Translation "sxvatit' za poly"

[Meindert Burger]

Dear SEELANGers,

As a student at the University of Amsterdam, I have been joining the list
passively during the last year. Currently, I am translating a Pushkin poem,
and facing a semantical problem. My question is: what is the context
related translation of "sxvatit' za poly" in the line: "Gerbovye zaboty
sxvatili za poly menya."? Is it something like: "flew at me" or
"(immediately) started keeping me busy"? What has the slip to do with it?

Any help would greatly be appreciated.

Meindert Burger
Student of Slavic Languages & Literature at UvA
Marnixstraat 87/2A, 1015 VE  AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands.
Phone: (31) (0)20 4214256