i got better information here:
http://www.dosgames.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10437 but i will give full instructions here so it isn't spread out across this thread.
download DOSbox
download LION
go to computer > local disc c > users > (your name)
in there, create a folder called oldgames or whatever you desire, it doesn't matter.
unpack the lion download exactly to that folder
once done, open up DOSbox, and type in exactly as is typed in each line here
mount c c:\users\yourname\oldgames(or whatever you named the folder for it)
c:
cd lion
LION
it all should be typed in and entered in that order, LION should then start correctly.
hope this helps some people who weren't able to get it running.