasize the negative idea: as, lapideō sunt corde multī, quōs nōn miseret nēminis, E. in Fest. p. 162, there’s many a man with heart of stone, that feels for nobody. For doubled negatives in compound sentences, see [1660].
[USE OF DEGREES OF COMPARISON.]
[The Positive.]
[1454.] The positive sometimes expresses an idea of disproportion: as,
prō multitūdine hominum angustōs sē fīnīs habēre arbitrābantur, 1, 2, 5, in view of their large numbers they thought they had a cramped place to live in. Generally, however, disproportion is expressed as in 1460 or 1461.
[The Comparative.]
[1455.] When two things only are compared, the comparative is used: as,
uter igitur melior? Div. 2, 133, which of the two then is the better? uter est īnsānior hōrum? H. S. 2, 3, 102, which of these two is crazier? uter erātis, tūn an ille, maior? Pl. Men. 1119, you were—which of the two the bigger, thou or he?
[1456.] The superlative is sometimes loosely used when only two things are meant: as, Numitōrī, quī stirpis maximus erat, rēgnum lēgat, L. 1, 3, 10, to Numitor, who was the eldest of the family, he bequeaths the crown, of two brothers, Numitor and Amulius. id me͡ā minumē rēfert, quī sum nātū maxumus, T. Ad. 881, that is of small concern to me, who am the eldest son, says Demea, who has only one brother.