Neil Innes’s bard in Holy Grail is one of my favorite film characters.

Bravely Bold Sir Robin, rode forth from Camelot

He was not afraid to die, O’ Brave Sir Robin!

He was not at all afraid to be killed in nasty ways

Brave, Brave, Brave, Brave Sir Robin

He was not the least bit scared to be mashed into a pulp,

Or to have his eyes gouged out, and his elbows broken!

To have his knee caps split, and his body burned away!

Innes, who wrote the song, goes on, but you get the point. Sir Robin was brave. It’s a little over the top, but that’s the point! To be fair, “over the top” is the point of the whole film, but in this particular case Innes’s bard is playing a role – to not only document, but to support and encourage Sir Robin’s bravery.

But then, you know, three-headed giant knight stuff happens. The bard keeps trying to sing hero stuff – the “ought” in moral philosophy’s “is/ought” dichotomy – and Robin glares nervously and tries to shut him down.

And then Sir Robin – we’ll let Innes tell it:

Bard: Brave Sir Robin Ran Away!

Sir Robin: “NO!”

Bard: Bravely Ran Away Away!

Sir Robin: “I didn’t!”

Bard: When danger reared its ugly head, he bravely turned his tail and fled!

Sir Robin: “I never!”

Bard: Yes, brave Sir Robin turned about, And gallantly, he chickened out!

Whether Sir Robin should have stayed and fought the three-headed giant knight is beside the point. I never wanted to be Sir Robin. I wanted to be the bard. But the “is/ought” dichotomy is tough terrain. There is danger when the bard thinks they know what ought to be done.