three requests

If you were a deposed Vandal king besieged in a mountain by the Byzantines, and if enough graciousness prevailed between you and your enemies that you could make three requests, what would they be? Gelimer chose as follows:

” ‘I can write no more: my grief oppresses me. Send me, I beseech you, my dear Pharas, send me a lyre, a spunge, and a loaf of bread.’

From the Vandal messenger, Pharas was informed of the motives of this singular request. It was long since the king of Africa had tasted bread; a defluxion had fallen on his eyes, the effect of fatigue or incessant weeping; and he wished to solace the melancholy hours by singing to the lyre the sad story of his own misfortunes.”