Beauty is relative
The main message of the story "The Princess and the Poacher" is to not judge the book by its cover and the relativity of beauty. Hengist is describes as having a different appearance from what is considered attractive. He is describes as extremely unattractive that no maiden can bear the sight of him. The princess, nevertheless, sees his beauty in his heroic deed of jumping out to protect her and his calm nature, despite his brutish appearance. Beauty is in the story of the poacher relative and goes to show that despite majority doesn't see the beauty in Hengist, one person sees beauty in only him.
Forbidden fruit
The story of Hengist brings forth the motif of forbidden fruit. Hengist loves the opposite sex, but the opposite sex doesn't love him. Once Hengist is allowed to have every lady he desires, he realizes that he lost his desire completely. He thinks to himself that most of his desire came from the idea of forbidden fruit.
Deceit
Deceit is another motif presented in the tale of the princess Mammalia. The tale shows that both father and daughter are hungry for power, and both are deceitful. Mammalia comes up with a plan to kill her father, but her father is one step ahead, deceiving her in the costume of a beggar to use her plan against her.
