Brutus of Alba (play)

{{Short description|1678 play}}

{{For|the opera of the same name|Brutus of Alba (opera)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox play

| name = Brutus of Alba

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| writer = Nahum Tate

| setting =

| date of premiere = June 1678

| original language = English

| place = Dorset Garden Theatre, London

| series =

| subject =

| genre = Tragedy

}}

Brutus of Alba; Or, The Enchanted Lovers is a 1678 tragedy by the Irish writer Nahum Tate. It was first performed by the Duke's Company at the Dorset Garden Theatre in London. The name's of the original cast are unknown.Van Lennep p.270 The published version was dedicated to the Duke of Dorset.

It was based on the fourth book of the Aeneid by Virgil, and was produced in the context of the Exclusion Crisis. Tate was at the time a supporter of James, Duke of York and the play is strongly propagandistic about the Stuart monarchy. Tate later took elements of the play for the libretto of Dido and Aeneas, scored by Henry Purcell.Welch p.184