Water, Wind, Reputation

I was a boy and heard this pretty story:
That Wind and Water play'd with Reputation
At hide-and-seek together.

The Water rushed adown the mountain passes,
But was discovered after long pursuing
In the deep valleys.

The Wind flew upwards:
But it was followed to the mountain summits,
And soon entrapp'd there.

Then Reputation was to be imprison'd,
And Reputation whispered
In a sonorous voice to her companions:
"Know, if you lose me—know, if once I hide me,
I'm lost for ever."

And so it was—she hid her; all inquiry
Was wasted in the seeking;
Nothing can renovate that perish'd treasure,
If thou have lost it— thou hast lost all with it.