According to legend, there was a kind of birds called "dais" (swallow) on the East China Sea.

传说，东海上有一种叫做“意怠”的鸟。

The Yidais were slow in reaction.

意怠反应比较迟钝。

They could not fly very high and seemed clumsy and incapable¹.

不能高飞，似乎笨拙无能。

But when they moved about, they always moved in groups, depended on one another for survival, and flew and landed together.

但是，它们行动的时候，总是成群结队，相依为命，一起飞翔，一起降落。

When they advanced, no one dared to advance rashly.

它们前进的时候，没有一只敢擅自冒进。

When they retreated, no one dared to fall behind at will.

后退的时候，没有一只敢随便掉队。

When they fed, no one dared to scramble² to be the first.

吃食的时候，也没有一只敢抢先。

All their activities were orderly.

一切活动，都很有秩序。

When they went into action,they always acted uniformly without any disorder³.

意怠行动起来总是这样一致而不散乱。

They depended upon the collective efforts to avoid any harm from the outside world.

它们就是靠着集体的力量来避免外界对自己的伤害。