1 Virgil's Fourth Eclogue known as the "Pollio" has undoubtedly
influenced the thought and style of this poem: the more noticeable
parallels will be pointed out as they occur. In Milton's ode _On
the Morning of Christ's Nativity_ there are several passages which
recall Prudentius' treatment of the theme in this and the succeeding
hymn; but curiously enough, the Puritan poet in alluding to the
season of the Nativity takes an opposite line of thought, and
regards the diminished sunshine of winter as a veiling of an inferior
flame before the light of "a greater Sun." Prudentius proclaims the
increase of the sun's light, which begins after the winter solstice,
as symbolic of the ever-widening influence of the True Light. The
idea is given in a terse form by St. Peter Chrysologus, _Serm._ 159:
_Crescere dies coepit, quia verus dies illuxit_. "The day begins to
lengthen out, inasmuch as the true Day hath shone forth."