midnight
`` Tremble , ye sinners ! '' the warning redoubled ; `` tremble , ye peoples of the earth ! the terrible moment foretold in the holy books is here ! '' One more second , one more instant , midnight sounds -- and the year 1000 begins . In the expectation of that fatal instant , the most hardened hearts , the souls most certain of salvation , the dullest and also the most rebellious minds experienced a sensation that never had and never will have a name in any language -- Midnight sounded ! ... The solemn hour ... . Midnight !