# File lib/net/imap.rb, line 354
    def authenticate(auth_type, *args)
      auth_type = auth_type.upcase
      unless @@authenticators.has_key?(auth_type)
        raise ArgumentError,
          format('unknown auth type - "%s"', auth_type)
      end
      authenticator = @@authenticators[auth_type].new(*args)
      send_command("AUTHENTICATE", auth_type) do |resp|
        if resp.instance_of?(ContinuationRequest)
          data = authenticator.process(resp.data.text.unpack("m")[0])
          s = [data].pack("m").gsub(/\n/, "")
          send_string_data(s)
          put_string(CRLF)
        end
      end
    end