Shakespeare help plz.

Question

"What needs the bridge much broader than the flood? The fairest grant is the necessity."

When did Don Pedro say this?

Where is it in the text?

What does it mean as a statement and in the world of the play?

Answer 1

Actually it's:

What NEED the bridge much broader than the flood?

In other words, What need (is there to make) the bridge much broader than the flood?

Much Ado About Nothing, act 1, sc. 1, l. 316.

Telling Claudio there is no need to do more than is necessary to achieve his desire; “flood” means water or river.

'The fairest grant is the necessity' means that the best justification of one's actions one could hope for is that it is necessary.

------------------

Yes, as I said, Much Ado About Nothing, act 1, sc. 1, l. 316