Devotion Poem by Roberto Ottoboni

O Lady, hear my wofull plea,
And have some mercy upon me.
For tho' I be a wretched man
And be worthy of thee, I never can,
I do LOVE thee with all my heart,
And my soul, and ev'ry other part.

I do not have grand gifts to give
But by thy side, I wish to live
And be thy most devoted slave
Until I be in my grave
And then, my ghost will come to you
And beg for leave to serve anew!

I do not ask thee for thy love,
That would be a treasure far above!
Only, let me stay with thee!
And I will LOVE thee faithfully
Like to a dog that is kicked and curst
But loves his master, none the worst.

So Lady, banish me not from here!
For that is the thing, I most do fear.
Far worse than death, it would be to me
If I could nevermore see thee.
O let me look upon thy face
And banish me not from this place!

Anything for thee, Lady, I would do!
Except to go away from you.
Away from thee, I cannot go,
Because that I do LOVE thee so,
I could not ever say goodbye!
No, no, not even when I die!