I was born into a poor family 我出生在一个穷人的家庭，
the last of nine sisters. 是九姐妹中最小的一个。
When I was a youngster 当我还小的时候，
there was no basic spellbook to give a beginner witch like myself 没有任何基本的魔法咒语书， 能给像我这样的初学者
the clear and simple instructions 简单明了的学习指导，
that would have made magic a much less mysterious process. 并使得学习魔法的过程能够少一些神秘。
I struggled to understand 我努力去理解
the complicated instructions in the old-fashioned textbooks I was given at school. 学校发给我的，复杂而老式的教科书。
Back at home, I was at the mercy of my older sisters' mischievous attempts 回到家，我可怜地生活在姐姐们的恶作剧中，
to give me the wrong incantation for every spell I attempted. 她们试图教给我的每个魔法咒语都是错误的。
Hand-me-down robes are merely embarrassing, 二手长袍仅仅只是让人觉得尴尬，
hand-me-down spells can be dangerous. 而非正式的魔咒将可能是危险的。
When I grew up, I quickly realised that the help I had craved simply did not exist 我长大后，我很快注意到 我所渴望的简单（的魔咒书）并不存在。
and so I created the book you are holding now: 所以，我写了这本书——你们现在手里拥有的这本：
the Book of Spells. 《魔法咒语书》。
I could not be prouder that this simple school textbook 我对于这本简单的教科书是如此地自豪，
is now being used in schools for magic all over the world 因为它已经被全世界的魔法学校使用，
and has been translatedinto 72 languages including Gobbledygook and Mermish. 并被翻译成72种语言，包括上流官方语和人鱼语。 （人文社《火焰杯》第七章 Gobbledygook译为火鸡语——译注）
I also had a few special editions printed for my dear sisters, 我也有印一些为我的姐姐们准备的特别版本，
which unfortunately contained a few misprints that led to quite a few comical mishaps! 它们包含了一些不幸的印刷错误， 并且会导致一些滑稽的事故。
But Romilda's tail has vanished now 但是罗米达的尾巴已经消失了， （罗米达是作者的姐姐之一， 前述的事故导致她长了尾巴——译注）
and we're all friends again. 并且我们已经再度成为了朋友。
The Book of Spells will enable you to perform a range of basic and not-so-basic spells 《魔法咒语书》将会给你展示 一系列基本和不那么基本的魔咒，
that will enhance, protect and enliven your life. 这将提高、保护并丰富你的生活。
At the end of each chapter, you will find a CONUNDRUM, 在每章的最后，你会发现一道谜题，
a little poem with a hidden message concerning those characteristics and habits 题目是一首藏有特征和习惯的诗，
that make witches and wizards truly great. 描述巫师们真正伟大的诗。
Each conundrum tells the story of a witch or wizard 每道谜题都讲述了一个巫师
who did not possess the necessary traits, and paid the price... 在忽视重要的特征后所付出的代价。
(names have been changed to protect the inadequate). （书中使用了化名以保护他们的隐私）
The solution to all the conundrums can be found 每道题的谜底都可以在
when you have mastered every spell in this book, 你熟练掌握了这本书的每句魔咒之后找到。
(but by that time, you may not need the solution at all). （不过到那个时候，你可能已经不需要谜底了）
Good luck, stay safe and make good magic! 祝你好运！注意安全并使用好魔法！
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