castle of indolence in the bosom of one of those spacious coves which indent the eastern shore of the hudson , at that broad expansion of the river denominated by the ancient dutch navigators the tappan zee , and where they always prudently shortened sail and implored the protection of st. nicholas when they crossed , there lies a small market town or rural port , which by some is called greensburgh , but which is more generally and properly known by the name of tarry town .