Tacitus, Ann. XVI, 17:

Petronius passed his days sleeping, his nights with the duties and enjoyments of life. Like others gain esteem by working hard, he gained his esteem by a 'dolce far niente'. However, he was not regarded as a carouser and a spendthrift, like those who spend their heritage, but as a man of erudite luxury. His words and deeds, without embarassment and careless towards himself, were explained as signs of sincerity and openness, -but wrongly! However, as governor of the province of Bithynia and later as consul, hij proved himself worthy as a vigilant man, who could live up to his task. After that, he turned back to his old vices again -or just pretended to have them- en he was accepted by Nero in his small circle of trusted friends as elegantiae arbiter (maitre des plaisirs): Nero regarder nothing as exalted and ravishing, if it hadn't been praised to him by Petronius. Hence the jealousy of Tigellinus (a fellow member of Nero's court), who regarded him as his rival and his master in the science of delight. This man Tigellinus worked on the emperor's feelings of cruelty -the worst of all his passions- and he accused Petronius of friendship with Scaevinus (who had been sentenced and brought to death because of an accusation of conspiracy against Nero). One of Petronius slaves had been bribed to officially report this matter; he was not given any opportunity to defend himself and the majority of his household was put in jail.

It so happened that the emperor had gone to Campania. Petronius had followed him to Cumae and got grounded there. He didn't want to unnecessarily stretch the time between hope and fear no more than ending his his life to quickly and easily. He had his veins opened, tied off and opened, as he liked it. He talked with friends, but not very seriously and with words, which should impose fame and undauntedness on him. He listened to them, while they were not lecturing about the immortality of the soul and the teachings of philosophers, but chanted light songs and recited swift verses. Some of his slaves he had rewarded generously, others lashed to their punishment. He had himself served dinner and gave himself over to sleep, to make the death which had been forced upon him look like a natural one as much as he could.

Further, he has not, like many of his companions in distress, flattered Nero or Tigellinus in his will or flattered any other personae in power. He drew up an inventory of the imfamous deeds of the emperor, catalogued after the involved catamites and lovers, mentioning the originality of each variation of lewdness, practiced by him. He sent this sealed document to Nero and then broke his seal, to make sure that no other person would become a victim of this deed.