"more troublesome than the act itself"

"The aftermath is often more troublesome than the act itself. As soon as the head has been exhibited to the crowd, it can be dropped back into the basket. But the headless body (which remains capable of losing a good deal of blood for a long time after the action of the heart has ceased) must be taken away in a manner dignified yet dishonorable. Furthermore, it must be not just taken 'away,' but taken to some specific spot where it will be safe from molestation. An exultant can, by custom, be laid across the saddle of his own destrier, and his remains are surrendered to his family at once. Persons of lesser rank, however, must be provided with some resting place secure from the eaters of the dead; and at least until they are safely out of sight, they must be dragged. The executioner cannot perform this procedure because he is already burdened with the head and with his weapon, and it is rare for anyone else involved -- soldiers, officers of the course, and so on -- to be willing to do so.  (At the Citadel it was done by two journeyman and thus presented no difficulty.)"

-- Gene Wolfe, Shadow of the Torturer