Final answer:
The third syllable of 'Sporting Life' might be stressed or unstressed depending on its context within a poem and the metrical foot used, such as a dactyl (unstressed) or an anapest (stressed).
Step-by-step explanation:
On the third syllable of the phrase 'Sporting Life,' an emphasis, or stress, would typically occur based on the pattern of English pronunciation. Given the context provided, which references poetic feet such as the anapest (x x /) and the dactyl (/ x x), we should consider the syllabic structure in terms of metrical patterns. If the phrase 'Sporting Life' were part of a poem, and depending on the specific metrical foot being used, the third syllable might either be stressed or unstressed.
In a dactyl meter, the first syllable is stressed followed by two unstressed syllables (/ x x), thus on the third syllable of 'Sporting Life,' the stress would fall off. In contrast, an anapestic meter consists of two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed one (x x /), which means the third syllable would be stressed. This understanding of syllabic stress can enhance the interpretation of a poem's rhythm and mood.