Accidents by flood and field

Posted by Henry on April 27, 2003

In Reply to: Accidents by flood and field posted by Mei on April 27, 2003

: Hi,

: Could anyone tell me what the phrase " accidents by flood and field" means? Thanks a lot.

: Mei

Shakespeare, Othello I.iii
I ran it through, even from my boyish days
To th' very moment that he bade me tell it;
Wherein I spoke of most disastrous chances:
Of moving accidents by flood and field,
Of hair-breadth scapes i' th' imminent deadly breach,

Without reference to a guide to Shakespeare, I would interpret it as accidents on water and on dry land, in other words, at sea and ashore.