I have a small collection of what we lovingly call in this house ‘American funnies’, cartoons which have appears as series in the newspapers in the US. Amongst them The Wizard of Id is hilarious, populated by a medieval townsfolk lead by a corrupt king, a cowardly soldier, a fairly inept wizard, a drunk juggler and a beautiful woman everyone loves.
Amongst them the King suggests to his steward that if anyone runs off from the kingdom in future their land will be forfeit and be taken over by the crown. The steward, justifiably surprised at a reasonable measure says as much as tells the king he will draw up the papers and have them ready to sign. The king looks at him and tells him that there is no way he would ever out his name to a measure that was as reasonable and just.
Or the army on maneuvers practicing three ways to surrender.
Or the wizard’s wife who is so ugly even the demons in his spells are afraid of her.
But the star has to go to juggler who is juggling away and the steward says that he is really quite good. The king tells him he should have seen his act half an hour earlier. When asked why the king replies, “Because he sobered up.”