Messina in Sicilia - The legend of Colapesce
In that time King of Sicily , Frederick II was the patron of arts and sciences, and he himself was a humanist and a poet. It was in the year of 1230, on the day of saint Nicolas, that the courtisans spoke to Frederick II about Cola and his extraordinary ability to swim as dive for very long periods of time. Frederick wanted to see this for himself, therefore summoned him aboard his ship anchored at port.
In that time he was searching for a spouse worthy of his own daughter, his daughter had requested that in addition to beauty, this man be also of gentle manners and brave. But up until then, despite the princes and nobles she received from many parts of the Kingdon, not one of them had satisfied the demanding pretenses, of the little princess.
'I will give myself" she would say, " to he who is able to deny me anYthing only to the MAN who dares to confront the most terrible dangers, if necessary even death, to make me happy! When Cola appeared before the King and his court and bowed in a respectful and timid manner, a rustle of surprise arose from the bystanders who were taken by Cola's beauty and demeanors. Cola's face, translucent and young, showed no trace of Saltiness, and infact seemed as if the salt water far from toughening the skin, had made it smooth and even softer.
"I have been told", said King Frederick, "that you swim like a fish and speak with ocean nymphs and stroll with sea mermaids. Is it true"? - "Oh my King" responded Cola. "I feel in the sea as you in your bed. I stroll the depths of the sea, as you and your Court stroll the gardens of your palaces... I speak with the nymphs as the princess does with her women"...
A tustle of impressed whispers arose from the Court, directly behind the King. Only the Pincess remained silent and ponderous, contemplating that sweet and inspiring face that gave her such new and mysterious sensations. "Well then"! finally said the King. "I shall put you to the test... I shall now throw this gobtet made of pure gold, studded of precious Stones, with which I have drank, into the Sea... If you should find it and return it, I shall make you a rich man"!
And the little princess added, "Oh Cola! I shall also put you to the test... I shall throw this belt into the sea and if you fetch it.... I shall offer you my hand to kiss"!
Having said this the King threw the gobtet into the sea and the little Princess her belt. Cola did not speak, this eyes followed the flight of the two objects, and in quite the same way he disappeared into the sea. On shore, not too far away, a crowd had gathered and stood anxiously and silenty, wating for his reapparance. Shortly after, in the spot that Cola had disappeared, ripples appeared in the water and Cola reappeared with the goblet in his right hand, the little princess's belt in the left. The crowd cheered and the courtisans applauded.
The little princess pale and trembling took the goblet from Cola's hands she took the belt and buckted it around her waist. For a moment , the two stared fixed into each others eyes, in silence and the crowd clapped cheerfully again. But this did not satisfy King Frederick. He wanted to see up until what point this prodigious swimmer could dive. He therefore ordered the helmsman to stear the boat to deeper waters.
Having done this the king began to speak once again, "Oh Cola! I have been told that during the day you race with dolphins and when you play with the tritons you hide among the Coral reefs.I will make you a Knight"... And the king threw his goblet into the sea, and the princess responded, "Oh Cola! From my neck I will remove this necklace, that is made of gold and diamonds and I will throw it into to sea. If you return it to me I will allow you to hug me"....
Cola did not answer the climbed onto the edge of the boat and dived out into a great sea. The crowd after shouting words of encoragement, became silent again, waiting anxiously and praying for another get of success for the almost impossible task. There was a long silence. Finally, in that spot, the water began to ripple and Cola reappeared between the white foam formed by the waves, holding in one hand the King's goblet and in the Other the little princess's necklace.
The crowd, having witnessed this broke out in loud hurrahs of joy, and all eyes turned to the King and his pale little Princess, that according to the crowd enjoyed making the young Cola risk life. But the King was still not satisfied and ordered that the ship move further out toward the center of the Strait, where there is a deep crater, almost a valley, that continues up until Capo Peloro.
"Oh Cola! he said again, in a solemm and imperious manner, for the third time. "Go !..... Run into the abyss which is more familiar to you than any other thing.. Now I will launch my goblet here, and if you return it to me, I shall make you a baron and you will work by my side"....! And the princess added, "oh Cola! I too shall lauch my thing made of saphires and diamonds, and if you return it to me and she began to blush, I will become your wife".
Sounds of terror arose from the crowd. "Oh the reckless"! yelled one only voice- "Do not seek death"!... "You can not overcome the strong currents of the Strait! You will not be successful in this challenge which goes beyond human possibility... renounce, renounce"!
The little princess is nasty and the King cruel... But the goblet and the ring, were already on their way towards the deep sea. Cola watched intensively the spot in which the objects sunk. Then, with a great leap, he determinedly and very quickly disappeared among the waves heading straight down much like a weight.
The silence on the ship and on the nearby shore grew. Even the King and the little Princess became silent and anxious, searching the sea that had just rippled with Cola's dive. The whole Court moved to the edge of the ship to watch. The area of the water in which Cola had disappeared for quite some time became smooth as before and as transparent as glass. A look of anxiousness and fear spread among the spectators. Time passed quickly and it was soon night.
Cola, nicknamed Colapesce, had not returned on the sea's surface: this time the sea, decided to keep him for himself, and never share him again. As the legend would like to say, a very creative and colorful way of disappearing; Colapesce, after having arrived in the depths of the sea, saw the column of Pelora, on which the Northern cuspid of Sicily leans, almost on the point of breaking. therfore, fearing that at any moment his Messina could sink, decided to become a substitute for the column, running to its support, so that it would not break. Another source says, instead, that Cola still wanders desperately the depths of the Strait in search of the little Princess's ring. But the ring is too small and too great is the sea...
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